Buying guides
BNC Connector Types: Crimp, Twist-On or Spring Loaded
Crimp, twist-on or spring loaded: how to pick the BNC connector for an existing CCTV coax run, by cable type and the tools you have.
For an existing CCTV coax run, a BNC connector comes in three styles: crimp, twist-on and spring loaded. They all fit a BNC socket, so the choice comes down to the cable you are terminating and the tools you have. A crimp connector needs a coaxial crimping tool, a twist-on connector needs no crimping tool or soldering, and the spring loaded Q9 type suits both RG59 and RG6.
Crimp BNC connectors
A crimp connector is fixed to the cable with a crimping tool. The 3-piece BNC male crimp connector for RG59 is made of three parts: the connector body, the centre pin and the crimp sleeve. The product data says it needs a standard coaxial crimping tool, and that it works with analogue CCTV and HD-over-coax formats such as HD-TVI, AHD and CVI.
If your cable is RG6 rather than RG59, the BNC male crimp connector for RG59 and RG6 names both cable types. It also uses crimp termination and standard crimping tools. Crimping gives strong mechanical retention.
Twist-on (screw-on) BNC connectors
A twist-on connector screws onto the prepared cable end. The BNC twist-on male connector for RG59 is listed for RG59 and attaches without crimping tools or soldering. It is also listed for analogue CCTV and the HD-TVI, AHD and CVI formats. It is listed for RG59, so for RG6 choose the crimp connector for RG59 and RG6 or the Q9 type instead.
Spring loaded Q9 connectors
The spring loaded BNC Q9 male connector has a spring-loaded internal contact that keeps steady pressure for the electrical connection. It is listed for RG59 and RG6 and for analogue, TVI, AHD and CVI systems. It has a precision-machined metal body.
Which one should you choose?
- You have a crimping tool and RG59: the 3-piece crimp connector.
- You have RG59 and no tool: the twist-on connector.
- The cable is RG6: the crimp connector for RG59 and RG6, or the spring loaded Q9.
Whichever you choose, count the connectors you need before ordering. If a cable is too short and you are keeping two terminated ends, a BNC female to female coupler joins the two male connectors. You can see every plug, coupler and adapter we stock in the Connectors category.
Fitting a BNC connector to coax
Fit the connector to the prepared cable end, pull gently on it to confirm it holds, then connect the camera and check the picture on the recorder.
