Setting up a home wiring and electrical system is a crucial element that you have to go through, and if you choose the right set of cables, the task becomes a lot easier. Having said that, coax or coaxial cables are the best when it comes to lining your house’s electrical system. However, as there are many different types of coax cables available in the market, it raises a question in our mind that which coax cable is best.
No homeowners want to compromise on quality, efficiency, and reliability when talking about the wiring system. It is better to spend some more bucks than regretting at the later stage because of the flawed quality wiring system, damaging the home appliances and other electrical equipment of your house.
If you want to have the best living experience and do not want to hassle with electricians every now and then, all you need is to use the best coax cable. Leave alone the homes, coax cables are now being used for a wide range of applications, including telecommunication facilities, government organizations, and offices.
No worries if you don’t know much about the specs of coax cables. If you are reading this, then you are lucky as here we are going to walk you through the specifics of coax cables and will also see which coax cable is best in every aspect.
Why it is important to use the best coax cable?
Before we move onto the types and details of each, you may have thought about why it is important that you must opt for the best coax cable and why not use the regular normal quality cables for a home system.
Using low-quality cables can eventually make your expensive and valuable home setup go into total waste as poor installation or even a minor fault in one cable can result in a complete failure. Low-quality wires will not have the intensity to bear voltage drop-down, tripping, or any other issue in the mainline, and it will directly affect the overall system of your house.
Similarly, if you are using the coax cable for the internet or your TV, bad wires will not be able to deliver the best, and you will face distortion in signals failing to provide high frequency and internet speed. The same goes for any other appliance you use with coax cables.
Rather than spending a huge amount afterward, choosing the best coax cable in the first stage is better.
Coaxial cable
Coax cable is mainly used to pass on radiofrequency (RF) signals generated from one point and received at another. They are used at various places for different purposes because the coax cable is easy to set up, expand, offers excellent resistance to EMI, high transmission speed, and above all, cost-effective.
Normally the transmission speed of coax cable is rated as 10 megabits per second and provides 80 times more transmission capacity as compared to twisted pair cables.
Having said that, coax cables have been categorized into different types primarily based on gauge and impedance. By gauge, it means the thickness of the cable, whereas impedance implies the measure of resistance faced by the flow of electrical current in a wire.
Specifications of coaxial cable
Generally, the coaxial cable is specified with a radio guide (RG), followed by a number which often refers to the diameter of a cable. There are mainly two types when it comes to impedance, one with 75 Ohm and the other with 50 Ohm impedance. However, it is further divided into the following.
RG-6 cable
RG-6 cable is one of the most common types, and you will find it easily in your surroundings. Feasible for home use, this type of coax cable features large conductors, unique shielding, and dielectric insulation. Easy to install, RG-6 offers good signal quality.
RG-59 cable
It is mostly used at places that require low-frequency transmissions. Somewhat like RG-6, it is also commonly found in homes to be used for video applications. The difference with RG-6 is that RG-59 has a thinner center conductor.
RG-11 cable
This type of cable is thicker than the other two types, and therefore, it is easily identifiable. Though it makes it difficult to work with it, it is effective to be used for long distances and HDTV connectivity.
Which coaxial cable is best?
By now, you understand the different aspects of coax cable and why it is crucial for you to choose the best one. Coming back to the main question, which coax cable is best, it is determined by the specific needs and requirements. Below we will see the most crucial factors by which you can identify which coax cable is best.
Application requirement
You need to see for which purpose you need to use the coax cable. Each application has its own parameters such as the frequency range, signal quality, etc. based on these parameters; you see which cable is most appropriate.
Right impedance value
As discussed earlier, you will come across two variants when it comes to impedance value. 75 Ohm cables are regarded best for video applications or the application that requires high frequency, while the other one is typically used for wireless and data services. Again, it depends on the type of equipment you are going to use.
Attenuation
Attenuation refers to the amount of energy loss per unit length. When selecting the coax cable, it is among the most important factors to check the size required. The length of the wire affects the signal quality, and therefore checking it before allows you to select the best coax cable.
Cable shields
You will see different variants such as stranded, solid, braided, and so many others for coax cable shields. Each one has its effect on signal loss, reduced interference, lower attenuation, and resistance; choose as per your requirement, and that lies within your budget.
Conclusion
We have seen that coax cables are widely used because they perform better than other types of cables and choosing which coax cable is best, depends on your specific requirement.
By going through this article, you will know the essential factors you need to see in a coax cable and what elements are there that will allow you to choose the best coax cable for your need and requirement.