Long story short, my theater room came pre-wired for 5.1 sound; The speaker wires I can deal with, but the installer ran what appears to be coax for the sub connection.

I suppose my question is, how do I connect rca connectors to coax cable? Are there connectors made specifically for this? (coax - rca)

Thanks!

I suppose my question is, how do I connect rca connectors to coax cable? Are there connectors made specifically for this? (coax - rca)Yes. You'll need the correct tool. If all you can do with your tool is attach F ends, there are F to RCA adapters available very cheaply.

Coax IS the correct cabling for the sub, btw. Which wall and where does the sub cable exit, exactly?

Like this?
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103580

Like this?
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103580That's a F to RCA adapter, so there would need to be an F end there. But there ARE plain ol' RCAs that attach directly to coax cabling. It was unclear whether the OP's cable was already terminated with an F end.

You bet... but he never stated the coax was unterminated. ;)
Just starting with the simple solution/assumption.

Yes. You'll need the correct tool. If all you can do with your tool is attach F ends, there are F to RCA adapters available very cheaply.

Coax IS the correct cabling for the sub, btw. Which wall and where does the sub cable exit, exactly?

Just to clarify, the coax is currently bare with no F ends present. What tool / connectors would I need to wire directly to RCA?

The cable exits in the left rear corner of the room.

That's a F to RCA adapter, so there would need to be an F end there. But there ARE RCAs that attach directly to coax cabling.

This is what I'm looking for, but cannot seem to find. All the RCA's I'm seeing are solder type for twisted pair I'm assuming...

If the coax is unterminated, call the installer to terminate properly.
By the time you buy the connectors and tools to do it yourself, you'll be out ~$50+

If the coax is unterminated, call the installer to terminate properly.
By the time you buy the connectors and tools to do it yourself, you'll be out ~$50+

The installer, who can't be bothered to come out this week, is asking twice that :mad:

Besides, I'm all for learning a new skill...

http://www.techtoolsupply.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=145
http://www.techtoolsupply.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=640

Well, you can get cheaper crimping tools that what is in those links. Is it RG-59 or RG-6? For crimping tools you may want to check out what they have at Home Depot, Lowe's, or Radio Shack. I think the crimping tools come with adapters for different types of ends. You may be able to get a cheaper tool that will only do the plain ol' usual F ends, which you can then attach an adapter like the one that Ratman linked you to.

Here is a link to a crimp-on RCA for RG-59:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=090-263


I think that there are also twist on RCA ends for coax cable, but I do not know how well these work.

Here is the sort of F crimper you can probably get locally:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=360-048

You may need something like this, too:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=360-016

Should be able to find a tool that has both functions.

I don't know if the cost is a concern or not (if you only need one, probably not), but you can get the F to RCA adapters for less than the $5 RS is charging. HD or Lowe's will probably have those, too. If not, a good local hardware store should have them.

Do not use twist on F connectors.

You can do the crimp route also... that's what I've done. You can get a crimper for coax (RG59, RG6 RG6QS) at Home Depot for ~$40.

You can get a crimper for coax (RG59, RG6 RG6QS) at Home Depot for ~$40.Yep, you're spot-on. :D This is the least expensive they are listing on their site.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100661695

Nicer tool than what I linked above, btw.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction guys; Will go the crimp route :)

And... don't use that installer for future projects. :)

And... don't use that installer for future projects. :)At least he correctly ran coax for the sub! :D When I first hit this thread I thought it was going to be another one of those "installer ran speaker cable for my sub" threads.

IMHO, any "installer" that runs an unterminated coax, especially when it was specifically run for a subwoofer, is lazy and/or incompetent.

IMHO, any "installer" that runs an unterminated coax, especially when it was specifically run for a subwoofer, is lazy and/or incompetent.I think it's pretty common. Not sure why though. Maybe so that their is some flexibility as far as a wall plate or whatever is concerned.

C'mon...
An installer with any common sense should ask the customer, "RCA or F connector" before they leave the job site.

I'd be willing to bet that the speaker wires are probably unlabeled and pulled through a hole punched in the drywall. ;)

Lord knows what gauge speaker wire was run and if it's even CL rated!

Better yet, get this one: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=360-680%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&FTR=360-680&CFID=12068843&CFTOKEN=89558138

Then you can buy different dies to crimp splices, coax, RCA's, etc. Saves a lot of money, and the dies are easy to change. I have had mine for over a year, and very pleased with it.

People, for RF you need to crimp it using the correct tools and connectors.

For analogue <100Hz for a sub just solder a female RCA (or wallplate) to either end. The centre of the coax goes to the RCA centre pin and the shield can be twisted together and soldered to the other tab.

However, I would get the installer back there to finish the job correctly.

An installer with any common sense should ask the customer, "RCA or F connector" before they leave the job site.Jus' sayin'. Unterminated IS the way it is usually left.

Jus' sayin'. Unterminated IS the way it is usually left.Down here I have never seen an installation left incomplete, ie needing connectors, unless it was specifically quoted that way. Most customers will want to just plug gear in, or more likely, have the installer set it up so they just turn it on and use it.

Installation is just that IMO. Plug and play.
What good is an "installation" if someone has to do more work?

It's like buying a car without a key. ;)