brianl703
join:2004-02-26
Manassas, VA
| reply to brianl703
Re: I assume RG6 for in-home cabling?
If you go back far enough (to the mid-70s) the typical RG59-type cable that was being installed had only a copper braid (I don't believe the technology to make an aluminum braid existed then). Many of the cable systems in the Pittsburgh area have been active since the late 60s, according to the FCC. It seems reasonable to assume that the RG59-type they installed in the late 60s and through the 70s is not up to the standards of the RG59-type that Cablevision of Manassas started installing in 1984. Prior to 1984, pretty much everything was wired with twinlead in this area. I lived in a house built in '83 that was pre-wired with twinlead!
So, perhaps, due to the age of the cable the system you are on is requiring the replacement of the RG59 type cable, some of which could reasonably be expected to be 40 years old. We don't have that problem here because the only entity that was installing RG59-type cable in any significant amount was Cablevision of Manassas and they started late enough that the technology to make a good shielded RG59 cable was already available. |
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brianl703
join:2004-02-26
Manassas, VA
1 edit | reply to metal80772
said by metal80772  :In any sort, the majority of people that have rg59 in their homes, is a pretty fair bet that the shield construction is insufficient. Maybe it depends on what your system was using back then (and how far back "back then" was...in this case it's no earlier than about 1984, which is when Manassas got wired for cable), but around here *most* of the RG59-type cable I've seen was installed by Cablevision of Manassas, and what they installed was Commscope or TFC CATV drop cable which has a 67% braid and a bonded foil shield. Many older houses around here still have RG59 from the pole to the house. |
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DarkLogix
join:2008-10-23
Baytown, TX | reply to metal80772
ya thats basicly what I mean
if you see RG6 you'll assume the worst
but every now and then the assumeption could be false |
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metal80772
join:2009-07-12
Pittsburgh, PA
| reply to brianl703
I agree about making assumptions(especially about RG6), but I was generalizing for sake of argument. In any sort, the majority of people that have rg59 in their homes, is a pretty fair bet that the shield construction is insufficient. Hence, the company that I work for, has created a policy to eliminate that from the system. |
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brianl703
join:2004-02-26
Manassas, VA | reply to brianl703
»www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/rg6.htm |
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brianl703
join:2004-02-26
Manassas, VA
1 edit | reply to DarkLogix
said by DarkLogix :which is why the standard is there if someone says RG59 then who knows but if they say RG6 then you know its adequate Nope, sorry, it does not work that way.
The RG6 designation tells you NOTHING about the type of shield it has. I've seen RG6 that consisted of nothing but a foil shield and a few wires, not even a full braid. (This garbage was sold by Radio Shack in the early 90s as pre-assembled cable).
About all you can conclude from an RG6 designation is that the cable has an 18AWG center conductor and 75 ohm impedance.
There is no standards body that defines what an RG6 cable is. RG6 is an old military specification that the military no longer uses. It is not like Cat5E where there is a defined performance criteria that cable must meet.
In fact, some cable manufacturers like Commscope don't even use the term RG6 to describe their cables (they use the term "Series 6" instead), and others use terms like "RG6-type". |
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baineschile
2600
Premium
join:2008-05-10
Sterling Heights, MI | reply to btownguy
No, you can use 11 if you supply it. Its just a lot more expensive. |
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DarkLogix
join:2008-10-23
Baytown, TX
 ·Comcast Workplace
·Comcast
| reply to brianl703
which is why the standard is there
if someone says RG59 then who knows but if they say RG6 then you know its adequate
its what do you expect if you see the standard on the cable
RG59=replcase (unless you want to inspect it fully)
RG6= likely happy with it
RG6QS=very happy might just replace then ends if they are hex crimped or a do-it yourself job
RG11=you know money was spent and a pro likely installed it |
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brianl703
join:2004-02-26
Manassas, VA
| reply to metal80772
said by metal80772 :The shielding on rg59 is far from adequate and allows all too much ingress/egress. That really depends on the RG59 you're talking about. RG59 intended for CCTV systems typically only has a copper braid and no foil. R59 intended for CATV systems has an aluminum braid and foil.
I would make no assumptions about the ingress/egress performance on a cable described only as "RG59", since that doesn't tell me what the shield construction is. |
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metal80772
join:2009-07-12
Pittsburgh, PA
| reply to keepgoing
I don't know how it is in other regions, but its Comcast's policy in my region to use ONLY rg6qd. It's also our policy to proactively replace any rg59 cabling in any home that we come across. The shielding on rg59 is far from adequate and allows all too much ingress/egress.(I swear rg59 works better as an antenna than a cable) When we have our FCC fly overs, that's the number one thing that causes signal leakage from residential homes.
You get some handy-man-jack-do-yourself'er that decides to use cheap rg59 coax with badly crimped f-connectors and radio shack splitters, then all of a sudden the whole neighborhood is having ingress problems.
In short, rg6 and rg6qd seems to work pretty good for your average joe household. Going beyond that tends to be overkill...atleast at this point in time. Who knows in 5 years... |
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keepgoing
join:2006-09-08
Clinton Township, MI | reply to btownguy
I would hardly say that RG11 is old school. And where I work we use RG!! if a drop is over 150ft. |
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rody_44
Premium
join:2004-02-20
Quakertown, PA
1 edit | reply to nate1234
no they wont use rg11, they should and probably will use qr320. much much better than rg11 and about the same diameter as rg11. rg11 is so old school these days. |
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DarkLogix
join:2008-10-23
Baytown, TX
·Comcast Workplace
·Comcast
| reply to RG11overkill
All cable has a percent loss per foot
with RG6 its lower than RG59
RG6QS even lower
and RG11 even lower
the common use of this is that with less loss per foot you can run it a longer distance
when you use RG11 in a place where RG59 could work then the loss is simpily so low because of the distance that its not currently enough to make a differance
and it is currently super overkill for 98% of cable runs
maybe in 10-20 years we'll get to the point that the loss on RG6QS is enough to cause a problem but at the same time in 20 years we might have left copper in the dust |
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RG11overkill
@videotron.ca | reply to btownguy
Probably, depending of the signal strength at the pole and the local cable system operator's policy. |
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nate1234
join:2008-08-21
Moorestown, NJ | reply to RG11overkill
well, should they use it for my new drop that is happening soon? it is 180ft |
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RG11overkill
@videotron.ca
| reply to nate1234
You don't install RG-11 in a regular house. RG-11 is use for very long service drop (150'-300') from the pole to the house. There's no difference in signal strength between 75' of RG-6 and 75' of RG-11. We will only see a lower lost on higher frequencies when the cable drop is very long, not on short distance.
Connectors are bigger and difficult ton install behind a wall plate, it's really overkill for 75'. |
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DarkLogix
join:2008-10-23
Baytown, TX | reply to nate1234
I'd have to relook it up but about .35 per foot more where I bought mine
and the tools cost more than RG6 tools
I paid about $60 for 100FT w/ 4 connectors and no tools |
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nate1234
join:2008-08-21
Moorestown, NJ
1 edit | reply to K Patterson
not too bad... I might go for that at some point. I found some online for ~$90-100 |
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K Patterson
Premium,MVM
join:2006-03-12
Columbus, OH | reply to nate1234
Not sure, but not much.
The issue is the connectors, stripper and crimper. Figure around $100 for a decent set. |
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nate1234
join:2008-08-21
Moorestown, NJ | reply to DarkLogix
How much does RG11 cost for 75ft? |
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