# What is this RCA wiring stuff called? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 10, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199 "2006-09-10T20:20:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199/1 "2006-09-10T20:20:39Z")
[![](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/SlickUSA/wires.jpg) ](https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/SlickUSA/wires.jpg) This particular set of 5 is coming from a VGA port. I have an older 50" plasma tv that i got for free that has inputs that require that 5-wire connection. But what do i call them so i can call around and ask stores of the carry them? I want to be able to hook up other A/V equipment to the tv but there aren’t any standard red, white, yellow jacks available. Only these twist on BNC-style things. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199/2 "2006-09-10T20:39:57Z")
All 5 part of the video output? I’ve never seen that. Is it possible you’re looking at 3 video and two audio channels? Hard to tell from the pic, but the look like [BNC connectors](http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=bnc&origkw=bnc), possibly RCA cables running into BNC adaptors. It they are BNC, they will twist-lock into place on the panel. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199/3 "2006-09-10T20:42:10Z")
RGB coax? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199/4 "2006-09-10T20:49:40Z")
[RGB Coax - 3, 4 & 5 Head Video Cables](http://www.gigcables.com/CNvideo.html) (scroll to the bottom). CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199/5 "2006-09-10T20:52:40Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] All 5 part of the video output? I’ve never seen that. Is it possible you’re looking at 3 video and two audio channels? [/QUOTE] Don’t think so. With: Red Green Blue You also need: Sync Ground But why isn’t one white? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199/6 "2006-09-10T21:25:48Z")
[QUOTE=Will Repair] Don’t think so. With: Red Green Blue You also need: Sync Ground But why isn’t one white? [/QUOTE] Yea, forgot about synch. Tell us make and model. Are we talking about some kind of used TV studio monitor? Not even a tuner built in? If you have just the one video input, what you’re really looking for is a switcher/converter box of some kind, with an RGB output. Also, tell us more about what you want to plug into the TV.. Just standard TV? Progressive scan DVDs? HD cable or satellite box? I’m just guessing right now, but if you want to make this TV the heart of a home theater system, it won’t be too easy or cheap. ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199/7 "2006-09-10T21:30:40Z")
[QUOTE=Will Repair] Don’t think so. With: Red Green Blue You also need: Sync Ground But why isn’t one white? [/QUOTE] I used to use RGB monitors that used three BNC cables for the video, red, green, and blue. Ground was provided by the shield on the coaxial cable. Sync was multiplexed on the green video signal. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199/8 "2006-09-10T22:57:19Z")
Could be R, G, B, horizontal sync and vertical sync. Ground would be by the shield on one of the cables. ---
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199/9 "2006-09-11T00:44:50Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] Yea, forgot about synch. Tell us make and model. Are we talking about some kind of used TV studio monitor? Not even a tuner built in? If you have just the one video input, what you’re really looking for is a switcher/converter box of some kind, with an RGB output. Also, tell us more about what you want to plug into the TV.. Just standard TV? Progressive scan DVDs? HD cable or satellite box? I’m just guessing right now, but if you want to make this TV the heart of a home theater system, it won’t be too easy or cheap. [/QUOTE] I have a very very old NEC MultiSync LCD 2110 XtraView (who modeled for the picture you saw) that is using it. The 50" Pioneer Plasma is a PDP-something model. As much as i’d like to, i can’t actually get it off the wall by myself since it defies some kind of volume to weight ratio and i can’t lift it off the rails by myself. It wasn’t used in a TV studio, it was used in the Emergency Room of the hospital i work at. I just want to plug in regular stuff. I can get the actual model number tomorrow from work. Here is what is embossed on the casing of the NEC going from top to bottom: R G (/SYNC) SIGNAL INPUT BNC CONNECTOR B HS/CS VS and the bottom black one is power ---
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199/10 "2006-09-11T02:18:01Z")
[QUOTE=crowmanyclouds] [RGB Coax - 3, 4 & 5 Head Video Cables](http://www.gigcables.com/CNvideo.html) (scroll to the bottom). CMC fnord! [/QUOTE] What is on the other end of the 5 connector? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199/11 "2006-09-11T02:27:29Z")
Ok, I don’t get it. You want to replace the NEC with the Pioneer? Or you’re just sure the two have the same inputs? But if you are, why the OP question? Do you have players that play through the NEC now? Or maybe you have multiple types of inputs on the NEC that you don’t have on the Pioneer? [Is the Pioneer relatively new? Like this one?](http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/v3/pg/product/details/0,,2076_310069733_311066721,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199/12 "2006-09-11T02:33:29Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] Ok, I don’t get it. You want to replace the NEC with the Pioneer? Or you’re just sure the two have the same inputs? But if you are, why the OP question? Do you have players that play through the NEC now? Or maybe you have multiple types of inputs on the NEC that you don’t have on the Pioneer? [Is the Pioneer relatively new? Like this one?](http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/v3/pg/product/details/0,,2076_310069733_311066721,00.html) [/QUOTE] No no, the Pioneer is connected to the computer directly with VGA. The NEC is connected to another computer all together (it was just for example sake). I want to ultimately be able to hook up cable tv or dvd/vcr combo to it but it doesn’t have regular coax or RCA connectors on it. So i wanted to know what kind of 5-connector abomination i should ask for at Radio Shack or Worst Buy. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199/13 "2006-09-11T03:09:06Z")
[QUOTE=SlickRoenick] What is on the other end of the 5 connector? [/QUOTE] Since they don’t show the other end, I’d have to assume BNC connectors. If all the other equipment you want to attach are RCA type plugs, I’d just get RCA wires and use RCA to BNC [adapters](http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102688&cp=&origkw=RCA+to+BNC+adapter&kw=rca+to+bnc+adapter&parentPage=search) to make the connections to the TV (and tidy the whole mess o’ wires with some of [this](http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062665&cp=2032058.2032237.2032318&pg=2&parentPage=family)) or [this](http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103809&cp=2032058.2032237.2032318&pg=2&parentPage=family). CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199/14 "2006-09-11T03:11:38Z")
[QUOTE=crowmanyclouds] Since they don’t show the other end, I’d have to assume BNC connectors. If all the other equipment you want to attach are RCA type plugs, I’d just get RCA wires and use RCA to BNC [adapters](http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102688&cp=&origkw=RCA+to+BNC+adapter&kw=rca+to+bnc+adapter&parentPage=search) to make the connections to the TV (and tidy the whole mess o’ wires with some of [this](http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062665&cp=2032058.2032237.2032318&pg=2&parentPage=family)) or [this](http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103809&cp=2032058.2032237.2032318&pg=2&parentPage=family). CMC fnord! [/QUOTE] How do i split the 1 yellow RCA into 3 RGB signals? And do i have to worry about horiz and vert sync? ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199/15 "2006-09-11T10:31:44Z")
[QUOTE=SlickRoenick] How do i split the 1 yellow RCA into 3 RGB signals? And do i have to worry about horiz and vert sync? [/QUOTE] You can try just using the “signal input” connection. A composite video decoder is not terribly complex, and compoite video is common enough that it makes sense to include one. ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199/16 "2006-09-11T16:13:11Z")
Sync with Green! A lot different than those Marconi cameras I worked on. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-rca-wiring-stuff-called/372199/17 "2006-09-11T16:33:47Z")
[QUOTE=crowmanyclouds] Since they don’t show the other end, I’d have to assume BNC connectors. If all the other equipment you want to attach are RCA type plugs, I’d just get RCA wires and use RCA to BNC [adapters](http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102688&cp=&origkw=RCA+to+BNC+adapter&kw=rca+to+bnc+adapter&parentPage=search) to make the connections to the TV (and tidy the whole mess o’ wires with some of [this](http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062665&cp=2032058.2032237.2032318&pg=2&parentPage=family)) or [this](http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103809&cp=2032058.2032237.2032318&pg=2&parentPage=family). CMC fnord! [/QUOTE] I had a monitor that had R, G, B, and I think cync connections via BNCs. The other end of the cavle was a regular VGA connector. BTW, the component video connections used on TVs do not use the same ‘colour space’ as the RGB connections used on computers. If you are lucky, your TV or monitor will accept both; my monitor (23-inches; 1920 x 1200) nas a DVI input, a VGA input, an S-video input, and a composite-video input (RCA). No HDMI input.