How To Extend Coaxial Cable For My TV Antenna or Cable box or Satellite

So, you purchased a new TV Antenna with attached cable, only to discover it is not long enough to connect. Or maybe you want to move your cable set-up to a new location and your current cord doesn’t reach. Well, we have a solution to solve both these situations. Just following these easy steps will get you up and running in no time. 

But, before we begin, here are a few things that you will need to get started:

Now that you know what items you’ll need, you are ready to begin.

Part 1:  Steps to Measure your Cable Cord and Determine the Ports

1.    Grab your cable cord and measuring tape and measure the distance between the cord and the location you’ll be plugging in to. Then add 1 – 2 feet (0.30-0.61 m) to that measurement for slack in the cord. This measurement determines how long of an extension cable you need. Be sure to write the measurement down so you can refer to it later.

Note: If you already have a cable cord installed, there is no need for cutting and crimping to extend it. It’s much easier and simpler to install a coaxial coupler to extend the cable. 

A coaxial coupler, also known as an F-type Barrel Adapter or F-type Barrel Coaxial Cable Extension. This  small metal adapter used to connect two coaxial cables together. Be sure not to get an F-Type Adapter kit as this is used for installing an adapter on a new coaxial cord.  

2.    Looking at the cable you need to extend, find the metal piece attached to the end of the cord. Inspect the middle of the connector to see if there is a metal piece sticking out or a hole in the center. If there is a metal piece sticking out it is called a plug; if there is a hole in the center it is called a jack. Write down the type of connection it is and take a photo for reference, this way it will be easier when you go to purchase your coupler. 

Note: Plug and jack connectors are also referred to as male and female connectors. If you are extending the cable cord coming from your wall, it will have a plug at the end.

3.    Find the port that you want to connect your cord to and determine if it is a plug or jack.  Write this information down and take a photo of the connection. This details will help you determine what type of cord and coaxial barrel you’ll need.

4.   Check the type of coaxial cable you have. To determine what type it is, look on the outer jacket it should be written there. Most likely you have standard RG6 cable since it is the one most commonly used in residential applications.

5.    When you are ready to purchase a coaxial F-type barrel for your pre-existing cord, you can find them at Coaxial Cable Connectors or at your local electronics store.

6.    Purchase an extension cord that will be long enough to connect to the port of your pre-existing cable. Make sure this cord has a plug on one end to connect it to the coupler. On the other end of the cord it must have a connection that matches the port on your cable box, modem, or server.

  Reminder: This cord has to be the same type as the cord already in your wall. Typically, the cord is going to be an RG-6.

Part 2 :  Extending the Cable Cord

1.    Attaching the coaxial coupler to the extension cord is very easy and can be done by hand. First, you will slide the coupler into the cord you are extending and proceed to turn it clockwise until the threading catches. Once it catches, continue turning the coupler until it’s nice and snug and won’t turn any further. Typically, no tools are needed for this step but if you have a coupler that has flat sides around the bracket, you can use a wrench to screw the coupler in.

2.    It’s time to attach the extension cable to the coaxial coupler. Taking the plug end of your extension cable, proceed to screw it into the coupler by twisting in a clockwise motion. Continue turning the cord until its nice and snug and won’t turn any further. If you have a coupler that has flat sides around the rim, you can use a wrench to twist it into place.

3.    In this final step, you will plug in your extended cable and test the connection. Grab the final end of the cord and insert it into the port on your TV, modem, or server. Turn it clockwise until the threading catches and continue turning it until it is snug and won’t turn any further. 

Now it’s time for the test. Proceed to turn on your TV, modem, or server and test the connection. If everything works fine, you are all done!

Note: If your connection is not working, make sure the cords and connections are installed tight to the ports. If it is still not work, you may have a problem with your cable provider or an issue with the wiring to your house.

Do coax extenders cause signal loss? 

If your just extending the cable the loss of the barrel connector is very little. There is also loss for the extra length of cable, but in order to see it the extra cable should be super long.

Can I use 2-way Coax splitter to extend my coaxial cable?

 A two way splitter cuts your signal by half. If you’re looking to extend the coax, either get a longer cable or use a barrel connector to connect a cable to that making it longer. 

Under NO circumstances should a splitter be used if your not actually trying to hook up other devices to it. When you leave a port open on a splitter you can push interference in to the cable network.