Abstract: A coaxial cable connector includes an inner barrel having a longitudinal axis, a front end, a rear end, and a compression band between the front and rear ends. A compression collar is mounted to the inner barrel for axial movement over the inner barrel from a retracted position to an advanced position. An inner post of the connector has opposed front and rear ends, and the front end of the inner barrel is carried at and on the rear end of the inner post. In response to axial movement of the compression collar over the inner barrel, the compression band compresses inward. When a cable is applied to the connector and the compression collar is moved axially forward over the inner barrel, the connector is permanently secured to the cable.

Abstract: A coaxial cable connector includes a cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis, a front end, an opposed rear end, an interior, and an inner surface bounding the interior. A cylindrical inner post extends through the cylindrical body, supports the cylindrical body, and has an outer surface. A coupling nut is carried on the inner post at the front end of the cylindrical body. A first thread is formed on the inner surface of the body and has a ramped entrance directed toward the rear end of the body and a blunt end directed toward the front end of the body. A second thread is formed on the outer surface of the inner post and has a ramped entrance directed toward the rear end of the body, a blunt end directed toward the front end of the body, and a plurality of stops therebetween.

Abstract: A jumper sleeve configured to be installed on an outer side of a male F-connector to facilitate easy connection of and maintain ground continuity across the male F-connector and a female F-connector. In one embodiment, a conductive element is installed on an inner surface of the jumper sleeve and conductively engages an outer surface of the male F-connector to maintain ground continuity across the male and female F-connectors.

Abstract: A tool for compressing a connector onto a coaxial cable includes a pair of gates, a plunger for compressing the connector against the gates and onto the coaxial cable, and an actuator in communication with the gates and the plunger. When the actuator is moved from a first position to a second position, it causes the gates to move from an open to a closed position in which they retain the coaxial cable and brace the connector, and the plunger moves from a first position to a second position in which it engages the connector to compress the connector against the gates and onto the coaxial cable. When the actuator is moved back to its first position, the gates move to their open position thereby releasing the coaxial cable and the plunger moves to its first position thereby disengaging from the connector.

Abstract: A male coaxial connector of the present invention comprises a conductive insert and a coupling nut. The conductive insert has a front end with an annular flange. The coupling nut includes an inner surface defining a bore, wherein the bore at least partially surrounds the conductive insert and is configured to receive a provided female coaxial connector. The coupling nut further includes a locking member extending from its inner surface. The male connector further comprises a torque washer formed from fiber-reinforced rubber and disposed between the flange of the conductive insert and the locking member. When the coupling nut engages a female coaxial connector, the locking member and the torque washer are compressed against the flange of the insert. The compressed locking member and the compressed torque washer each maintain a tension force between the male and female connectors to help prevent separation of the male and female connectors.

Abstract: A coaxial cable connector for connecting to a coaxial cable, the connector including a body having a longitudinal axis, a front end, an opposed rear end, and an interior. The connector also includes an inner post extending through the body and a coupling nut carried on the inner post. A pawl is carried in the interior of the body for engaging with a cable applied to the interior and preventing removal of the cable after being so applied to the interior. The pawl moves out of and into interference with the cable in response to the application of the cable into the interior of the the retraction of the cable off the inner post, respectively.

Abstract: A coaxial cable connector for coupling a coaxial cable to an electrical device includes a body, a threaded fitting, and an alignment mechanism carried and compressed between the body and the fitting so as to exert an axial force against the fitting to maintain electrical contact between the fitting and the body. The body of the connector includes an outer barrel formed with an inner compression band, and a compression collar carried on the outer barrel and formed with an inner compression band. In response to compression of the connector by a compression tool, the inner and outer compression bands deform and move from an uncompressed condition to a compressed condition crimped onto the coaxial cable so as to securely apply the connector to the coaxial cable.

Abstract: A jumper sleeve configured to be installed on an outer side of a male F-connector to facilitate easy connection of and maintain ground continuity across the male F-connector and a female F-connector. In one embodiment, a conductive element is installed on an inner surface of the jumper sleeve and conductively engages an outer surface of the male F-connector to maintain ground continuity across the male and female F-connectors.

Abstract: An amplifier system an amplified path and a bypass path for carrying an RF signal. A switch in the amplified system routes the RF signal through the amplified path in response to a normal condition in the amplifier system, and routes the RF signal through the bypass path in response to an abnormal condition in the amplifier system. The amplified path includes an amplified forward circuit and a return circuit. The amplified forward circuit has an amplifier, and the return circuit has a return amplifier and detection circuitry for providing power to the return amplifier. The detection circuity provides power to the return amplifier in response to a normal condition in the return circuit, and removes power from the return amplifier in response to an abnormal condition in the return circuit.

Abstract: Connectors with locking mechanisms and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A connector in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, for example, can include a connector body having an inner surface defining a first bore and a collet movably received in the first bore. The collet can have an inner surface defining a second bore that is configured to receive a mating second connector. The connector can further include a locking mechanism that is operably coupled to the connector body and has an open position and a closed position. The collet is configured to operably engage the second connector when the locking mechanism is in the closed position and release the second connector when the locking mechanism in the open position.

Abstract: A tool for compressing a connector onto a coaxial cable includes a pair of gates, a plunger for compressing the connector against the gates and onto the coaxial cable, and an actuator in communication with the gates and the plunger. When the actuator is moved from a first position to a second position, it causes the gates to move from an open to a closed position in which they retain the coaxial cable and brace the connector, and the plunger moves from a first position to a second position in which it engages the connector to compress the connector against the gates and onto the coaxial cable. When the actuator is moved back to its first position, the gates move to their open position thereby releasing the coaxial cable and the plunger moves to its first position thereby disengaging from the connector.

Abstract: The present invention helps eliminate ingress noise addition (i.e., the “noise funneling effect” for an HFC coaxial plant). A system according to various aspects of the present invention comprises a switch that includes: (i) a first state for allowing passage of a signal therethrough; and (ii) a second state for preventing passage of the signal therethrough. The system further includes a detection circuit in communication with the switch. The detection circuit is configured to: (i) detect whether the signal includes an amplitude of at least a predetermined level; (ii) operate the switch to the first state if the amplitude of the signal is at least the predetermined level; and (iii) operate the switch to the second state if the amplitude of the signal is less than the predetermined level, wherein operation of the switch to the second state is delayed by a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A coaxial cable connector includes an outer barrel having a longitudinal axis, the outer barrel formed with an inner compression band. A coaxial fitting is mounted at a front end of the outer barrel for coupling to an electrical device, and a coaxial compression collar is applied to the outer barrel. An outer compression band formed in the compression collar moves between an uncompressed condition and a compressed condition in response to axial compression of the coaxial cable connector. Movement of the outer compression band from the uncompressed condition to the compressed condition shapes the inner compressed into a pawl which allows introduction of a cable into the connector and then prevents removal of the cable from the connector.

Abstract: A coaxial cable connector for connecting to a coaxial cable, the connector including a body having a longitudinal axis, a front end, an opposed rear end, and an interior. The connector also includes an inner post extending through the body and a coupling nut carried on the inner post. A pawl is carried in the interior of the body for engaging with a cable applied to the interior and preventing removal of the cable after being so applied to the interior. The pawl moves out of and into interference with the cable in response to the application of the cable into the interior of the the retraction of the cable off the inner post, respectively.

Abstract: A male coaxial connector of the present invention comprises a conductive insert and a coupling nut. The conductive insert has a front end with an annular flange. The coupling nut includes an inner surface defining a bore, wherein the bore at least partially surrounds the conductive insert and is configured to receive a provided female coaxial connector. The coupling nut further includes a locking member extending from its inner surface. The male connector further comprises a torque washer formed from fiber-reinforced rubber and disposed between the flange of the conductive insert and the locking member. When the coupling nut engages a female coaxial connector, the locking member and the torque washer are compressed against the flange of the insert. The compressed locking member and the compressed torque washer each maintain a tension force between the male and female connectors to help prevent separation of the male and female connectors.

Abstract: The present invention helps eliminate ingress noise addition (i.e., the “noise funneling effect” for an HFC coaxial plant). A system according to various aspects of the present invention comprises a switch that includes: (i) a first state for allowing passage of a signal therethrough; and (ii) a second state for preventing passage of the signal therethrough. The system further includes a detection circuit in communication with the switch. The detection circuit is configured to: (i) detect whether the signal includes an amplitude of at least a predetermined level; (ii) operate the switch to the first state if the amplitude of the signal is at least the predetermined level; and (iii) operate the switch to the second state if the amplitude of the signal is less than the predetermined level, wherein operation of the switch to the second state is delayed by a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments of devices for preparing cables, such as devices for pulling back the shield on an end portion of a coaxial cable to prepare the end portion for attachment to a connector. A coaxial cable, with an exposed central conductor, a dielectric insulator, and a shield (e.g., a metallic shield) can be inserted into a bore of a shield pull-back device configured in accordance with the present disclosure. As the cable is inserted into the bore, one or more gripping members can engage the cable shield and pull it back evenly without damaging the central conductor or the dielectric insulator.

Abstract: A house amplifier provides automatic gating to selectively block the return path signal in a cable network. The house amplifier includes ports connected to the cable network and to at least one home coaxial outlet. A forward signal path is coupled to pass a forward signal from the cable network. A reverse signal path is coupled to selectively pass a reverse signal from the home to the cable network. The reverse signal path includes a gate configured to block the reverse signal in response to a control signal. A detector circuit detects when the reverse signal is received and activates or deactivates the gate based on the detection. The detector circuit may include a timing circuit configured to provide a delay before deactivating the gate when the reverse signal is no longer detected.

Abstract: A coaxial cable connector for coupling a coaxial cable to an electrical device includes a body, a threaded fitting, and an alignment mechanism carried and compressed between the body and the fitting so as to exert an axial force against the fitting to maintain electrical contact between the fitting and the body. The body of the connector includes an outer barrel formed with an inner compression band, and a compression collar carried on the outer barrel and formed with an inner compression band. In response to compression of the connector by a compression tool, the inner and outer compression bands deform and move from an uncompressed condition to a compressed condition crimped onto the coaxial cable so as to securely apply the connector to the coaxial cable.

Abstract: A torque application device according to aspects of the present invention comprises (1) a collar for engaging a fastener, (2) a grip coupled to the collar, the grip preferably configured to magnify torque applied to it and to transfer all or part of the magnified torque to the collar, and (3) a slip mechanism to help avoid applying more than a predetermined, maximum amount of torque. The device may further include an indicator (such as a visual, audible and/or tactile indicator) to indicate when a predetermined maximum torque has been reached.