Loose Aerial Plugs

Antenna plugs - A wide selection at avXperten

Anyone who has experienced problems with their TV or internet signal knows the frustrations and inconveniences that come with it.

A top match from the Premier League, the final in the Baking Challenge, or something else you were looking forward to, you might have missed it because you were fiddling with the antenna cable on the floor, which should work as everything is connected and powered on at both ends.

If you can relate to such a situation, you have probably also experienced that your efforts were in vain.

In many cases, it is indeed your antenna plugs that are the cause of the problem. They are small but extremely important, as the quality of your antenna plugs affects everything coming from your antenna - both TV signal and internet connection.

Antenna plugs, also known as TV plugs, are the small “adapters” or connections found at the end of the cables leading from your antenna to, for example, your smart TV. They are the ones that ensure that your signal is actually transmitted further.

Most people naturally think that it is the antenna cable or wire itself that causes the signal disturbance experienced, but in fact, it is often these small plugs that are the troublemakers.

Thus, it is important that you ensure to check your antenna plugs, which also means that you need to understand the composition and function of the plugs. If you neglect this, you risk, like many others, ending up spending large sums on buying entirely new antenna cables.

This money is simply wasted if it is only your antenna plugs that are creating the problems.

At avXperten, you will find only the best quality products in our selection of antenna plugs here on the site - we care about our customers and their TV and internet signals, which is why we only offer products that we vouch for and would use ourselves.

How do antenna plugs work?

An antenna plug, like many other plugs in the home, comes from a source. In this case, the source is the antenna. The antenna plug is connected to both the source and the device that needs a signal, usually your TV.

Antenna plugs have various transfer options and can be used to transfer audio and video, which they do in most cases, but in more recent times, antenna plugs are also used for your broadband. You also get your internet connection through the antenna.

Antenna plugs are sometimes referred to as “Coax plugs,” meaning they are coaxial. This means essentially that multiple signals use the same axis, allowing you to get both video and audio through the same plug.

Antenna plugs are, of course, only the end of the installation, as you also have the antenna cables, which come in various thicknesses and shielding.

A Coax plug is mounted on a plug that comes in two types, F and IEC. The IEC cable is the type that is most common and is used as standard between the antenna and the television.

The F cable, on the other hand, is required if you have a satellite box.

An antenna plug is constructed so that it can transmit the signal via the antenna cable. This is important, as the modern home is filled with electronic devices, each emitting a certain amount of electronic noise.

Thus, your antenna plug must not only be able to transmit the signal but also prevent other signals from distorting it. In technical terms, it is said that your signal needs to be HF-tight.

When your signal is HF-tight, you will receive minimal electronic noise from the outside, and the signal will not be disturbed. Here, the shielding cap on your antenna plug also has great significance.

On many existing antenna plugs, the shielding cap is made of plastic, which does not guarantee an HF-tight signal. Therefore, you will likely need to get a new plug if you want the best experience.

You can get many different antenna plugs

You must choose what material the plug should be made of. The best solution is often zinc/nickel, as this provides good insulation, but if you want to be absolutely sure of getting a clear signal, you can also get Coax plugs coated with gold. Gold is a very good conductor in electronics, allowing you to receive an ultra-sharp signal with this type.

In some situations, it can also be smart to get an angled antenna plug. Maybe it's difficult to lead it around behind the TV, or perhaps it gets pushed up against the wall.

Therefore, you can get angled plugs that assist installation. This can be a really good idea, as your antenna cable won't bend as much, which also helps improve your signal.

Additionally, you can get plugs that have screw terminals that just need to be screwed against the cable, and thus the plug stays on. There are many different antenna plugs that you can use depending on how your particular situation looks.

What other things can affect my signal?

Antenna plugs are just one of several factors that can affect your picture on the TV, and these other factors are worth considering.

The cable can definitely be a bigger culprit as well. If the cable runs over a long distance, you will likely lose large portions of the signal's details along the way. The quality of your signal simply deteriorates proportionally with the length of the antenna cable.

Therefore, factors such as the thickness of the cable and the level of shielding should also be considered. These factors also play a role and will again mean whether you need to invest in a new antenna plug or a new cable.

Often, it can also be beneficial to use an antenna amplifier. This ensures that the antenna's signal is strong enough to be carried through cables. When using an antenna amplifier, it is also important to check the connections.

It can also happen that you have not mounted your antenna plug correctly on the antenna cable.

How to mount an antenna plug?

Mounting an antenna plug on an antenna cable is neither difficult nor particularly time-consuming. Therefore, you do not need to be a trained electrician to mount an antenna plug on your own. Just follow our three-step guide below, which is based on a classic IEC antenna plug:

Step 1: Prepare the antenna plug

The first thing you need to do is loosen the small screws that sit on the antenna plug. It is not necessary to take the antenna plug completely apart to mount it on the antenna cable, so just make sure to loosen, not remove, the screws.

Step 2: Stripping the antenna cable

For the antenna cable to fit into the antenna plug, you must strip the cable. You need a common hobby knife for the task. Carefully cut down to the cable's solid inner conductor and expose approximately 8 mm, while bending back another 8 mm of the outer shield, which consists of small metal wires, over the cable jacket. It is important to ensure that none of the small metal wires have twisted around the inner conductor.

Step 3: Mounting in the antenna plug

To fit the antenna cable into the antenna plug, you need to strip the cable. You are now ready to mount your stripped cable in the antenna plug. Insert the cable and you will feel when it is securely in place.

The only thing left to do now is to tighten the screws that were loosened beforehand and check if the cable is securely fastened by gently testing if it can be pulled out of the antenna plug.

Antenna tools

When you are doing an antenna installation at home, it will not usually be necessary to use tools. Nevertheless, it can make the work easier if you use tools designed for working with antenna plugs and cables.

If you acquire a mounting tool, it will go even faster to mount your antenna plug. We offer several varieties, but what they all have in common is that they ensure quick and professional stripping of the cable and securing the antenna plug.

Which antenna plug should you buy?

If you are having trouble choosing which of our antenna plugs to buy, you can read about the advantages and disadvantages of a couple of them below.

The budget-friendly:

Our excellent RF Antenna Plug 9.5 mm for 2 DKK is a fine choice for the price. It is approved according to Danish standards, fits all standard antenna cables, and is angled at 90 degrees so the cable does not have to bend.

The gold-plated:

If you want to be absolutely sure that you get optimal picture and sound quality, you should take this gold-plated RF antenna plug 9.5 mm for 19 DKK. The gold plating makes the antenna plug extremely HF-tight, and it is of course approved according to Danish standards and fits all standard antenna cables.

Compression plug

If you choose a compression plug, you will get a product that has an extra tight connection and ensures a remarkably sharp image and beautiful, clean sound. The compression plug must be mounted with a crimping tool, also known as a compression tool, which we also sell in the webshop.

The compression plug meets the requirements of the AFO (Agreement for Common Antenna Area). Therefore, you can be sure that your plug meets a high, international standard.

The recommended:

Stofa and YouSee recommend their customers use antenna plugs that at a minimum utilize Class A antenna components. This Triax KOKWI 4 IEC antenna plug for 29 DKK is recommended by both YouSee and Stofa and is also HF-tight and very easy to mount without tools. Additionally, the plug is designed for installation behind very thin flat screens.

What else do you need besides an antenna plug?

If you buy loose antenna plugs in our webshop, there are several other products you might consider adding to your shopping cart. For example, you will need an antenna cable without a plug, unless you choose the already pre-assembled model.

If you have multiple devices to connect to the antenna, you will need a splitter, or perhaps your home is arranged in a way that makes it necessary to use a distribution amplifier. We sell a variety of adapters including F to Coax adapter, Coax angle adapter, and galvanic isolator.

You may also find that you need a signal amplifier or a attenuator. You typically need to amplify your signal if you are using a splitter, as this weakens the signal. This happens simply because multiple devices share the same signal.

An attenuator is used when your antenna signal is too strong. It may sound strange, but an antenna signal can actually become too strong, for example, if you receive antenna signal via DVB-T and live close to a transmission mast. A too strong transmission signal results in pixel errors and drops in the picture.

Some choose an installation that requires a modulator. An RF modulator can transmit audio and video data over the antenna installation in a home, allowing all TVs in the home to access content on a HDD recorder.