BNC Connectors

Male and female BNC connectorsBNC is a connector used for carrying composite video signals of moderate bandwidth over a coaxial cable. It is widely used in television and other professional situations, being a more robust option than the consumer-level phono (RCA) connector.

The BNC connector comes in two types: male and female. It a cylindrical bayonet mechanism that operates with a twist-locking motion. To connect, align the grooves of the male connector with the projections on the female connector. Push them together and twist until they lock.

Various multi-connectors and adaptors are available. Common adaptors to other connectors include BNC-to-RCA and BNC-to-F-type.

Although their primary use is in professional video equipment, BNC connectors are sometimes used in other areas such as medical equipment. They are occasionally used in home entertainment systems.

BNC connectors were also used extensively in computer networks in the late 20th Century, specifically 10base2 Ethernet networks. Other types of connections have since become more common in network applications.

Etymology

BNC is an acronym, but there are many different versions of what it stands for. Common variations include:

The most historically correct version is probably Bayonet Neill-Concelman, named after Paul Neill of Bell Labs and Carl Concelman from Amphenol. The BNC connection was derived from larger connectors invented by these engineers — the N connector (Paul Neill) and the C connector (Carl Concelman).