Coax Terminator: Everything You Should Know Is Here

FACTS CHECKED BY  Jose George​

A coax terminator can prove to be crucial for optimizing network performance. If there’s insufficient port use on a tap, these accessories stop coaxial ports. Thus, they protect the network from noise and ensure optimal signal quality.

If you’d like to learn more about coax terminators, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s what you need to know about coaxial terminators!

Table of Contents

Reasons to Use Coax Terminator

Connecting coaxial cables to an LNB of a satellite antenna

Caption: Connecting coaxial cables to an LNB of a satellite antenna

As the word suggests, this accessory terminates coax ports indoors and outdoors. So, your network remains safe. Here are the reasons to use a coax terminator in detail.

Enhanced Network Performance

The experts estimate that terminating an unnecessary port is beneficial. Therefore, it can improve the signal-to-noise ratio over 5db. Consequently, if a subscriber cancels a digital cable or another service, providers don’t have to worry about cables. Instead, they can terminate the port electronically and maintain optimal network performance.

No Tap Corrosion Risk

Providers often place cable taps in a neighborhood where there aren’t enough subscribers to use the ports. Consequently, ports remain open, which leads to issues like mold and corrosion. That compromises tap performance and affects the signal quality. So, with the help of a terminator, there is no tap corrosion risk.

Organizing Cables

If you have numerous cables and taps in a small area, it can be a true mess. Consequently, technicians will spend much time only figuring out where each cable goes. A coax terminator allows you to remove unnecessary cables. So, you achieve better organization and save the technician’s time.

Check out this video to learn more about electrical termination.

Main Types of Coax Terminator

BNC video terminators

Caption: BNC video terminators

It’s vital to choose the right coax terminator for your installation. Fortunately, there’s not much to choose from since you have only two types available. Consequently, you’ll pick from the following:

  • BNC Type. Most equipment installations feature an impedance of 50 Ohm. Consequently, the BNC type is a smart choice for these frequencies, which are low to medium. 
  • F Type. You use the F type for high frequencies. So, those could be UHF, VHF, and TV signals. The F type supports a 75 Ohm impedance, so it fits these frequencies.

What You Can Do to Avoid Issues with Coax Terminator

Caption: A set of BNC sockets with a terminator and coax cable on a white background

Even the terminator will face some problems. Here are some other tips to avoid issues with these accessories:

  • Use terminators resistant to a bad environment.  A coax terminator should be resistant to severe weather conditions. If it’s outdoors, the odds are it will face rain and other environmental elements. So, it needs to rise up to the challenge. It’s wise to go with all nickel plating and brass material for the accessory. That can apply in environments with a high corrosion risk.
  • Use locking terminators. These are harder to remove because it’s impossible without a special tool. If you only try to turn the barrel, it will move freely. 

Conclusion

So, a terminator is a crucial accessory for coaxial ports. It protects them from corrosion while helping to maintain strong network performance. So, if you are preparing for a cable assembly project, don’t hesitate to contact us for help. Our experts are ready to assist and ensure the equipment and other project details meet your expectations!