People come to SolidSignal.com to get “the best” equipment, the stuff professional installers use. And, one of the most common things people do when expanding their home entertainment system is make cables. It’s only fair then to ask, “What’s the best RG6 connector.”
It’s a loaded question
Of course there are a lot of choices out there and there are a lot of different uses for RG6 connectors. Before I mention two brands in particular, I’d like to give a shoutout to Digicon, Antennas Direct, Eagle Aspen, Amphenol RF, Thomas&Betts, and other companies who make excellent quality connectors that will work very well for pretty much every need. It’s not completely fair to single out two brands, but I’m going to do it anyway. If you’ve chosen one of the other brands I’ve mentioned, don’t worry. You’ve chosen well, and chances are you’ll have great success.
Still, there are two companies that professionals mention over and over again, the ones that are specified by DIRECTV and DISH as well as private installation companies throughout the company.
Perfect Vision
Perfect Vision’s Ridgeloc connectors are the preferred connector for most satellite installs. They’ve been designed to meet every single standard for RG6 cabling. DIRECTV and DISH recommend this connector for their installs and you’ll find it in those companies’ trucks. The Ridgeloc connector is durable, easy to install, and features a unique ridged outer seal so that it goes together permanently and provides a really weather-resistant seal. Personally this is the connector I use for satellite work and it’s never gone wrong for me.
Ridgeloc connectors are a little more expensive but they are worth it if you’re the sort of person who wants to do an installation once and never have to worry about it again. I’ve made cables with Perfect Vision connectors that are still happily braving the elements eight years later.
Belden
Professional installer consider Belden connectors the “gold standard” for commercial installs of all sorts. They are one of the world’s largest manufacturers of wire and cable products. Their Snap-n-Seal connectors are approved for virtually every RG6 implementation. I look at a lot of professional bid requests and Belden is the name I see more often than any other. If you’re looking for a good general-purpose choice, look no further than Belden products.
Belden connectors close perfectly and tightly the first time and they are compatible with virtually every compression tool I’ve ever seen. You simply can’t go wrong in an installation using Belden products, which is why they are so commonly specified.
What about the others?
As I said, there are a lot of high-quality connectors out there and you shouldn’t worry if you’ve used a high-quality connector and it’s still out there working for you. A lot of times it comes down to the time you spend putting one together or the compatibility with the cable you’re using, not the overall quality of the connector. If you’re using a high-quality connector on your high-quality cable and it works for you, there’s no reason to stop.
Do you really need a high-quality connector?
There’s definitely a hierarchy when it comes to cables. Satellite TV demands the best possible connector to make sure that you get the most signal passing through. This is due to its high bandwidth and high frequency. TV antennas and cellular boosters are far less picky, because they use a lower-frequency signal in most cases. If you’re distributing signal through your home using an RF modulator, virtually any cable and connector combo will work. Even the stuff you get at home stores should suffice.
Of course the best place to get a massive selection of cables and connectors is SolidSignal.com, so take a look now and find what you need! If you have questions, call the experts at 888-233-7563. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below. We’ll get right back to you!
