Tips for Buying Coaxial Cables for Television Use

Every home with a television set needs coaxial cables, also known as coax cables. These cables are responsible for carrying television signals from the source (such as a cable box, satellite receiver, or antenna) to the television set. While all coaxial cables may look similar, there are important differences between them that can affect the quality of your television signal.

Buying Coaxial Cables: Factors to Consider

When buying coaxial cables for television use, there are several factors to consider:

Impedance

Impedance is a measure of the resistance to the flow of electrical current in a cable. For television use, a coaxial cable with an impedance of 75 ohms is required.

Length

The length of the coaxial cable you need will depend on the distance between the source of the television signal and the television set. It is important to choose a cable that is the correct length to avoid signal loss.

Shielding

Coaxial cables are shielded to protect the signal from interference. The shielding can be made of various materials, such as aluminum, copper, or braid. The higher the quality of the shielding, the better the protection from interference.

Connectors

Coaxial cables have connectors at each end that connect to the source of the television signal and the television set. The most common type of connector is the F-connector.

Different Types of Coaxial Cables

There are several different types of coaxial cables available for television use. The most common types are:

RG-6

RG-6 is a type of coaxial cable commonly used for television and satellite signal transmission. It has a solid copper conductor and a polyethylene dielectric.

RG-11

RG-11 is a type of coaxial cable that is similar to RG-6, but it has a thicker conductor and a thicker dielectric. It is designed for longer runs of cable and can provide better signal quality than RG-6.

RG-59

RG-59 is a type of coaxial cable that is smaller and more flexible than RG-6 and RG-11. It is often used for short runs of cable, such as connecting a television set to a cable box.