coax cable

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jernst

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This is the first time I have had to buy my own coaxial cable, I know that I need rg6/u for a digital cable installation but with so many different types and brands of cable I am not sure what type to buy. I was wondering if someone could tell me which one would be good to use.
Thank You
 
For digital cable, cable internet, dirtectv, dish network I use rg6 quad shield with solid copper conductor. There is a LOT of CCS cable out there that will be cheaper, but you get what you pay for. CCS is Copper Coated Steel. Directv around here does not use CCS - for what its worth.

Remember that F connectors are not universal - they need to be approved to be used with the cable. Sure, you may be able to jam them on, but that doesnt mean they were tested by the MFG of the cable.

~Matt
 
jernst said:
This is the first time I have had to buy my own coaxial cable, I know that I need rg6/u for a digital cable installation but with so many different types and brands of cable I am not sure what type to buy. I was wondering if someone could tell me which one would be good to use.
Thank You
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Just RG-6 Is the most common.
 
Lots of different brands and each brand has lots of part numbers, lots of different uses and each use has some important parameters.

Satellite - Solid Copper core.
Cable TV - Quad shield if near a TV station, steel core CCS is OK.
Component or composite video - not quad shield or steel core.
Digital or analog audio - not quad shield or steel core, but heavy braid shield.
 
Just be sure the cable is "listed". Many RG-6 cables are not listed and intended to be used for the feed from the outside of the house. Non-listed cable cannot be run longer than 50' inside a building unless it's placed in raceway.
 
Copper Center Conductor is preferred if the run is fairly long (100+ feet) and the cable is going to be carrying d.c. voltage. Other than that (and if the cable is going to be used for baseband), there is absolutely no reason to not use CCS. The r.f. travels on the surface of the conductor, so it matters not at all what the center of the conductor is composed of.

Unless you are in an area where there are transmitting towers quite close, or in the middle of a large metro area, don't waste your money on quad-shield, either.
 
Right. The only reason solid copper is required by sat systems is because the cables carry power to the LNBs or multiswitches. For everything else CCS is correct. I also agree with quad shield being a waste in most instances. It's harder to work with and terminate so don't use it if you don't have to.

A rule of thumb is to see what kind of cable the local cable company is using and use the same type.

-Hal
 
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