Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (
More info?)
In article <250420042051398225%otto@bogus.address.invalid>,
Otto Pylot <otto@bogus.address.invalid> writes:
> All of the cabeling in our house was done with RG-59 coax cables, even
> the rooftop attenna. We are starting the move to HD and have heard that
> RG-6 is the cable of choice.
>
RG-6 does have less loss than RG-59. IMO, the most important
issue is the distribution structure, not the specific kind
of cable (assuming the cable is good and the runs aren't
long.)
>
> Why is RG-6 better than RG-59 and are all
> RG-6 cables the same.
>
Not all RG-6 equivalents are the same.
>
> I've seen quite a price difference between
> different makers of RG-6 labled cable.
>
If RG-59 has worked well enough for you, then so be it. Higher
quality/lower loss cable can be helpful, but unless the cable
runs are very long (and unless the cable is in bad condition),
then any good 75ohm cable will work. Usually, you should have a
well considered distribution scheme in your house. Care in
using distribution amplifiers, splitters and terminators will
minimize reflections and provide perfect performance.
When designing the distribution scheme, some care should be
taken to provide reasonably good signal levels at each
cable TV recepticle. Use real splitters, and recognize that
a couple of splitters can cause enough loss that a distribution
amplifier might be helpful. I suspect that for HDTV applications,
where the source is from CATV, the signal will be more (not less)
robust than NTSC. For OTA reception, reasonable care in designing
the distribution setup will be adequate, probably realizing that
it is very possible that the received signal levels at the
antenna could be low enough that some signal boost (before the
splitters) might be helpful.
A commercial quality layout will likely be more carefully considered
than a home brew setup, but the home built setup might work just
as well.
>
> Also, do gold "F" connectors
> really make a difference?
>
No. More important is the quality of the connector (for
connectors in general.) Consumer grade gold plating tends to
be inadequate and even superfluous. (For the serious uses,
gold plating tends to be thick.) In cases where gold plating
can be helpful, then the secondary issues
of metal compatibility become important. Gold isn't a magic
answer. Gold might look nicer or make the purchaser feel better,
but I cannot argue with that
.
You'll loose much more signal power (per tap) by the proper use
of a splitter than gold plating will EVER help (except when gold
plating is used properly, in the situation where corrosion has
become significant.) With gold and Aluminum (for example), there
is a specific kind of corrosion that becomes counter productive
(historically called the purple plague.) It is best to just good
good cable and good connectors, and if your current cabling works
well, then don't worry. If you are going to rewire your house
anyway, then get good cable, and create a well designed distribution
structure. (Perhaps even use patch panels, and also parallel
wire a high speed ethernet.)
John
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