BNC connectors are everywhere in professional video, but they are not the only connector used to carry SDI signals.

Look at the rear panel of some compact video routers, converters, recorders and other high-density broadcast equipment and you may find a much smaller coaxial connector: DIN 1.0/2.3.

DIN 1.0/2.3 allows equipment manufacturers to place more coaxial connections into a limited amount of panel space while still supporting professional 75-ohm video applications when the connector and cable assembly are properly specified.

That creates an important question for installers and production professionals:

When do you need BNC to DIN 1.0/2.3—and how do you choose the right cable?

WHAT IS A DIN 1.0/2.3 CONNECTOR?

DIN 1.0/2.3 is a compact coaxial connector format used in professional communications and video equipment.

For broadcast video applications, 75-ohm versions can be used for SDI signal connections.

The connector is considerably smaller than a traditional full-size BNC, making it useful when equipment manufacturers need to fit many coaxial inputs and outputs onto a small rear panel.

This is why DIN 1.0/2.3 is often associated with high-density professional video equipment.

WHY NOT JUST USE BNC?

BNC remains one of the most widely used connectors in professional video for good reasons.

It is familiar, durable, quick to connect and available across a huge range of broadcast equipment.

Its physical size, however, limits how many connectors can fit on a small equipment panel.

Imagine a compact device that needs 16, 24 or even more coaxial connections.

Full-size BNC connectors require significant panel area and clearance around each connector so technicians can connect and disconnect cables.

A smaller connector such as DIN 1.0/2.3 can help equipment designers increase connection density.

BNC VS DIN 1.0/2.3

Neither connector is automatically “better.”

The equipment determines the connector you need, while the required SDI data rate and distance help determine the appropriate coaxial cable.

WHAT IS A BNC TO DIN 1.0/2.3 CABLE?

A BNC-to-DIN 1.0/2.3 cable connects professional video equipment using a standard BNC interface to equipment using a DIN 1.0/2.3 interface.

For example:

Video Router BNC Output → DIN 1.0/2.3 Monitor Input

or:

DIN 1.0/2.3 Device Output → BNC Patch Panel

The cable does not convert the SDI signal.

It simply provides the appropriate physical connector at each end of the same coaxial signal path.

WHAT ABOUT DIN TO DIN?

If both pieces of equipment use DIN 1.0/2.3 connectors, a DIN-to-DIN SDI cable eliminates the need for a BNC interface entirely.

This can be useful when connecting compatible high-density equipment inside racks or compact production systems.

Common configurations therefore include:

• BNC to BNC
• BNC to DIN 1.0/2.3
• DIN 1.0/2.3 to DIN 1.0/2.3

CAN DIN 1.0/2.3 CARRY 12G-SDI?

DIN 1.0/2.3 is a connector format. Whether a complete cable assembly is appropriate for 12G-SDI depends on the connector, coaxial cable, termination quality and required transmission distance.

For professional 12G-SDI applications, every component in the signal path should be selected for the required bandwidth.

AV-Cables offers 12G-SDI BNC-to-DIN and DIN-to-DIN assemblies using Belden 4855R Mini RG59.

The small diameter of 4855R also complements the space-saving advantage of the compact DIN connector.

WHY MINI RG59 IS A GOOD MATCH FOR DIN

Installing a compact DIN connector on a cable only provides part of the space-saving benefit if the cable itself is unnecessarily large.

Mini RG59 can be particularly useful in high-density rack environments because its smaller diameter helps reduce cable-bundle size and makes routing easier behind equipment.

That combination can provide:

• Smaller cable bundles
• Easier rack routing
• Less congestion behind equipment
• Better access to densely spaced connectors
• Lower mechanical load than larger coax constructions

The cable must still be appropriate for the SDI format and distance being used.

WHERE ARE DIN 1.0/2.3 SDI CABLES USED?

You may encounter DIN 1.0/2.3 connections in professional systems involving:

• Compact video routers
• Multiviewers
• Converters
• Recorders
• Monitoring equipment
• Broadcast racks
• Mobile production systems
• Fly packs
• High-density video equipment

The common theme is connection density: many professional video connections in a limited amount of physical space.

DIN 1.0/2.3 VS HD-BNC

DIN 1.0/2.3 is not the only compact alternative to traditional BNC.

HD-BNC is another connector format used in high-density professional video systems.

Both solve a similar physical problem: providing more coaxial connections in less panel space.

However, they are different connector formats and are not physically interchangeable.

If your equipment uses HD-BNC, you need an HD-BNC cable. If it uses DIN 1.0/2.3, you need DIN 1.0/2.3.

Always identify the equipment connector before ordering the cable.

DON'T CONFUSE DIN 1.0/2.3 WITH MINI-DIN

The terminology around small connectors can be confusing.

DIN 1.0/2.3 is a coaxial connector.

It should not be confused with the multi-pin Mini-DIN connectors historically used for applications such as S-Video and various computer interfaces.

If you're specifying an SDI cable, identifying the connector specifically as DIN 1.0/2.3 helps avoid ordering the wrong product.

HOW TO CHOOSE A BNC TO DIN SDI CABLE

THE BOTTOM LINE

DIN 1.0/2.3 gives professional video equipment manufacturers a way to fit more coaxial connections into limited panel space.

When equipment using DIN 1.0/2.3 needs to connect to conventional broadcast equipment using BNC, a properly constructed BNC-to-DIN 1.0/2.3 SDI cable provides the direct connection.

If both devices use DIN, DIN-to-DIN assemblies provide another option.

The connector determines how the cable attaches to the equipment. The coaxial construction, SDI data rate and transmission distance determine the performance required from the complete assembly.

PROFESSIONAL BNC & DIN SDI CABLES FROM AV-CABLES

AV-Cables manufactures professional 75-ohm SDI assemblies for broadcast, live production, mobile systems, studios and professional AV installations.

Available configurations include BNC-to-BNC, BNC-to-DIN 1.0/2.3 and DIN-to-DIN 1.0/2.3 assemblies for professional SDI applications.

AV-Cables assemblies are hand assembled in the USA and individually tested before shipment.

AV-Cables — Professional • Reliable • Connected