A NMEA 2000 backbone Tee has two connectors on the backbone: _______ and _______, and a third _______ connector for the drop.

• A. Male and Female, Female
• B. Male and Male, Female
• C. Female and Female, Male
• D. Female and Male, Male

Answer: (A)

Backbone tees are designed to carry the CAN bus along the trunk while giving you a single point to connect a device. The two connectors on the backbone portion are one male and one female so you can insert the Tee between two backbone segments and keep the chain continuous without forcing identical connectors to mate in the wrong direction. The third connector is reserved for the drop to a device, and it’s a female port because the drop cable from a device has a male end that plugs into it. This arrangement preserves proper mating, keeps the trunk impedance consistent, and makes it clear where a device connects without confusing the backbone connections.