How to Connect Fiber Optic Audio Cable to a Coaxial Connection

Fiber optic audio cable connections carry data and sound to various types of systems and networks. They are more advanced than the traditional coaxial connection, which is also referred to as RF or radio frequency cabling. The coaxial connection is one of the most basic forms of audio and data connections and is at the root of all audio and video communications and data transmission that takes place today.

Coaxial cables, in comparison to fiber optic audio cables, are stronger and built to be more durable. This means that the coaxial or RF cables are not as easily bent as fiber optic cables and based on the way in which RF or coaxial cables are fabricated, they are easier to connect to electronic components than fiber optics. The plug for a coaxial cable is designed to be placed directly on the port or hub, as opposed to the fiber optic audio cable which needs to be aligned in a specific manner in order to fit in to the plug. Coaxial cabling is however more susceptible to a humming or buzzing sound because of the metal sheathing around it which does not exist with fiber optic audio cables.

It is possible to connect an advanced fiber optic audio cable to a coaxial connection for the purpose of converting the signal to be read from the more advanced system to the older generation technology. Connecting fiber optic audio cable to a coaxial connection involves the use of a converter box. This how-to article discusses the process for making this conversion.

Step 1: Purchase a Fiber Optic Converter Box

You need to purchase a converter box from an electronics store or other retailer which sells converter boxes. The box you purchase should be able to receive and translate fiber optic audio signals and convert them into coaxial, radio frequency signals.

Ask the retailer for specifics on the converter box in order to make sure that the equipment you are purchasing can accomplish the signal conversion and meets the requirements for changing the fiber optics audio signal into a radio frequency signal.

Step 2: Connect the Fiber Optical Audio Cable to the Converter Box

Take the converter box and place the fiber optical audio cable in the plug slot. Make sure the connection on the back of the converter box matches the plug on the fiber optical audio cable.

Step 3: Connect the Coaxial Cable to the Converter Box

Once the fiber optical audio cable is connected to the converter box, connect the coaxial cable to the converter box. This will ready the converter box to be connected to a network component. 

Step 4: Connect the Converter to the Component

With the fiber optical audio cable and coaxial cable connected to the converter box, you can connect the converter box to the hub or port that is connected to the desired component.