Coax cable: RG6 or RG59?

[WhiteKnight]

I'm installing two new cable jacks and I'm not sure what the existing wiring is. Any advice on what cable I should use? Any reason to use RG6 or am I ok with the cheaper RG59? The jacks will be for analog cable right now, though I suppose there may be digital cable demands in the future. No cable modems will be run off these jacks.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Satallite requires RG6, if that makes a difference. iirc, the cost difference isn't big.

 

[Hottie]

RG59 is thinner and have less shielding, RG6 is thicker with better shielding. If your cable run across area w/ lot of electronic, go RG6 otherwise RG59 is perfectly fine.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Satallite requires RG6, if that makes a difference. iirc, the cost difference isn't big.

 

[ncl]

RG-6 without a doubt. Just becasue there won;t be a modem/digital boxes off these outlets, doesn't matter. The better shielding of the RG-6 will help prevent service issues (from ingress) on all outlets. Also, unlesss you get the correct fittings and tools (not from Lowes, Home Depot, etc). I would let the cable co put them on....

Nicholaus

 

[Kelemvor]

RG6 is the standard now. RG59 is like for an antenna. If you have the option, use RG6. better cable, more shielding, better picture at the other end.

 

[Kaido]

So RG6 is the same as RG-58 and RG-59, just newer/better?

 

[Miramonti]

how does rg58 compare to 59?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

RG58 is 50 ohm, RG59 is 75. One works for ethernet and test equipment, the other for antennas. Don't mix those two up.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
RG58 is 50 ohm, RG59 is 75. One works for ethernet and test equipment, the other for antennas. Don't mix those two up.

Is RG-6 75-ohms as well? And isn't 75-ohm RG cable used in stuff like RCA and coaxial digital audio cables?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

RG-6 is 75, RG-8 is 50

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
RG-6 is 75, RG-8 is 50

Now what's the deal with shielding? I need a good 100' roll of rg-6...I see rg-6/u and rg-6/u quad. I thought the "u" was unshielded, so why does it say quad shielding?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Coax is always shielded. There's a center conductor and an outer shield. If it wasn't shielded, it wouldn't be coax.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Coax is always shielded. There's a center conductor and an outer shield. If it wasn't shielded, it wouldn't be coax.

oh. what's the /u for?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I don't know that one off hand.

 

[psiu]

RG-6. Do not use -59, it's only gonna cause problems and get replaced.

 

[TechnoKid]

Go with the RG6, quadshield if you can. Oh, and get compression style connectors, from Thomas and Betts.

I believe the "U" stands for UL listed.

Here's a great place to buy RG6 and related cable strippers and compression tools and connectors, although you can buy the compression connectors off of ebay for much cheaper in 50pk bags.

 

[psiu]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Coax is always shielded. There's a center conductor and an outer shield. If it wasn't shielded, it wouldn't be coax.

oh. what's the /u for?

Underground, perhaps. You don't want that stuff...it comes with a goo in the cable to keep moisture out. Very sticky and unfun to work with.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Go with the RG6, quadshield if you can. Oh, and get compression style connectors, from Thomas and Betts.

I believe the "U" stands for UL listed.

Here's a great place to buy RG6 and related cable strippers and compression tools and connectors, although you can buy the compression connectors off of ebay for much cheaper in 50pk bags.

cool, thanks! this may be a dumb question, but how do you cut the wire off a spool? I had the Cox Communications guy show me how to make cables last time; I know that you need the cable stripper for the cable and the compression tool for the compression connector, but how do you chop off cable? I have this wire stripper/crimper, would that work or is there some other special tool? Or just use a knife?

also, how flexible is that Belden stuff? the stuff the Cox guy used is pretty stiff; I'm thinking about getting some RCA compression connectors to use on my components, but I don't want it to be rock-solid.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: psiu

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Coax is always shielded. There's a center conductor and an outer shield. If it wasn't shielded, it wouldn't be coax.

oh. what's the /u for?

Underground, perhaps. You don't want that stuff...it comes with a goo in the cable to keep moisture out. Very sticky and unfun to work with.

I'm not the OP, but I will probably be installing a few satellite dishes out in the middle of a couple of yards, away from buildings... would I definitely need to use underground rated coax? Since there is that specification, I would assume so; however, I'm all for using cheaper/easier methods as long as they are (usually) no less reliable. I'll be installing two satellite dishes for TV, and I'll be running the cable and setting a post for one satellite to carry two-way traffic (satellite internet).

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: psiu

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Coax is always shielded. There's a center conductor and an outer shield. If it wasn't shielded, it wouldn't be coax.

oh. what's the /u for?

Underground, perhaps. You don't want that stuff...it comes with a goo in the cable to keep moisture out. Very sticky and unfun to work with.

I'm not the OP, but I will probably be installing a few satellite dishes out in the middle of a couple of yards, away from buildings... would I definitely need to use underground rated coax? Since there is that specification, I would assume so; however, I'm all for using cheaper/easier methods as long as they are (usually) no less reliable. I'll be installing two satellite dishes for TV, and I'll be running the cable and setting a post for one satellite to carry two-way traffic (satellite internet).

see, what I'm wondering is, can I use RG-6 plus some RCA compression connectors and make a subwoofer cable? I need to run a cable like 35 feet to my bass shakers...this seems like a nice, cheap way to go

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Yeah, you can do that.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Yeah, you can do that.

Well, I ordered the tools, some cable, and connectors. I got wire/cable cutters, a 3-in-1 compression tool (bnc, rca, and f), and the rotary stripper. I decided to try two kinds of cable. I ordered 100' of Belden 1189aw, which is RG-6 quad, and 3' of Monster MC-MVQ, which is also RG-6 quad. The Belden is supposed to be pretty good stuff, and my new apartment only has one cable jack, so I'll use a splitter to run a cable to my cable modem and run a cable to the TV. I got the Monster because it's supposed to be some of the most flexible cable on the market, which is good because I'd like to use these tools to make some good RCA cables. I'll see how flexible both the Belden and Monster is. The Monster is ridiculously expensive at 77 cents a foot...the Belden is a mere 26 cents a foot (cost difference doesn't seem like much, but if you ordered a 1000' roll of each, that's $770 vs. $260!). I also ordered green Digicon F-type connectors (the typical coaxial ones), as well as a pair of compression RCA connectors to make the subwoofer cable. I'll do a writeup after I get everything and do the install.