cable wire for cable modem

[sonoma1993]

I need some new coaxial cable for my cable modem. Does it matter if i use rg59 or rg6? which one do you guys recommend? I have a feeling most of you guys are going to recommend rg6? If so why?

 

[FoBoT]

RG-6 cable has a characteristic impedance of 75 ohms. It is the best choice for longer distances and that is why the cable companies use it. All of my cable MODEM wiring, etc. at work is RG-6. RG-59 also has a characteristic impedance of 75 ohms. It costs less and will work in most home installations. My house is wired with RG-59. RG 58 has a characteristic impedance of 50 ohms. It (stranded core RG-58/AU, to be precise) is used for older thinwire Ethernets and is not compatible with RG-6 and RG-59. The mismatch in impedance between the cable and the device interfaces (TV, cable MODEM) will produce standing waves in the coaxial transmission line, which will effectively attenuate the signal. Look at the cable. The type of cable should be printed on it. Larry

i am not larry

 

[Muadib]

Why are you trying to fix it yourself? Just call your cable company. Having said that, Home Depot only carries RG-6. Why?? Because it's just as cheap, but superior to RG-59.

 

[LeiZaK]

Originally posted by: FoBoT

RG-6 cable has a characteristic impedance of 75 ohms. It is the best choice for longer distances and that is why the cable companies use it. All of my cable MODEM wiring, etc. at work is RG-6. RG-59 also has a characteristic impedance of 75 ohms. It costs less and will work in most home installations. My house is wired with RG-59. RG 58 has a characteristic impedance of 50 ohms. It (stranded core RG-58/AU, to be precise) is used for older thinwire Ethernets and is not compatible with RG-6 and RG-59. The mismatch in impedance between the cable and the device interfaces (TV, cable MODEM) will produce standing waves in the coaxial transmission line, which will effectively attenuate the signal. Look at the cable. The type of cable should be printed on it. Larry

i am not larry

or jim carrey

 

[J0hnny]

RG-59 will work fine. You're not going to get any signal loss or be bothered by interefernece for short ranges inside your house (ie. bedroom to living room).

 

[sonoma1993]

yeah, well im just running the wired by myself. My room getting moved up to the 2nd floor of my mom house. They are redoing the basement. So i need the new cable wire, my old one got cemented in when the block windows people put new windows in our basement. yeah i got 100ft of rg6 cable at home depot for like $21 total. better than what best buy wanted.

 

[bleeb]

Originally posted by: Muadib
Why are you trying to fix it yourself? Just call your cable company. Having said that, Home Depot only carries RG-6. Why?? Because it's just as cheap, but superior to RG-59.

 

[Howard]

In my experience (not much) the connectors used for RG6 are higher-quality than those used for RG59.

 

[Biggerhammer]

RG6 is thicker and has less signal loss over distance, but over 100' the difference is going to be pretty much imperceptible unless you're already very marginal (ie satellite TV with a distant dish)

 

[WTT0001]

Personally, I only use RG6, RG6 Quad if I can get my hands on it, that being said, RG6 is better quality, about the same price, better in most cases with less signal lost in the process, if your running new, RG6 will save you in the long run (Quad is even better😀), if you already have RG59 run and it is under 50', its up to you, more than 50' I would run new😀

WTT