# item.guide
Side-by-Side Comparison Jack Connectors

Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series) vs. RCA

Comparing 2 standards across 14 specifications. 14 key differences identified.

Comparing:
Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series)
RCA

Coaxial cables transmit high-frequency radio frequency (RF) and television signals under MIL-C-17 standards through a concentric center conductor, dielectric insulator, metallic shield, and outer jacket, categorized into 75-Ohm video/broadband series (RG-6, RG-59, RG-11) and 50-Ohm wireless/RF series (RG-58, RG-8X, LMR-400).

View full Coaxial Cable Types (RG Series) spec sheet →

The RCA connector, introduced by RCA Corporation around 1937, is a de facto industry-standard connector for consumer audio and composite video -- there is no formal mechanical specification for the connector itself, though the composite video signal it typically carries targets a nominal 75-ohm impedance.

View full RCA spec sheet →

Specification Comparison Table

14 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
Governing Standards
MIL-C-17 / SCTE (Society of Cable Telecom Engineers) / ANSI/TIA-568 —
RG-6 / RG-6 Quad Shield (75Ω)
Center Conductor: 18 AWG (1.02 mm) | Outer Dia: 6.86 mm (0.270") | Satellite TV, Cable DOCSIS 3.1, HDTV Antennas —
RG-59 (75Ω Legacy / CCTV)
Center Conductor: 20–22 AWG (0.81 mm) | Outer Dia: 6.15 mm (0.242") | Baseband analog CCTV, short-run composite video —
RG-11 (75Ω Long-Distance Drop)
Center Conductor: 14 AWG (1.63 mm) | Outer Dia: 10.3 mm (0.405") | Heavy low-loss underground long-run drops —
RG-58 (50Ω RF / Two-Way Radio)
Center Conductor: 20 AWG (0.90 mm) stranded | Outer Dia: 4.95 mm | CB Radio, amateur VHF/UHF, Wi-Fi pigtails —
LMR-400 (50Ω Ultra Low-Loss)
Center Conductor: 10 AWG (2.74 mm) solid copper-clad aluminum | Cellular towers, 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi antenna masts —
Impedance Matching Rule
Never mix 50Ω and 75Ω systems; impedance mismatch causes high Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) and RF reflections —
Connector Family
— Coaxial Phono Connector
Outer Shell / Contact Diameter
— 8.3–8.5 mm (Outer) | 3.175 mm (Center Pin)
Conductors / Contacts
— 2 (Center Pin, Outer Shield Ring)
Signal Format
— Unbalanced Line-Level Audio / Composite Video / S/PDIF
Standard Pinout
— Center Pin: Positive Signal (+) | Outer Ring: Ground / Shield (-)
Characteristic Impedance
— 75 Ω (Video / S/PDIF) | ~50 Ω (Audio)
Primary Applications
— Home theater receivers, DJ turntables/mixers, composite/component video, S/PDIF digital