The RFID antenna is the radiating element that links an RFID reader to passive or active tags. It reaches the rest of the system through an RF interface, most often a 50 Ω reverse-polarity TNC (RP-TNC) coaxial connector on fixed UHF readers. This component operates anywhere from 125 kHz to 5.8 GHz, and is mostRead More

This communication architecture allows for the smooth exchange of data inside a computer, or occasionally between different systems, components, and applications. A data bus is the set of connections within the CPU, memory, and peripherals used to carry data and is one of the main factors in a computer’s processing power. It consists of hardwareRead More

Antenna connectors are specialized RF coaxial connectors used to link antennas to coaxial or RF cables that connect to an electronic device such as a router, radio, transceiver, television, or wireless infrastructure. They are used in Wi-Fi and IoT devices, GNSS and navigation, aerospace and defense, and automotive systems. They carry radio-frequency signals through aRead More

Meet the Connector: TNC Connectors A threaded variant of the BNC, this RF connector is favored for applications in which vibration or shock is present. TNC connectors are a threaded version of the popular BNC, a circular radio frequency connector used to connect RF cables and devices. Its 7/16″-28 threads can be tightened to reinforceRead More

Meet the Connector: IPC-620-Space Addendum IPC/WHMA-A-620 is the global industry-consensus standard for cable and wire harness assemblies; the space addendum pertains to technologies used in space and other extreme harsh environments.  It defines workmanship, materials, process, inspection, and acceptability criteria. The IPC-620 Space Addendum is a specialized supplement to IPC/WHMA-A-620, the industry’s primary standard for the acceptability of cableRead More

The annual Top 10 series from Bishop & Associates identifies the leading connector companies by world connector sales, geographic region, markets served, and products manufactured. This week: The top 10 companies by product types. Selecting your connector company partner can be difficult and complicated. This is especially true with over 1,000 connector manufacturers globally toRead More

Bishop & Associates identifies the top 10 companies in world connector sales by geographic region, manufactured products, and markets served. The third article in this annual series focuses on the leading companies in each of the end-use equipment markets. Selecting your connector company partner can be difficult and complicated. This is especially true with overRead More

Bishop & Associates identifies the top 10 companies in world connector sales by geographic region, manufactured products, and markets served. The third article in this annual series focuses on the top 10 companies by geographic region. A Look at Regional Leaders Selecting your connector company partner can be difficult and complicated. This is especially trueRead More

New-to-market connectivity products, including interconnects, wire, cable, and cable assemblies, sensors, antennas, materials, accessories, tools, and development kits. September 2025 New Connectivity Products September 2025 New Connectivity Products > Interconnects, etc. DigiKey added more than 32,000 innovative new product introductions (NPIs) in the second quarter of 2025, extensively expanding its range of products available for same-day shipment. In total, the distributor added over 236,000 new productsRead More

Meet the Antenna: GNSS Antennas GNSS antennas receive signals containing positioning and timing data from satellite constellations. They are used in a wide variety of applications from smart transportation and navigation to surveying and infrastructure inspections. GNSS (global navigation satellite system) antennas receive signals from satellite systems: GPS in the United States, Galileo in theRead More

Meet the Connector: Precision RF Connectors Precision RF connectors are used to transmit an RF (radio frequency) signal from one point to another. They are typically used for higher frequencies in test and calibration applications that require high performance. Precision RF connectors are generally broken down into two key categories, instrument-grade connectors (IGC) and metrology-gradeRead More

Meet the Connector: 7/16 DIN Connectors The 7/16 interface was originally developed in Europe in the 1960s for the military. Also referred to simply as 7/16, this interface is a 50 Ω threaded RF connector used to join cables and equipment. The name is derived from the contact measurements: 7 mm outer diameter of theRead More