A BNC Connector (Bayonet Neill-Concelman) is simply a radio frequency connector used for terminating a coaxial cable.The name comes from a combination of the two inventors of the device: Paul Neill and Carl Concelman. The “Bayonet” part of the name comes from the way it was planned to be developed, which involved a bayonet mount type mechanism used for locking it in place.

A BNC connector itself is used for applications in processing analog and digital video signals. Although it is mainly used for video signals, the cable can also transmit audio if needed. There are two different types of connectors available today. They come in 50 ohm and 75 ohm versions. The 50 ohm versions are primarily used for  data and RF, whereas the 75 ohm versions are typically used for DS3 Telco and video applications. They are specified to use both 2 GHz and 4 GHz frequencies.

This device also goes by other names that have been generated over years of use, including the “Baby Neill-Concelman”, “Baby N connector”, “British Naval Connector”, “Bayonet Naval Connector”, and even “Bayonet Nut Connector”. It should be noted that all of these names are obviously just backronyms. Backronyms are reverse acronyms that are made up by people to invent alternate names for devices, almost always being a incorrect version of what the acronym actually stands for. If you catch someone using one of these names for the device it may be a good idea to kindly inform them what BNC actually stands for. No use letting the inconsistencies continue.

BNC connectors in the past have been used for connecting Ethernet networks up. Today, this has fallen out of practice because of the fact that we tend not to use coaxial cables for the connections anymore. This type of connector is also used in aviation, radio technology, and electronic test equipment.

A similar connector to the BNC connector is the TNC connector, which is an abbreviation of Threaded Neill-Concelman connector. It performs better than the BNC connector at microwave frequencies. While BNC connectors are used commonly in nuclear instrumentation module electronics, they frequetly being replaced by LEMO 00 connectors, which alow for a much higher density. Other connecters include the MHV (miniature high voltage) and SHV (safe high voltage) connecters, which are used when a higher voltage connector is needed.

Sometimes a removal tool needs to be used on BNC connectors depedning if they are in a highdensity or hard to reach area (such as a heavily wired patch panel).

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