Featured Articles
  • What is a Ballast Connector?

    A ballast connector is used to link a fluorescent or igh-intensity discharge (HID) lamp to its ballast — the device that regulates current and voltage to the bulb. In carrying the controlled electrical current from the ballast to the lamp, the ballast connector ensures stable power delivery. The increase in LED use is driving downRead More

  • What is an Adhesive Mount Antenna?

    An adhesive mount antenna is a low-profile external antenna that is attached to a surface using a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing, typically a foam tape. Available in single-band and multiband configurations covering cellular (2G through 5G), GNSS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and combinations, adhesive mount antennas are commonly used for vehicle telematics, fleet tracking, IoT gateways, and assetRead More

Learning Tools

5G Networks Demand More From Cables and Connectors

A new generation of fiber optic cable and high-speed connectivity products is laying the groundwork required to make 5G networks possible. Providers of fiber optic cables, high-speed connectors, and cable management systems are all gearing up to meet the challenges of developing the infrastructure required for 5G network deployment. The impending arrival of 5G networksRead More

The World is Flat: FFCs Define Future Applications

Flat flexible cables are sliding into places other cables dare not go and help keep devices cool, light, and fast. In the realm of cables, the usual suspects are round. A cylindrical package is a logical design to surround a centrally positioned conductor within insulation or to encase a bundle of fibers. However, that logicRead More

Counterfeit Connectors: A Matter of Life and Death in the Medical Device Industry

It’s imperative that medical device manufacturers use authentic connectors. Counterfeit connectors and other fake components can pose serious risks to patients, providers, and companies. Counterfeit connectors are always a problem. When they are used in medical devices, they can pose a serious risk of harm or even death to the patients who use them. OutfittingRead More

Use-Limiting Technology Protects Patients

Designing electronic medical devices with use-limiting technology safeguards patients and operators by preventing unauthorized reuse or refurbishment. By David Smith, Sr. Electrical Engineer, and Tyler Yang, Mechanical Engineer, ATL Technology  It’s no secret that cost is often a critical component of medical care, so it’s no surprise that cost is often the primary factor impactingRead More

Fiber Optic Cable Unleashes a New Breed of Broadcasting

As video traffic increases and image quality improves, the quality of the cable used to transmit and receive the broadcast has never been more important. Fiber optic cable is getting the signal across. There are many reasons that broadcasters are moving from copper to fiber optic cable, including high-bandwidth performance and real-time and reliable transmissions.Read More

Waterproof Connectors for Portable Devices

Product designers have to account for the real possibility that a small consumer device will get splashed on or dropped into the drink. The right waterproof connector can save the day. Spilling a drink or splashing water on portable device chargers and ports has long resulted in inevitable device damage. However, the increased prevalence ofRead More

Where do Rare or Discontinued Connectors Go?

A network of authorized secondary distributors stocks rare or discontinued connectors. Every year, thousands of new connector designs enter the market. Many of these products meet the needs of new applications, but others replace a previous generation of a similar product. Typically, component manufacturers anticipate these changes and reduce production towards the end of aRead More

M12 Connectors Provide Rugged Performance for Industrial Ethernet

In traditional office environments, Ethernet connections are typically made using the standard RJ45 connector. However, when Ethernet migrates to industrial environments, a wide range of contaminants come into play, making M12 connectors a more durable choice. Ethernet first came into use in computer networking technologies in the 1980s, providing communications on local and wide areaRead More

Underwater Connectors Stand up to the Pressure

Underwater connectors in military electronics designed for submarines and other deep-sea applications must endure pressure, temperature cycling, seawater corrosion, and different types of shock. One of the harshest environments military electronics systems must withstand is the deep sea. Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) that dive deep must stand up to high pressure, while submarines must withstandRead More

Ethernet Cable for the Internet of Things

Ethernet is the leading network protocol in LAN applications. Today, it’s gaining ground in transportation, automotive, and industrial applications, thanks to new cabling strategies. In the early 1980s, at the start of the Ethernet era, coaxial cabling dominated and cheap yellow Ethernet cable became ubiquitous. In the 1990s, the focus shifted to cabling solutions basedRead More

QSFP-DD Strategies Help Data Centers Keep Cool

The Quad Small Form Factor Pluggable Double Density (QSFP-DD) is the industry’s smallest 400GbE module and provides the highest port bandwidth density. Rigorous tests verify its suitability as a next-generation high-density, high-speed pluggable module. The thermal performance of the Quad Small Form Factor Pluggable Double Density (QSFP-DD) module has been extensively evaluated for use in aRead More

Connector Supplier’s 2019 How-to-Specify eBook

Our 2019 How-to-Specify eBook contains a collection of best practices and product solutions contributed by industry-leading suppliers dedicated to designing, developing, and delivering connector and cabling technologies with the versatility, durability, innovation, and peak performance required to satisfy challenging application demands across various markets. Topics include connector characteristics, application-specific solutions ranging from consumer to medicalRead More

2026 World Connector Market Handbook 2025-2031F
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