TV Aerial Plug

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TV Aerial Plug

Aerial Socket on a Sony TV

The Belling-Lee connector or IEC 169-2 connector, more often simply known as TV aerial plug or PAL connector, is the traditional European antenna connector for TV sets and FM-radio receivers. It is the oldest coaxial RF connector still commonly used today. It connects a receiver to a terrestrial VHF/UHF roof antenna, antenna amplifier, or CATV network, via a coaxial cable.

1 History
2 Belling-Lee vs other connectors
3 Variations
4 References
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] History

It was invented at Belling & Lee Ltd in Enfield, England, around 1922, at the time of the first BBC broadcasts. It was originally only intended for medium frequency broadcasts, where accurate impedance matching of an antenna connector is not a concern.

[edit] Belling-Lee vs other connectors

Unlike the coaxial F connector used today for the same purpose in North America, the IEC 169-2 connector is not matched to the 75-ohm impedance of the antenna cable used. The lack of impedance matching causes signal reflections in the cable, leading to noticeable signal distortion on VHF and UHF frequencies (but not MW or Shortwave).

The IEC-169-2 connector is recognized as a source of signal distortion and has become a particular concern with digital signal reception, specifically UHF HDTV.
DAB (digital radio) and other reception modes are not as severely affected by the impedance matching issue, so only HDTV and satellite reception systems are forced to use the F connector.
In spite of being somewhat unsuitable for modern analog VHF and UHF TV frequencies, due to industrial inertia, the Belling-Lee connector is still used today as a TV signal reception connector.
In Europe and the Americas this connector is not used to connect satellite TV antennas. The more electrically suitable 75-ohm F connector is standard.

[edit] Variations

There is also a Miniature Belling Lee connector^{[citation needed]} which was used for internal connections inside some equipment. It looks similar to an ISO 169-2 plug but is smaller.

[edit] References

International Standard IEC 60169-2: Coaxial unmatched connector. (= British Standard BS 3041-2)

[edit] See also

Socket

[edit] External links

How to wire a Belling-Lee connector (TV aerial plug).

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