Question about RG-6 vs. RG-59 cabling for HDTV quality

suprax · 08-05-06, 03:12 PM

So in my new house the cable outlet that where my TV will connect to is RG-59 cabling (or so the Time Warner installer said so). I need to connect the cable via a female type "F" adapter to a longer cable to connect into my cable source down in the basement. So I went out and bought a female F adapter and RG-6 cable. In reading about RG-59 and RG-6 cabling, I am beginning to wonder if this setup will affect my HDTV quality?

I have a 42" Sony 3LCD projection HDTV that runs off of it. I went out and bought all of the equipment and hooked it all up and I can't reaaally tell the difference between RG-59 or RG-6. There's no way for me to tell if using a complete RG-6 cable solution the entire way will make enough of a difference to notice.

Does anyone know if I will get a noticeable quality difference between an RG-59 to RG-6 solution compared to a complete RG-6 setup? I would really appreciate it.

Also how do I tell if the cable is RG-59 or RG-6?

Colm · 08-05-06, 03:27 PM

Unless the signal is really marginal to start with, you won't see a difference between RG-6 and RG-59 assuming they are of equivalent quality. The difference in signal level is only a few dB per hundred feet. The cable may be marked RG-6 or RG-59. If not, RG-59 is around .233" diameter and RG-6 is around .274", varies a bit depending on manufacturer, shielding, etc.

suprax · 08-05-06, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colm

Unless the signal is really marginal to start with, you won't see a difference between RG-6 and RG-59 assuming they are of equivalent quality. The difference in signal level is only a few dB per hundred feet. The cable may be marked RG-6 or RG-59. If not, RG-59 is around .233" diameter and RG-6 is around .274", varies a bit depending on manufacturer, shielding, etc.

Ok I see on the cable end that its RG-59 for sure. I've also found that there is an RG-6 outlet in the room so I ran the cable over there too and am trying to compare quality, and to be honest I really can't tell. I have the TV on pure-HD channels like inHD and other channels that sometimes show TV that was filmed in HD.

I just want to make sure I'm set with the signal quality before I run this cable over the finished basement ceiling.

taxman48 · 08-05-06, 07:26 PM

rg6 vs rg59: Suprax, I would run the 6 any time you can get a chance to replace the wire. The first thing my cable provider did when I switched to HD was to change the wire coming from pole to house to RG6. Had to run new wire upstairs with amp for a strong HD signal. I have 2 HD tv's and all RG6..hope this helps..

Colm · 08-05-06, 10:35 PM

If I understood the original question, that is what he is doing on the new run...

suprax · 08-05-06, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colm

If I understood the original question, that is what he is doing on the new run...

Well, right now it is RG-59 from the living room down to the basement, and then I've connected it to RG-6 to where the cable hooks up. I really don't think I'm going to be changing the RG-59 to RG-6 if there is not really a "visably noticeable" difference between the 2, as the previous homeowner wired this one outlet very strange and it would take a LOOOT of work to rewire (finished basement ceiling).

Like I mentioned earlier I have a RG-6 outlet in the same room and I compared the 2 today and to be honest I really can't see any difference. The overall HD signal looks a TINY bit less sharp than at my last place so that's probably just the cable signal to my house.

suprax · 08-05-06, 11:17 PM

And if I can piggyback another quick question. When putting the end on a cable, does it matter the amount of metal sheathing is touching the connector part or not? Is the only important part the actual wire in the middle of the cable? When I made the cable today, it didn't come out very pretty but seems to work fine.

taxman48 · 08-06-06, 10:13 AM

try to cut as much of the metal sheathing away as possible. I use the twist on connectors. Here is a link to the amp that my cable company put in for me before the upstairs run.. http://www.antronix.net/Products/cat...amplifiers&i=5

Don Landis · 08-07-06, 05:13 AM

RG6 has wider bandwidth and having it vs. RG59 will give you greater options, especially if you wish to use that cable for a sat feed some day. For component video it really doesn't matter. If one can detect a differece here, then I would be looking for some screwup in the RG59. RG59 OK for video and Off air TV antenna. OK for cable too but the RG6 has better shielding and is stronger. If your area is prone to bleed thru on cable then switching to 6 will be a step in the right direction. New installs and replacing, always RG6 but only to increase your options.

dimond · 03-30-07, 02:36 AM

See the bottom of the page on the forum topic :
RG 59/u vs. RG 6/u...is there a big difference??

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...7&page=1&pp=30

Also posted a link to a FAQ which states
"RG6 Dual or Quad Shield should not be used for base band applications such as video projectors, plasma TV’s, component video, etc. ......."

A friend advised that
"Steve ,I reiterate,rg6..will not carry hdtv signals..you must use rg59(a
particular style)hdtv..and it takes 3 per tv,for video only."

I know three cables are needed for video.
Could someone illuminate me with some links to further advice or provide some detail as to what cable to use for HD via component ?

Thanks kindly,
Steve D.

08-05-06, 03:12 PM	#1 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a4ac4393' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:30&n=a4ac4393' border='0' alt=''></a>
suprax Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 19	Question about RG-6 vs. RG-59 cabling for HDTV quality So in my new house the cable outlet that where my TV will connect to is RG-59 cabling (or so the Time Warner installer said so). I need to connect the cable via a female type "F" adapter to a longer cable to connect into my cable source down in the basement. So I went out and bought a female F adapter and RG-6 cable. In reading about RG-59 and RG-6 cabling, I am beginning to wonder if this setup will affect my HDTV quality? I have a 42" Sony 3LCD projection HDTV that runs off of it. I went out and bought all of the equipment and hooked it all up and I can't reaaally tell the difference between RG-59 or RG-6. There's no way for me to tell if using a complete RG-6 cable solution the entire way will make enough of a difference to notice. Does anyone know if I will get a noticeable quality difference between an RG-59 to RG-6 solution compared to a complete RG-6 setup? I would really appreciate it. Also how do I tell if the cable is RG-59 or RG-6?

08-05-06, 10:35 PM	#5 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
Colm Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 864	If I understood the original question, that is what he is doing on the new run...

08-07-06, 05:13 AM	#9 \| Link
Don Landis I shoot people 4hire AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER Join Date: Jun 1999 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 7,440	RG6 has wider bandwidth and having it vs. RG59 will give you greater options, especially if you wish to use that cable for a sat feed some day. For component video it really doesn't matter. If one can detect a differece here, then I would be looking for some screwup in the RG59. RG59 OK for video and Off air TV antenna. OK for cable too but the RG6 has better shielding and is stronger. If your area is prone to bleed thru on cable then switching to 6 will be a step in the right direction. New installs and replacing, always RG6 but only to increase your options. __________________ Don

03-30-07, 02:36 AM	#10 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
dimond Member AVS CLUB MEMBER Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 75	RG6 vs RG59 .... I was advised NOT to use some RG6 - it "won't work" See the bottom of the page on the forum topic : RG 59/u vs. RG 6/u...is there a big difference?? http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...7&page=1&pp=30 Also posted a link to a FAQ which states "RG6 Dual or Quad Shield should not be used for base band applications such as video projectors, plasma TV’s, component video, etc. ......." A friend advised that "Steve ,I reiterate,rg6..will not carry hdtv signals..you must use rg59(a particular style)hdtv..and it takes 3 per tv,for video only." I know three cables are needed for video. Could someone illuminate me with some links to further advice or provide some detail as to what cable to use for HD via component ? Thanks kindly, Steve D.

08-05-06, 03:27 PM	#2 \| Link
Colm Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 864	Unless the signal is really marginal to start with, you won't see a difference between RG-6 and RG-59 assuming they are of equivalent quality. The difference in signal level is only a few dB per hundred feet. The cable may be marked RG-6 or RG-59. If not, RG-59 is around .233" diameter and RG-6 is around .274", varies a bit depending on manufacturer, shielding, etc.

08-05-06, 07:26 PM	#4 \| Link
taxman48 Beatle Fan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,353	rg6 vs rg59: Suprax, I would run the 6 any time you can get a chance to replace the wire. The first thing my cable provider did when I switched to HD was to change the wire coming from pole to house to RG6. Had to run new wire upstairs with amp for a strong HD signal. I have 2 HD tv's and all RG6..hope this helps..

08-05-06, 11:17 PM	#7 \| Link
suprax Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 19	And if I can piggyback another quick question. When putting the end on a cable, does it matter the amount of metal sheathing is touching the connector part or not? Is the only important part the actual wire in the middle of the cable? When I made the cable today, it didn't come out very pretty but seems to work fine.

08-06-06, 10:13 AM	#8 \| Link
taxman48 Beatle Fan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,353	try to cut as much of the metal sheathing away as possible. I use the twist on connectors. Here is a link to the amp that my cable company put in for me before the upstairs run.. http://www.antronix.net/Products/cat...amplifiers&i=5