🚀 go-pugleaf

naiming@eng.umd.edu (Naiming Shen) writes:

>I want to install wires for cable TV and maybe used for baseband video
>signal also. I saw my builder using RG-59/U type cable for the cable TV
>wiring; but on Radio Shack's catalog, there is a footnot saying 'RG59
>is not recommended for CATV'. In the hardware store, there are different
>kinds of RG-59 cables. I am confused here. Can someone tell me what's
>the correct cable for my purpose? thanks in advance.

True RG-59/U has a single braid shield and a "contaminating" jacket that
will eventually cause contamination to creep into the inner dielectric
and increase cable loss.  However, for CATV work, you can get "RG-59 type"
with a foil shield (possibly with additional braid as well) and a
better jacket.  The "RG-59 type" then refers to 75 ohm nominal impedance
and a particular diameter (e.g., for use with the F connectors sold for
RG-59, surprise.)  If you want to do things a bit better, use RG-6
type, which is slightly larger diameter and noticably lower loss.

BTW, our local cable company will sell RG-6 to folk who are wiring
thier houses for cable, at a very decent price.  Yours may do the
same...   Also, I've found extremely good RG-6 at an aircraft
surplus outlet (Boeing), at a very attractive price, though that's
hit-or-miss as to when they may have any available.