Common TV/VCR/DVD ports and cables
RCA (aka phone plug) – circular with thick single pole, can be used for video and/or audio
Common applications:
- Three plugs on each end of a cable used for VCR or DVD (two for stereo audio – often red and white- and one for composite video – often yellow)
- Three plugs on each end of a cable for component video on DVD (often red, blue and green – as seen to the right) – NOTE: This cable only carries video so you have to hook up your DVD audio to a TV, stereo or home theater system.
- Two plugs on each end of a cable for stereo audio
S-Video – four pin, circular plug used for video ONLY (does not carry audio) Provides better quality than composite RCA cable
Common application:
- Connecting VCR and DVD to televisions that do not have component video inputs
F-type – single thin pin circular plug. Can be push on or *** on. Carries both audio and video
Common application:
- Cable television
Common Computer Ports and Cables
USB – flat, rectangular plug/port used for many peripherals. There are two sizes: A and B. You can get cables with both ends A or B or a cable with A on one end and B on the other.
Common applications:
- Scanners
- External floppy drives
- PDA cradles
- Digital cameras
- Web cams
VGA – multi pin plug/port used for monitors. Also used to connect laptops to LCD projectors
Firewire/IEEE-1394 – flat plug, smaller than USB used for CD-Burners, external drives, camcorders. Comes in two sizes: four pin and six pin
Mini-jack – small, single pole plug used for audio
RJ-11/RJ-45 – “phone jack” plugs, RJ11 is the phone jack for modem connections, RJ45 is the “fatter” jack used for network connections and to connect to DSL and cable modems.
Helpful Resources
Hookup Guides and Info from Monster Cable
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