A tool for compressing a connector onto a coaxial cable includes a pair of gates, a plunger for compressing the connector against the gates and onto the coaxial cable, and an actuator in communication with the gates and the plunger. When the actuator is moved from a first position to a second position, it causes the gates to move from an open to a closed position in which they retain the coaxial cable and brace the connector, and the plunger moves from a first position to a second position in which it engages the connector to compress the connector against the gates and onto the coaxial cable. When the actuator is moved back to its first position, the gates move to their open position thereby releasing the coaxial cable and the plunger moves to its first position thereby disengaging from the connector.