In pursuit of perfect picture quality, television equipment manufacturers have reached very high level. Monitor displays have been developed that can convey a colossal number of shades, new ones have been created, and much more. But all the advantages of modern equipment can be negated by a poor quality television cable. 
Today we will look at:
How to determine what type of cable is suitable for your equipment?
Each cable has a number of characteristics. This set may differ for cables used for different purposes.
Let's consider the device of a television cable.
There is nothing complicated about it:
conductor core in the middle;
an insulating layer around it;
a layer of shielding foil;
layer of shielding braid;
a layer of external insulation.
Characteristics of the conductor
It is through the metal wire that the signal is transmitted, carrying the image that you see on the screen.
Metal
There are many different opinions about the significance of the metal from which the core is made. Television equipment installers confidently claim that for home use, cables with copper cores and cables with copper-plated steel alloy cores give exactly the same results.
Core thickness
Cable diameter and core thickness are not always proportional quantities. The thickness of the core can be different, but a straight section of cable without switching nodes works with a thin core in exactly the same way as with a thicker one. However, experts give preference to cables with thicker cores - they are more reliable in operation when, when laying a cable, you have to make a lot of bends and use switching units.
Characteristic impedance
A characteristic such as cable resistance directly affects the amount of television interference. To ensure a high-quality signal, it is necessary that the cable resistance be at least 75 Ohms.
Shielding quality
High quality cables are shielded with a double layer, first with aluminum foil, then with copper winding. Double shielding can significantly reduce the amount of interference. TV equipment installation and repair specialists note that replacing an old single-layer shielded cable with a double-shielded cable can significantly improve picture quality.
External insulation
As a rule, television antennas are installed on the roof of a house or on a balcony, so part of the cable will be exposed to external conditions. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a cable with a durable and high-quality insulating coating that can be used outdoors.
Cable size
When calculating the cable size, it is necessary to take into account all the bends and turns of its future installation. It is important to remember that the cable should not be under tension. Therefore, after measuring the cable path length, it is advisable to add a little in reserve. A thinner cable is easier to bend and camouflage in the interior. But, on the other hand, thin cables fail faster: they bend more easily, fray, and at some point the core breaks.
Manufacturer and cost
Without experience, it can sometimes be difficult to determine how well the outer insulation layer of a cable is made, let alone its internal characteristics. Therefore, many are guided by cost and country of origin. Cheap Chinese products very often turn out to be not of the best quality, and sometimes do not correspond to the characteristics stated by the seller. Professionals prefer cable products from European countries or famous brands.
How to determine its characteristics by type of cable
On high-quality cable products, all the necessary information is printed on the cable itself. The marking indicates the logo or name of the manufacturer, cable brand, characteristic impedance value, diameter and other characteristics. Such markings are affixed approximately every meter.
By following the recommendations described above, you can easily purchase a good quality television cable and fully enjoy it.
Which TV cable is better? SAT 703 or RG 6? Reading such titles, it seems that only an experienced specialist can understand the question. However, do not be afraid ahead of time. This article will help you understand the differences between the RG 6 cable and the SAT 703 cable and will simplify your further selection in the store.
The main purpose of both cables is to transmit a signal from its source, for example, an antenna, to a receiver, that is, a TV. The better the connection, read - cable, the better the image will be. SAT 703 and RG 6 are the best options, according to experts.
The RG-6 television cable has internal insulation made using polyethylene foam and equipped with a double screen. Inside there is a copper-plated steel conductor. Foamed polyethylene acts as a dielectric. External wiring is made of tinned copper wire and polyvinyl chloride sheath. A special feature of the cable is its ability to operate in the frequency range up to 2 GHz.
The SAT 703 television cable is very similar to its previous analogue. Some companies also make it with copper-plated steel conductor, while others use copper exclusively. The former make low-quality cables, while the latter make high-quality cables. The RG 6 cable is never completely copper. The braid is also tinned copper with sheath. However, there is a particular advantage: SAT 703 is preferred in cases of extreme cabling conditions. That is, such a cable can be installed in any environment, because it has a very low coefficient of change as a result of exposure to external factors.
We have discussed the technical side, now in more detail.
If you need to change or install a TV cable in an apartment to use cable television services, for example, then an RG 6 coaxial cable will be quite sufficient. To connect individual antennas, satellite dishes, in cases where TV towers are very far away, and the cable length is expected to be significant, it is better to take SAT 703.
If your preference is the second option, then beware of fakes. When going to the store, take a magnet with you. Any of the ones hanging on the refrigerator will do just fine. If you have a low-quality SAT 703 in front of you, then its conductor will be steel, which means it will be magnetic. If it is of good quality and made to last, then it will not be magnetic, because magnets do not react in any way to copper.
For high-quality television broadcasting, not only sufficient power of the incoming signal is important, but also the quality of the antenna wire. A high-quality television cable will ensure the transmission of a powerful signal without loss. It is necessary to choose the right wire for your TV to ensure that you receive a strong enough TV signal to enjoy your favorite TV programs without interference.
Almost any antenna wire has a special marking. Here you can find basic information about the product.
Almost all television wires have the same design. The basis is the internal conductor (central core), which is covered with an insulating layer. A shielding layer in the form of a braid is located on top of the insulation. The structure is protected by a hard shell of insulation.
Cables with this structure are called coaxial.
The high frequency current of the television signal flows through the central core. The higher the frequency of the signal, the closer to the surface it will flow. This means that at high frequencies the current loss for cables of different cross-sections will be the same. To reduce these losses, space technologies use a gold surface layer to prevent signal loss.
For home use, copper or steel conductors are used. To reduce signal attenuation, the steel core of the cable is coated with a thin layer of copper. A coaxial cable with a steel core is cheaper, but is not able to transmit the signal from a satellite dish without large losses.
A copper vein can easily transmit a television signal of any nature, including a signal from a satellite dish.
The shielding layer or braid protects the cable from external electromagnetic interference. The quality of the TV signal directly depends on the strength of the interference.
The material for making the shielding layer is aluminum foil. The braid is made of thin copper or aluminum wire.
For a shielded wire, a value called the shielding coefficient is determined, which describes the degree of protection of the cable.
The internal insulating shell protects the internal conductor from damage and also insulates from contact with the shield. It is made of plastic. PTFE is used in especially high-quality wires.
The outer protective shell protects the structure from mechanical damage, dust, moisture, and other external influences. It is made from polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, or other insulating materials.
Cable selection
When choosing a cable, you must follow some recommendations:
- The required characteristic impedance of the television wire is 75 Ohms. Cables with a different characteristic impedance do not match the TV tuner and, as a result, cannot transmit high-quality images.
- Choose a coaxial cable with a diameter of at least 6mm. Thinner cables are flimsy and can be easily damaged.
- The shielding coefficient of a high-quality shielded wire is at least 60 dB. To achieve the best degree of protection, it is better to choose a cable with a coefficient of at least 90dB.
- Study the cable carefully. If the product has an unpleasant odor or is missing markings, then this is most likely a fake.µ
- Try bending the cable. It should be easily deformed, but “wrinkles” should not appear on it. If they appear, then you do not have the highest quality cable in your hands.
We present to your attention some brands and models of coaxial cables:
It is recommended to buy DG 13 television cables - they are durable, reliable, and have many other advantages. If you are not able to buy such an expensive television cable, then you can choose a cheaper option from the list.
For an overview of coaxial cables, see the video below:
Compound
After purchasing a suitable cable, you need to connect it to your TV.
This stage is no less important than the choice of wire, since even the most expensive and high-quality product will not transmit a good signal if the connection is made incorrectly.
Plug installation
It is recommended to buy plugs from the same store where you buy the cables. Ask the seller to help you select the appropriate components.
The most common type of plug is the F-plug. It is designed to transmit both analogue and digital television signals.
Connecting the plug to the antenna wire is very simple:
- Using a utility knife, make a circular cut of the top protective layer up to the screen shell, a couple of centimeters long;
- After removing the outer shell, carefully bend the shield or braid back. Fold part of the foil again so that not the inner, but the outer part of it contacts the plug;
- Remove the insulating sheath of the center wire;
- Place the plug on the cable and twist it clockwise until it stops;
- Cut off any excess wire.
Plug installation is complete.
It is also useful to watch the video on how to connect a television plug to a coaxial cable:
Sometimes the quality of the TV signal suddenly decreases. In such cases, it is necessary to identify the causes of signal deterioration and eliminate them.
- If the cable is damaged, you first need to find the break point.
Next, divide the cable into 2 parts and perform the same operation with each part as when putting on the plug. Buy special attachments that fit onto the cable and connect the damaged parts. - You can extend the cable in the same way. It is recommended to use a cable of the same brand and model for extension.
- Signal quality may also decrease due to sharp turns of the television wire.
Do not bend the cable sharply 90 degrees. Be sure to bend the cable within a certain radius.
Be sure to watch the video on how to connect a television cable:
Connecting multiple TVs
To connect several devices to one antenna at once, splitters are used, which are otherwise called “crabs”.
How to connect multiple TVs to one antenna via a video splitter:
Crabs are recommended for use in areas with strong television signals, i.e. close to television towers, since when a crab is connected, the signal strength decreases sharply. For example, if you connect 2 TVs to one antenna, the signal loss will be about 30%.
The number of outputs on the crab must strictly equal the number of connected devices. If there is a free exit on the crab, the signal quality will still drop.
Amplifiers
To amplify the television signal, special devices are used - amplifiers.
The device should be close to the TV or antenna.
Most often, amplifiers are used to compensate for signal loss due to the use of crabs.
Connecting the TV to the antenna via a video amplifier:
As you can see, choosing and installing a good television wire for an antenna requires taking into account many nuances. But it's worth it, because making the right choice TV cable - broadcasting will proceed without interference. We hope that set out in the article about TV cables will help you make the right choice.
A television coaxial cable is a round conductor with a diameter of up to 7 mm. Inside, the wire has one copper conductor core covered with insulating material. Foamed polyethylene is usually used as an insulator. Aluminum foil (screen) braided with thin copper or steel wire is laid on top of the insulation. The antenna cable braid is covered with external insulation.
Types of Antenna Cables
In work, the following brands of coaxial shielded TV wire are most often used: RG 58, RG 6, PK 75. The resistance of such a conductor is 75 Ohms, it is excellent for laying inside and outside the building.
Antenna cable RG 6. This is an affordable and most popular wire. The outer diameter is 6 mm, the diameter of the conductor is 1 mm, the TV wire has an aluminum foil screen and copper braid. Used when connecting the TV to a community or terrestrial (digital) antenna. The low attenuation coefficient allows for stable signal transmission over long distances.
Antenna cable RG 58. Suitable for connecting terrestrial, satellite and digital antennas located at a short distance from the TV. The outer diameter of the antenna cable is 4.8 mm, the diameter of the central conductor is 0.48 mm. It is difficult to properly secure a thin wire in the connectors of the splitter and antenna sockets, so it is advisable to use this wire to connect one TV. The conductor breaks easily if laid incorrectly and has a high attenuation coefficient. The small thickness of the cord makes it easy to lay and camouflage indoors.
Antenna cable RK 75. The thickness of the central copper conductor is 1 mm. Depending on the version it may have Various types screen - double screen of tin-plated copper and aluminum foil or single screen of copper braid. A cable with a single screen is used to connect a TV to an over-the-air or community antenna. The double screen is used to connect to a satellite dish.
TV cable marking
Knowing the markings, it is easy to determine which antenna cord is best to use under certain operating conditions. The designation is applied to the outer sheath, every meter of wire. The labeling indicates:
- manufacturer or trademark of the enterprise;
- product brand;
- number of braid strands;
- wave resistance;
- meter of wire in the bay.
Many manufacturers adhere to this marking, however, markings are rarely applied to wires with black and blue insulation. In this case, the characteristics are indicated on a tag attached to the bay.
It is customary that a cord with white insulation is used for installation indoors, and a cord with black insulation is used for outdoor use. However, you need to choose a TV wire according to its technical specifications, in which there is no color marking.
