Coax Cable - What You Need to Know
Often overlooked, the coax cable within a TV system is just as important as each of the other components. Not all coax cable is the same. This page will explain the different types of coax cable and explain which coax cable is the most preferred to use within your TV system. There are three different types of coax cable often used. They are RG-6, RG-11, and RG-59. The major differences include how much shielding the cable contains, size of the center conductor, and the material type of the center conductor.
RG-59 cable is the smallest, thinnest, and the cheapest cable when compared to RG-6 and RG-11. The RG-59 cable contains only one thin layer of shielding. The center conductor is made of copper-clad. The copper-clad conductor is NOT solid copper. Instead, the center conductor is made of a cheaper material. A thin layer of copper is around the outer edge of the cheaper material. This is one reason why RG-59 creates a lot of signal loss. A good coax cable will contain a solid copper center conductor. This is the reason why RG-59 cable should not be used within a TV system.
| Coax Cable Specifications | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | RG6 | RG11 | RG59 | |
| Center Conductor Size: | 18 AWG | 14 AWG | 22 AWG | |
| Center Material: | Solid Copper | Solid Copper | Copper Clad | |
| Maximum Distance: | 100 ft. | 400 ft. | ---- | |
| Diameter: | 0.275 in. | 0.405 in. | 0.242 in. | |
| Shielding: | Two-Layer & Quad-Layer | Three-Layer & Quad-Layer | One Thin Layer | |
| * Signal Loss: | 6 dB/100 ft. | 2.5 dB/100 ft. | 10.9 dB / 100 ft. | |
| Impedance: | 75 ohms | 75 ohms | 75 ohms | |
| Flexibility: | More Flexible | Less Flexible | Very Flexible | |
| Bandwidth: | 1 Ghz | 3 Ghz | ---- | |
* - Calculated at 539 Mhz. This is directly in the middle of the UHF band (470 Mhz.-608 Mhz.)