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TV Coax Cables
and Signal Loss

Coax
TV CABLE TYPES

Three types of coax cable (RG-6, RG-11, RG-59) can be used to connect an antenna to televisions. All TV coax cables have a 75 ohms (Ω) impedance and use F-type male connectors.

RG-6 coax cable
This cable is the industry standard for home reception. RG-6 is available with 2, 3, or 4 layers of shielding. Three or four layers has better immunity from interference and is more sturdy and durable, but is a little more expensive and less flexible than dual shield. Outside cables should be quad shield (4 shield layers).

RG-11 coax cable
This cable can be used if signal loss is a problem, typically a long cable run. The advantages of RG-11 are it has the least loss, and is available with 2, 3, or 4 layers of shielding. It can also carry high power signals. The disadvantages are it's more expensive, less flexible, bigger and heavier. This cable is primarily designed for high power transmissions and long cable runs.

RG-59 coax cable
This cable can be used, but is a little more lossy and has only a single layer of shielding. RG-59 is usually used indoors for raw video signals (recorders, games, etc.). RG-59 was used for over-the-air TV (and cable / satellite systems) before RG-6 became common.

Twin-lead

Twin-lead cable
This cable is sometimes called flat or ribbon cable, and should be replaced with coax. Twin-lead has 300 ohms impedance and uses blade connectors. Twin-lead works well for VHF frequencies (RF 2-13) and is especially good at the VHF-Lo channels (RF 2-6), but is not suitable for UHF channels (RF 14 and higher). Some twin lead cables do not weather well and degrade (more signal loss) with time.

SIGNAL LOSS

All cables have some signal loss. Loss depends on cable type, length, and RF channel signal frequency. The longer the cable and the higher the frequency (the higher the RF channel), the greater the loss. Radio frequency channels 2-13 in the VHF band have noticeably less loss than RF channels 14 and above in the UHF band. Loss is measured in decibels (dB's).

Loss Depends on;
• Cable Type
• Cable Length
• RF Channel


TV Coax Cables
VHF / UHF (RF 2 - 69)
75 ohms (Ω) Impedance
F-type male connectors
Coax
Type
Loss
dB / 100 ft
Shield
Layers
Primary
Use
RG-6 -5 dB 2, 3, or 4 TV Reception
RG-11 -3 dB 2, 3, or 4 High power signals
or long cable runs
RG-59 -6 dB 1 Raw Video or
TV Reception
Twin-lead Cables
VHF (RF 2 - 13)
300 Ω Impedance
Blade connectors
Loss
dB / 100 ft
Primary
Use
-1 dB ( VHF-Lo )
-4 dB ( VHF-Hi )
VHF Signals


cable loss

Coax Cable Loss Calculator
Band or RF Ch:
Cable Type:
Cable Length:

Channel
RF
Frequency (Band)

Cable Loss
(dB)
Cable Length and Type


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SIGNAL SPLITTERS

A coax cable Signal Splitter is used to connect to multiple TV's and devices. A two port splitter cuts the signal in half, equivalent to adding about 70 feet of cable. The more the signal is split (output ports) the greater the signal reduction.

Signal Splitter Loss
Output
Ports
Loss
per Port
2 -4 dB
3 -6 dB
4 -8 dB
8 -12 dB

Splitter and wall output ports that are not used should be terminated with a 75 ohm load or termination.

CONNECTORS

Barrel Connector Wall Plate Ground Block Male-to-Female Connector

Two cables can be connected using a female-to-female connector, also called a barrel. Television wall plates use barrel connectors. Coax ground blocks are barrel connectors with a port to connect / run a ground wire. Right angle connectors (female-to-male) can be useful connecting to televisions and antennas with limited space.

All connectors introduce a small signal loss, about -0.5 dB.

COAX to TWIN-LEAD ADAPTERS

Adapter

Some older antennas and televisions have a twin-lead connection and need an adapter to connect to a coax cable. A coax-to-twin-lead adapter (75/300 Ω) is an impedance MATCHING NETWORK (circuits) or a BALUN (ferrite transformer) that matches 75 ohm coax to 300 ohm twin-lead. Adapters work both ways (bi-directional), signals go from coax to twin-lead or twin-lead to coax. Adapters introduce a small signal loss that increases with frequency (RF Channel).

Frequency
Band
RF
Channel
Loss
dB
VHF-Lo 2 - 6 -0.2
VHF-Hi 7-13 -0.4
UHF 14 -1.0
UHF 36 -1.4
UHF 40 -1.5
UHF 69 -2.0

SYSTEM LOSS CALCULATOR

Estimate cabling loss from the antenna output port to a television based on cable type, frequency band or RF channel, cable length, and the number and type of signal splitters, connectors and adapters.

Antenna-to-TV Signal Loss
Band or RF Ch:
Cable Type:
Cable Length:
Signal Splitters: 2 Ports , 3 Ports
4 Ports , 8 Ports
Connectors: Ground Block, Barrels...
Adapters: Twin-lead to Coax

Channel
RF
Frequency (Band)

Cable Loss
Splitters Loss
Connector Loss
Adapter Loss
dB's

SYSTEM LOSS
(dB)


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Also see Booster / Distribution Amplifiers.

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OTA DTv
TV Coax Cables and Signal Loss