Difference in coax cable

[crazychicken]

what is the difference between rg59u and rg6 coax cable? all i am doing is going from a wall outlet to a video card about 30 feet.

which should i get?

thanks
david

 

[Zugzwang152]

As far as I know, the functionality of all coax cable is the same. The coded part numbers are probably just dealing with the type of shielding surrounding the actual cable inside, and perhaps the construction of the actual cable. Either one should work. Unless you're running the line through heavy interference go for the cheaper one. But I'd also suggest taking some more opinions first, as this is just an educated guess.

 

[John]

RG6 is a higher-grade cable and a better choice where performance is important. it uses a larger copper conductor & dielectric. You can also get it with additional foil shielding (quad) to fight interference.

 

[MrBond]

As John said, RG6 is a better cable, you don't get nearly the amount of signal degradation with it as you might with RG59, especially with signals like from a satalite TV system. My sister's satallite setup is split using RG6 and high quality splitters, she has virtually no signal loss or reduction in picture quality.

For non-digital cable / antenna TV, you'll be fine with RG59, it's probably cheaper anyway.

 

[John]

Your house should already be wired with RG6, and it is only pennies more than RG59. Do not waste your money on the inferior cable. You should be able to pick up a 30ft RG6 @ Lowes or Home Depot for 10.00 - 15.00.

 

[Rodzilla]

rg59u is underground cable and has a smaller center conductor and has a higher intenuation loss.
rg6 is what all cable companys use for short runs and for longer runs over 200' they normally use rg-11

 

[ScottMac]

All coax is not the same. RG59 / 59u is NOT underground cable, unless it's specifcally rated for direct burial (just like RG6 direct burial or not).

Rg59 and Rg6 are electrically the same (75 ohm impedence), but, as mentioned, Rg6 has a larger center conducter and better dielectric & usually better shielding options. If you needed even farther distance / less loss, then you could move up to Rg11, which is ~half the diameter of yer average garden hose.

If that's STILL not good enough, then there's "hardline" like Andrew LDF4-75. Basically a solid corregated copper tube, filled with stiff foam, and a conductor that's thicker than your average coat-hanger. It's about US$2.50 a foot retail, and the connectors are ~$60-75.00 each.

There are dozens of "RG" flavors of coax: Different impedences, different shielding, different connectors (SMA, BNC, "F," PL/So...) ...all round black cables are not created equally.

Ethernet started out on large 50 ohm cable, went to thinner 50 ohm cable (similar to RG58), then went to UTP.

Be careful of what you connect to what, some of the drive electronics are sensitive to impedence mismatches of that magnetude.

FWIW

Scott

 

[R2D2]

RG6 all the way.

But pay special attention to your connections and connectors. 99% of all problems are due to poor connections!