The best antenna cable for digital television. Which cable is better: seven practical ways to check quality

To connect your TV to cable television or the antenna needs to be purchased special tv cable and put F-plugs on its ends.

If this simple problem is not solved competently, the TV, when receiving both analogue and digital signal May experience instability or poor picture quality due to signal loss in the cable and its connections.

Selecting a TV cable

Even an excellent TV and properly installed F-plugs at the ends of the cable will not be able to provide high quality images on the screen when using a low-quality television cable. And the question arises, which one? antenna cable is it better for connecting a TV and what criteria should you use to choose it?

TV cable device

Let's look at how a modern television coaxial cable works using the example of a CAT-703 cable.

Along the center of the entire length of the coaxial cable runs a copper or steel wire strand covered with a copper layer. This core is covered with a layer of insulation made of dielectric material. The insulation is covered with a shielding copper or aluminum foil braid, which acts as a second conductor. To protect against mechanical and climatic influences, the cable is covered with a sealed protective sheath.

In inexpensive cables, only aluminum braid is used, in budget ones - copper, and in expensive ones - aluminum and copper at the same time, as shown in the photo.

How does current flow through an antenna cable?

To consciously choose a good antenna cable, you need to imagine how the high frequency current. Current in electrical network flows throughout the entire cross-section of the conductors.

High frequency current TV signal flows according to a different law. Everyone knows how clothes are spun in a centrifuge washing machine: the higher the speed, the stronger the centrifugal force acts on the water, and it is better removed from the laundry, the laundry becomes drier. Many people experienced the effects of centrifugal force on their own bodies in childhood while riding on carousels.

The high-frequency current of the television signal flows in the antenna cable in a similar way. The higher the frequency, the closer to the surface of the conductor it flows. The skin effect appears. If we take, for example, a copper wire with a diameter of 10 mm and a copper tube of the same diameter with a wall thickness of 1 mm, then a current with a frequency of 1000 MHz will flow through them with the same losses!

Therefore, in antenna cables used for military and space equipment, to reduce signal loss (attenuation), the central core and cable braid are often coated with a thin layer of silver and even gold. This is a very expensive pleasure, and such cables are not used in everyday life.

Due to the small magnitude of the television signal in the antenna cable and its high frequency, it is not possible to determine its presence in the cable, much less carry out measurements at home without specialized expensive instruments. Only connecting the antenna cable to the TV will determine the presence and quality of the television signal.

TV cable marking

Antenna coaxial cables are the most widely used on the market. different manufacturers with a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms of brands RG 6U, SAT 50, SAT 703B and DG 113, which can be successfully used for receiving analog and digital television signals up to transmitting them from a satellite antenna with a frequency of up to 2.15 GHz. The brands are listed in order of increasing quality of the antenna cable - reducing signal loss (attenuation) during transmission. The marking (designation) must be applied to the antenna cable sheath along its entire length every meter with a digital meter mark.

This antenna cable marking indicates the following:

• CABLETECH – manufacturing company CABLETECH (China).
• RG 6U/48 – cable brand.
• HIGH QUALITY COAXIAL CABLE – high quality coaxial cable.
• 75 OHM – characteristic impedance 75 Ohm.
• 055M – meter mark, with each meter the mark changes by 1.

How to choose a TV antenna cable

The antenna cable sheath must be marked as shown above. The antenna cable must have a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms (all televisions and switching devices - amplifiers, splitters) are designed for this impedance. The outer diameter of the antenna cable sheath must be at least 6 mm. Central core and shielding braid made of electrical copper. Antenna cables of the SAT 703B and DG 113 brands meet these requirements. In the RG 6U cable, the central core is steel, plated with copper, the screen is made of aluminum foil and braided copper alloy, this budget option.

It is not possible to describe all existing television antenna cables, but the information presented is quite enough for everyone to make their own choice.

How to install the antenna plug on the cable

There is no need to invite specialists to connect the TV to the antenna cable. Anyone can do this job home handyman independently using the tools at hand, if you follow the instructions below.

The voltage of an analogue or digital television signal in an antenna cable is millionths of a volt, so an antenna cable connected to a cable network or another TV is not dangerous to humans. You can easily cut the cable without disconnecting its other end from the splitter or TV. It is not dangerous and accidental when cutting the cable short circuit between the center conductor and the shielding braid.

How to install an F-plug on an antenna cable

The plugs are sold in three sizes for antenna cables of different diameters. When purchasing, make sure that the F-plug is suitable for your TV antenna cable. This type of plug is suitable for analogue, digital TV and satellite signals.

You can screw the F-plug onto the cable by cutting it in two ways, with the shielding braid wrapped in the diagram on the left side, and without wrapping it in the diagram on the right, in accordance with the cutting diagram below.

The F-plug will hold more securely if the shielding braid is twisted, but if you cannot screw it in, you can use the second method.

To cut a television cable, without pressing the knife too hard, so as not to damage the shielding braiding of the antenna cable, its outer shell is cut along a few centimeters.

After cutting the shell, it is bent to the side and cut off at the start of the cut.

The aluminum foil and copper braid are turned away. The screen in antenna cables comes in three versions: one copper braid, aluminum foil and on top of it a copper braid (as in my case), only aluminum foil.

Many people do not know that to give mechanical strength The foil is covered on the inside with polyethylene. It is impossible to clean the plastic. If you screw the plug onto inner side foil of the antenna cable, then there will be no contact, or it will be very bad. To prevent this from happening, you need to bend half of the foil turned back, then the conductive side will be on the outside.

There are situations when the diameter of the hole in the internal thread F of the plug is larger than the diameter of the antenna cable. In this case, before wrapping the foil, you need to wind several layers of insulating tape onto the antenna cable to adjust the size of the cable. Then do everything as described. The insulation is removed from the central core using the technology described in the article “Preparing wires for installation”.

The F plug is screwed onto the foil “wrap onto the cable”.

The central core of the antenna cable is bitten off so that about 2-3 mm remains protruding.

The second half of the plug is screwed in until it stops, and the F-plug is ready for use.

There are times when, after inserting the antenna plug into the TV socket, the cable has to be bent at a right angle or it is impossible to install the TV close to the wall due to the interfering antenna cable. In this case, you can use an F-socket - a plug with an angled design.

The difference between the two described plugs is only in their shape. The technology for installing straight and angled plugs on a television cable is the same.

How to install an old design plug on an antenna cable

Before the advent of antenna F-plugs, plugs of a different design were used, which also did not require soldering, but were connected to the antenna cable using their own technology.

Before you begin installing the plug on the antenna cable, you need to hold it by the metal part and unscrew the plastic case by rotating counterclockwise. Then put the case on the cable so as not to forget.

The next stage is preparing the antenna cable for installation. To do this, use a knife blade to cut through its outer shell to a length of about a centimeter with light pressure. Next, remove the sheath and trim the shielding braid by 5 mm. Remove five millimeters of insulation from the central core. The antenna cable is now ready to be inserted into the plug.

When threading the cable into the plug, it is necessary to ensure that the conductors of the braided fasteners of the central core do not touch. Using pliers, the petals of the antenna plug are crimped around the shielding winding. There shouldn't be much effort. The main thing is to have reliable contact.

The last step is to screw the plastic part onto the metal part of the plug and insert the plug into the TV socket.

Soviet-era antenna plugs are gradually becoming a thing of the past, but millions more TVs are connected using them. If the cable is replaced or bad contact the plug needs to be re-soldered.

Soviet plugs were tinned according to GOST requirements. According to these requirements, the solder life of tinned contacts was at least six months, so after just a year it was often almost impossible to solder cable conductors to the terminals. The solder rolled off and the surface of the plug turned black.

To obtain a reliable connection, you need to clean the soldering areas until the brass shines. First, use a flat file to clean the end of the central contact, and then use the sharp end of the file, turning it as far as possible, to clean the hole of the central contact. Then clean the terminals for soldering the cable shield with sandpaper or a file and tin them.

The next step is to cut and prepare the end of the antenna cable for soldering. The plastic part of the plug is immediately put on. Next, the upper sheath of the cable is cut lengthwise and removed to a length of about three centimeters using the technology described above. The shielding braid is unraveled, divided into two parts and the conductors are twisted. The insulation is removed from the central core so that two millimeters remain visible.

Before inserting the antenna cable into the plug, its central core is shortened by a few millimeters to make it easier to insert the shielding wires. The contact petals bend slightly to the sides. The shielding conductors are threaded through the holes in the contact petals until they stop, and the central core is threaded into the central contact of the plug. The petals are pressed tightly against the cable.

The shielding conductors develop at the point where they pass through the holes of the petals, and soldering is performed. The solder layer should be small, otherwise the plastic sleeve of the plug may not fit. If the soldering turns out to be thick, then the excess solder can be sanded off during assembly with sandpaper or a file. The excess length of the braid is cut off with pliers, but you don’t have to cut it.

Before soldering the central core, you need to hold the plug by the metal part and pull the cable forcefully. This is necessary to eliminate the load on the central core if someone decides to remove the plug from the TV connector by the cable. Next, the central core of the cable is soldered from the outside and cut. If you get solder icicles during soldering, you must cut them off with a knife blade or grind them off with a file.

All that remains is to check whether the latch tab is bent sufficiently and place the plastic socket on the metal part of the antenna plug until the latch snaps into place.

Where to insert the antenna cable on the TV

Once the connector is installed on the cable, it can be connected to the TV. The socket for connecting the TV to an antenna or cable network is usually located on its back wall and is marked next to it in the form of the abbreviated inscription “ANT”.

In the photo on the right side you can see the socket for connecting the antenna. The socket is special, standard and differs from all other connectors and sockets available on the patch panel. Therefore, it is physically impossible to mistakenly insert the antenna plug into another socket. Any of the connectors, the installation of which is discussed in the article above, fits well into the television socket.

IN modern TVs To receive a television signal, two connectors are installed to connect an antenna (cable television) and a satellite dish (receiver).

One, designated RF (ANT 1 IN), is intended for connecting an antenna or cable network; this is installed on all models of TVs, both old and modern. The second one began to be installed recently, LNB (ANT 2 IN with external thread) is intended for connecting a satellite dish.

If the TV supports the DVB-S2 standard, then the satellite dish can be connected without a receiver, directly to the LNB connector. To receive digital television channels from a television tower to an individual antenna, the TV must support the DVB-T2 standard. Therefore, when buying a TV, you need to pay special attention to the list of broadcasting standards that it supports.

To receive a signal from a given connector in the TV Menu, you need to select the signal source Antenna or Satellite TV and perform automatic or manual setting channels.

How to connect an antenna cable to a TV without a plug

There are situations in life when you urgently need to connect an antenna cable to your TV, but you don’t have a plug or soldering iron at hand. You can temporarily connect the antenna cable without a plug. To do this, you must first remove the top sheath to a length of 5 cm, develop and unscrew the shielding braid, remove the insulation from the central core of the cable and bend the core itself into a loop. The width of the loop should be slightly larger than the hole in the central socket of the television connector.

If the connector on the TV is like in the photo, then you need to put an insulating tube on the central contact. Next, the loop is inserted into the central contact, and the shielding braid is tucked into the connector using the blade of a screwdriver. The main thing is to prevent the wires of the shielding braid from coming into contact with the central core of the cable.

If the braid is aluminum, then you can insert it into the television connector and fill the free space with thin copper wires taken from any stranded copper wire. To prevent the wire from falling out of the TV connector, you can secure it with several toothpicks or matches. Such an improvised connector will serve quite reliably.

How to connect an antenna cable to a crab without a plug

The cable is prepared in the same way as for putting on an F-plug, the central core is inserted into the crab's F-connector, and the screen is put on the protruding part of the crab's connector and secured with any wire or clamp. As a last resort, you can fix the cable by tightly wrapping several layers of electrical tape. It will work no worse than with an F-connection.

If you use a clamp with a screw crimping device, the quality and reliability of the connection will be no worse than with an F-connector.

Which antenna plug is better?

The answer is clear: the best of the three considered plugs for television coaxial cable is the F-plug. This is easy to see in the photographs above, even without special knowledge.

As you can see, the antenna plug of the old design and the Soviet antenna plug have a small section of the central core of the cable that is not covered by the shielding braid. This disrupts the uniformity of wave impedance, which leads to minor losses of the television signal.

The F-plug does not have an open section of the central core of the antenna cable. Another advantage of the antenna F-plug is ease of installation. Having minimum set standard tool With no skill required, almost anyone can properly attach the antenna F-plug to the cable.

How to connect multiple TVs
to cable network or antenna

Connecting several TVs to a cable network or antenna transmitting an analog or digital television signal is no more difficult than one, except that you will have to put not one F-plug on the cable, but several. For this purpose, there are television signal splitters, popularly called “crabs”, they are also called “splitter”, “splitter” or “divider”.

The crab has one connector for connecting a signal from an antenna or a splitter in the entrance, marked IN (input), and several connectors for connecting televisions, marked OUT (output). If there is no marking, then usually the crab's entrance is on one side of the body, and the exits are in a row on the opposite side. All outputs for the crab to work properly must be connected to TVs.

If there are two outputs, then to two TVs, if there are three outputs, then to three, and so on. There should be no loose connectors on the crab. If the output remains unconnected, then it must be loaded onto a resistor with a resistance of 75 Ohms. Or, as they say, put a plug. But in this case, part of the useful signal will be lost; it is better to use a crab, in which the number of taps is equal to the number of connected TVs.

The design of the splitter is a thin-walled casing made of silumin or brass, which also contains connectors for connecting F-plugs. The divider circuit is usually a transformer, one turn of enameled wire with a diameter of 0.2-0.4 mm, threaded through ferrite rings or tubes. Installation of transformers is carried out using a hinged method. The housing is hermetically sealed with a metal lid and sealed or fixed with glue.

Eyelets are provided for mounting the crab on the wall. The housing also has a thread with a screw for grounding, although it is not clear where to get the ground wire in the vast majority of apartments. They are usually not grounded, so on some channels there may be interference from electrical wires, the Internet, and a telephone running next to the television cable. Whenever possible, such proximity should be avoided when laying cables. For a more detailed look at the design and electrical circuit of the crab, you can visit the page “How to connect a television antenna amplifier to a power supply.”

If you wish, you can make a crab, which is not inferior in technical parameters to expensive samples from well-known companies, with your own hands.

When connecting TVs through a crab, the level of television signal reaching each TV connected to it, regardless of whether the TV is working or not, will be reduced due to losses in the crab and the additional cable length. When connecting two TVs - by 30%, three - by 60%, four - by 90%, and if the analogue or digital television signal coming to the crab is already weak, then the image quality on all connected TVs may decrease significantly. Usually the signal in cable television is quite powerful, and its level is sufficient for the normal operation of all televisions connected to the crab.

How to connect the antenna cable
to the television signal line at the entrance of the house

Typically, a television cable is laid along the roof of a house and then, after being amplified by a main amplifier, it branches out along the entrances of the house. Since there are different packages of television programs, at the entrance to the entrance the cable is branched using a filter crab, which is a crab with two outputs. From one output the signal comes out unchanged, and from the second output it is cut off by a high-pass filter. This limits the ability to watch everything television channels for those who buy cheaper social packages. Therefore, two cables run down the entrances.

If you examine the walls in your entrance, you will definitely find on each floor a metal box from which television antenna cables go to the apartments. In modern houses, boxes are no longer installed, but everything is placed in wall cabinets, in which case you will see a metal door with a lock. These boxes house TV signal subscriber taps. If you remove the lid from the box or open the cabinet door, you will see something like this. In the photo on the left there is a coupler for subscribers complete package television programs, and on the right for social package subscribers.

According to the rules, taps must be secured and grounded, but cable technicians do not do this to simplify their work. Perhaps this is better, since if the grounding is not of good quality, then such grounding can create interference.

Taps installed in junction boxes are not fundamentally different from crabs for connecting several TVs, but they work somewhat differently. One F connector is used to connect the cable coming from the IN trunk. The second OUT is designed to transmit the signal to the next coupler installed on the floor below. The remaining F TAP connectors, there can be from one to five, are intended for connecting subscribers, that is, for connecting television cables going to apartments.

There should be no unconnected subscriber connectors. In case of disconnection of one subscriber, for example for non-payment, it is allowed to install an F-connector with a load resistance of 75 Ohms instead of the cable. If you need to connect a new subscriber to a cable television network, then a splitter for two subscribers, as in in this example, is replaced by a three-socket one.

Thus, to connect a TV to a cable network, a piece of television cable of the required length with antenna F-connectors installed at the ends is sufficient. One F-connector of the antenna cable is connected to the subscriber tap in the entrance, and the second to the TV.

What is the difference between a crab and a coupler?

In the crab, the power of the incoming television signal is usually divided into equal parts between all connected televisions. Unlike the crab, in the coupler only a small part of the signal power received at the input is allocated to subscribers, about 6 dB.

To ensure a sufficient level of the television signal reaching subscribers, the signal to the input of the coupler is supplied from the main power amplifier, depending on the number of connected subscribers. Taken together, all branches installed in one entrance represent a crab with numerous branches.

TV signal amplifier

If after installing the crab the image becomes unsatisfactory, you will have to additionally install a television amplifier in front of it. The amplifier is designed in the same way as the crab, but its body additionally contains active elements (transistors or a microcircuit) that amplify the video signal. For TV amplifier additional power supply will be required mains voltage, and this must be taken into account when choosing the location for its installation.

The television amplifier must be installed as close as possible to the source of the television signal, since the amplifier amplifies noise along with the useful television signal. The photo shows the TERRA HA123 television amplifier, designed for operation in a home television network, having one output, with the ability to adjust the gain from 8 to 28 dB. If possible, the ideal option is to place the amplifier directly in the box of the main signal splitter for apartments.

If the televisions are located not far from the television amplifier, then it is more advisable to install only one television signal amplifier with several outputs instead of a television amplifier and a crab. For example, a television amplifier-splitter model Televes 5523 (Spain), which has a gain of 16 dB and five outputs, which makes it possible to connect up to 5 TVs to it.

If the signal is taken from an individual antenna, then there are amplifiers that are designed to be installed directly on the antenna instead of a matching loop. Antenna amplifiers provide high-quality reception at a distance from the transmitting antenna of up to 100 km.

The antenna amplifier, depending on the signal level at the antenna installation point, must be selected according to the gain for each specific case. The supply voltage for such amplifiers is supplied via a coaxial cable.

Anti-interference
installing a ferrite ring on the antenna cable

Sometimes, after connecting several TVs to cable television using a crab, interference may appear on some channels in the form of chaotically appearing white or black dots, running waves or a grid across the screen. This occurs when a high-frequency interference signal from a local oscillator, parallel connected TVs, or other sources of interference reaches the antenna input of the TV. It is possible that interference can also come from televisions connected in neighboring apartments. The level of this kind of interference can be significantly reduced or even eliminated completely by installing a ferrite ring on the cable.

The effectiveness of interference suppression by a ferrite filter depends on the cross-sectional area of ​​the ring: the larger its area, the greater the inductance of the inductor made. A ferrite ring placed on the antenna cable forms a choke and, together with the linear capacitance of the antenna cable, forms a U-shaped high-frequency filter. Maximum interference suppression will be achieved by installing two rings on the antenna cable at its ends.

Ferrite rings are sold in stores and come in two types: solid and consisting of two halves pressed into a plastic case with latches. But you can do it without extra costs. If you look closely at the interface wires running from the system side of the computer to the printer, scanner, monitor and other peripheral equipment, you can see the thickening of the cylindrical cables. These are ferrite filters.

You probably have an old CRT monitor collecting dust or have unnecessary interface cables. It is enough to cut the plastic with a knife, remove the ferrite ring and install it on the antenna cable. After installing the ferrite ring, interference on the TV screen will no longer interfere with watching TV programs.

Until now, the signal to many TVs in our apartments is supplied via cable. Neglect of its choice can negatively affect the image even if installed correctly. To avoid such troubles, it is not enough to measure the length required for connection. Before purchasing, you should find out how to choose an antenna cable.

IN technical documentation a television or antenna cable may be designated as coaxial (coaxial). The term characterizes the principle of its operation, when both conductors (central core and braid) provide transmission in one direction across the entire cross-section width (the “standing wave” effect), which reduces radiation losses to a minimum.

Its design is standard and in most cases includes four layers:

1. central vein,
2. polyethylene foam insulation,
3. external conductor screen made of aluminum foil and braid,
4. polyvinyl chloride shell.

Available on the market large selection cable products imported and domestic production, different prices. The budget option increases the risk of low-quality television broadcast; the choice of expensive products is not always justified technical point vision. The performance characteristics of an expensive cable may not be much higher than that of an average-priced analogue. It is much more important to study the basic technical parameters proposed purchase:

• resistance and attenuation,
• core material,
• braid composition and density,
• shell quality,
• diameter.

Marking on the outer covering

Many of these criteria can be determined from the information posted on the shell. It is applied every meter, and its presence is mandatory. According to the standard, the data is indicated in the following order:

1. manufacturer,
2. brand in alphanumeric designation,
3. number of screen conductor cores,
4. quality,
5. wave resistance,
6. footage

On the shell it may look like this: CABLETECH RG-6U/48 HIGH QUALITY COAXIAL CABLE 75 OHM 0.66 M. More detailed information can be extracted from the technical documentation included with the cable.

Characteristic impedance

Any television device used in everyday life is designed for a characteristic impedance of 75 ohms. The purchased television cable must have appropriate resistance. If this indicator is higher, the quality of the broadcast will deteriorate significantly or it will be unsuitable for transmitting a television signal. Along with resistance important characteristic is the attenuation at the corresponding frequency and length. The lower this indicator is, the better the television broadcast will be.

Center conductor

The conductor material has a direct impact on the signal. Manufacturers use copper, copper-coated or tin-coated steel to make it. The preferred option would be a copper core, which is guaranteed to provide excellent reception, but will be more expensive. A steel conductor has a lower price, but the transmission may not be the best. The material of the conductor can be easily determined by the cut; for a steel core it will be silver in color.

The thickness of the core affects the television image and its transmission range. A larger diameter will mean less resistance, which means a greater transmission range without interference or loss of stability. Back side thickening is a decrease in flexibility.

A single-core cable is usually used to connect the antenna. If it is expected large number bends horizontally and vertically, then you can use multi-core with greater flexibility and resistance to metal fatigue. In this case, the signal quality may suffer.

Braid material and density (conductor-screen)

The best material for its manufacture is copper. It is most effective in protecting the signal from external electromagnetic interference. Next important indicator there will be a number of fine hairs in the braid, intertwined in a certain way. The greater their number, the less external interference the design transmits and the better the television broadcast. The maximum number of such cores in a braid can reach up to 100.

A sign of a quality product will be the presence of an aluminum foil screen under the braid. It protects conductors from mutual interference and internal interference. In technical documentation, the effectiveness of the conductor-screen is designated as noise immunity. For good antenna cables it should be at least 80%.

Shell quality

The outer shell is usually made of elastic plastic and protects the internal structure from damage. The insulation must be solid, resistant to external influences, and moderately elastic to allow bending without damaging the outer layer. It is not difficult to check it, just try to pick off the shell with your fingernail and if there is even a slight detachment of the insulation, then it is better to put such a product aside.

Diameter

In the store you can purchase products of different thicknesses. The value of this indicator has a direct impact on the permissible bending radius. A cable with a diameter of 6 mm usually has a bend of 70 mm; its counterparts with a smaller diameter bend with a smaller radius. This indicator should be taken into account if the laying perimeter is too complex, with a large number curves and narrow openings. But for wiring from the antenna to the TV in standard conditions a thickness of at least 6 mm is recommended. It is better suited for connecting to standard connectors and sockets, and installation is not much more difficult than working with a thinner analogue.

With the advent of satellite and digital TV broadcasting, the question increasingly arises of which cable is best to choose for a TV - after all, the quality of the received signal depends on it. So, for example, switching to satellite or digital broadcasting from analog TV, often the image may become fuzzy, blurry, sometimes ripples and interference appear on the TV screen, although modern technologies a completely different quality is expected. The main reason for the occurrence of such defects is the technical discrepancy of the old line in relation to the new signal characteristics. It is logical that for high-quality operation of television equipment you will have to change the cable.

It is not difficult to lay cables and connect television equipment at home on your own. To do this, you do not need to have special work experience or deep knowledge. But make the right choice coaxial cable(this is the type that is used for modern TV broadcasting) is not so simple. By studying only its external characteristics: thickness, color, trying to determine by eye what it consists of, it is unlikely that you will be able to buy a suitable specimen. Which cable is better to choose can be understood based on the initial data. Before you go to the store, you need to figure out what characteristics a cable network should have. To do this you need to find out:

• what signal format it should support (digital or analog TV);
• the type and quantity of television equipment that will be used on it;
• installation location (apartment or large house);
• location of the signal source - outdoor antenna or a satellite dish on the roof of a house or balcony, a shield on the staircase;
• total network length.

The structure of a television cable

Speaking about the internal structure, we can say with certainty that all models have similar content.

1. Inner conductor- it can be made as a single or stranded wire, copper tube. The signal range and possible bending radius depend on the material.
2. Dielectric layer– ensures the immobility of conductors. It can be made of polyethylene, fluoroplastic, foamed polyvinyl chloride or an air layer. The wave impedance and attenuation of the transmitted signal depend on the quality of the material.
3. The outer conductor is braided. Made from foil, corrugated tube, aluminum film, metal wire. The degree of protection from external electromagnetic interference depends on the quality of the material.
4. Shell which protects internal structure cable.

As you can see, the principle of cable structure is the same, but the materials from which its structural parts are made differ from each other. How to choose good option, which would meet the technical characteristics of modern television broadcasting?

Selection rules

Regardless of the manufacturer, any television cable to accept the modern television broadcast format must have a resistance of at least 75 ohms. It is also worth considering the following criteria.

Outer shell composition

As a rule, either PE or PVC is used. In the first case the shell will be white, and in the second – black. Previously, it was believed that for outdoor installation, for example, when the antenna is located on the roof or balcony of a house, preference should be given to a cable with a black protective sheath. But today this indicator is not critical, and therefore some types of cables with a white protective sheath, for example SAT 703, can be used for both indoor and outdoor use. The main thing to consider thickness of the protective layer. It is quite logical to believe that the larger it is, the better.

However, in this case, the entire structure becomes clumsy; accordingly, the bending radius will be somewhat limited; this should be taken into account when planning the installation location (the presence of turns and corners).

External Conductor Characteristics

It must consist of two shielding layers. You should not purchase models with one layer; such a cable does not meet modern signal transmission standards. The materials from which the shielding layers of the outer conductor are made are different. In the very first models of television cable as external screen We used the most common braided wire. The main advantage of this model is its low cost, but you definitely shouldn’t count on receiving a high-quality signal, and even satellite TV. Modern models have a basic metal foil screen and additional braiding, which is also made from metal alloys - it reduces the level of interference from radio equipment and household appliances.

Characteristics of the central core

As a rule, the central core is made of copper or alloys of other durable metals. To add strength, the alloys can also be clad with copper. There are no confirmed facts that copper core It transmits a signal much better than alloys of other metals. But many experts recommend just such models of television cables.

Thickness

Undoubtedly, a cable with a smaller diameter is easier to lay and can be easily disguised as boxes specially designed for this purpose, but the signal quality leaves much to be desired. A cross section of 3.5 mm is minimum indicator for home use. Otherwise, only the main channels may be available, since the operation of such a cable will be limited. In order to watch TV channels with modern expansion, you will definitely have to purchase additional devices, For example, . They will be much more expensive than a cable with an optimal cross-section.

Manufacturer

The modern market includes a large number of manufacturers, but this does not mean that everyone promises a quality product. It is worth paying attention to well-established manufacturers, for example Belden, Cavel, Commscope, Mediaflex. This rule also applies to.

Cable length

In order to avoid problems during the installation process, it is recommended to purchase a cable with small margin in length. First of all, this is due to possible mechanical damage during operation, which will affect the signal quality. The damaged area may need to be repaired. The second reason is the rearrangement of equipment. Often, a new interior leads to a rearrangement of furniture and existing equipment. The large length of the cable will allow such work to be carried out without replacing it.

When choosing a cable, it is worth remembering that the longer the network, the thicker the model you need to choose. If the cable is purchased for an antenna that is located on the roof, it is better to purchase a wire with a larger cross-section. In addition, before purchasing a certain model, it is worth clarifying whether there are additional conditions for installation. All this information will be useful to you if you decide

When choosing a television cable, it is worth knowing that there are no special “digital” models used to receive the corresponding broadcast - this is just a marketing ploy. Modern cable devices are broadband, operating frequencies from 5 to 3000 MHz. Digital and satellite television fall right into this range.

To receive a high-quality signal from a satellite, you will need information on how to correctly.

For quality television broadcasting Not only is the sufficient power of the incoming signal 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 cable 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 when 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 others 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 better degree protection, it is better to choose a cable with a coefficient of at least 90 dB.
• 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 what you have in your hands is not the best high quality cable.

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.

See video review of coaxial cables 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 signals both analog and digital television.

Connecting the plug to the antenna wire is very simple:

1. Using a utility knife, make a circular cut of the top protective layer up to the screen shell, a couple of centimeters long;
2. 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;
3. Remove the insulating sheath of the center wire;
4. Place the plug on the cable and twist it clockwise until it stops;
5. Cut off any excess wire.

Plug installation is complete.

It’s also useful to watch the video on how to connect TV plug to 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 the article on television cables will help you make the right choice.

If you are doing repairs, among other things, the question arises of buying a television cable and, of course, the sacred “which TV cable is better?” On sale there is a carload and a small cart of varieties of antenna wires, which differ in markings, name, thickness, characteristics, color, etc. Not to mention the fact that different types of television offer “their own” cables.

Let's be honest, this abundance sometimes baffles even specialists. Therefore, we want to tell you what cable is needed to connect the TV, and how to check whether the installation wizard offers the right type.

The structure of a television cable

The cables are arranged, in general, the same way. There is a main central core or inner conductor. The core is hidden in an insulating sheath, on top of which a screen and braid are laid. And the protective shell completes everything.

Note! A cable of this structure is also called coaxial. Thus, the cable for the TV is coaxial.

The internal conductor transmits the signal in all types of television and power for the converter in satellite TV. Therefore, it is made of copper or copper-plated steel. That is, the vein itself is steel, and on top there is a thin layer of copper, sort of like steel wires were dipped into a bath of molten copper. A pure copper core is needed only for the satellite; for the rest, a copper-plated steel core works great. Plus, the price of the cable is lower, but the quality is high.

The screen and braid act as protection against various interferences. The better they are made, the better the TV signal will be. The screen is made of aluminum foil and/or aluminum lavsan (screen), the braid is made of aluminum, copper or tinned-copper wire. The average protection factor or shielding factor is 60-80 dB, high starts from 90 dB.

The internal plastic dielectric reliably hides the central core, protecting it from damage. It also insulates from contact with the screen and braid. The outer sheath made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) covers the entire contents of the cable, protecting it from damage and external influences. For example, from water, dust, temperature changes and other troubles. After all, cables are often laid not only indoors, but also outdoors.

Brands and characteristics of antenna cable for TV

Coaxial antenna cable is available under different brands, of which the most commonly used are: SAT 50, SAT 703, RG 6, RG 59, DG 113, RK 75. All of them have a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms and are suitable for connecting one or more TVs. Now let's talk about each type in more detail.

RG-6 cable

The brand is Russian, but made in China. The central core is copper or steel with copper plating, thickness 1.0 mm, hidden in a sheath of foamed polyethylene. The cable has a foil screen, copper or aluminum braiding and a protective PVC sheath. The total thickness of the wire is 6-6.8 mm. Most often, the RG 6 brand is used for cable, regular and digital TV. This is the most inexpensive variety with a price per meter starting from 10 rubles.

Cable RK 75

Similar to RG-6 in terms of characteristics, produced in Russia. The central core is made of copper, thickness 1.0 mm, dielectric PE, screen made of copper braid or double screen made of aluminum lavsan and tinned copper (foil and braid). A cable with a single shield can be used for terrestrial and cable TV, while a cable with a double shield can also be used for a satellite dish inside a building.

Cable RG 59

A thinner version of RG-6 with a central core thickness of 0.5-0.58 mm and an outer diameter of 5.4-6.0 mm. Suitable for transmitting all types of signals, including satellite, but over a distance of 190 m. Due to the thinness of the main conductor, the signal in the cable attenuates 50% more, and the loss of image quality increases with each meter.

Attention! RG 59 and other analogues with a half-millimeter core are used for one television receiver. A fragile and thin conductor is more difficult to secure in sockets and connectors; it breaks easily if the wire is laid inaccurately and if the wire is strongly bent. And high attenuation “brutally” weakens the signal when connected in a serial circuit.

SAT 50 cable

Manufacturer: Italian company Cavel. The central copper core is 1.0 mm, the screen is reinforced, consists of two layers of foil and copper-tin braid, shielding coefficient from 60 dB. The conductor sheath is made of PEG dielectric, the outer one is made of PVC, cable diameter is 6.6 mm, kg. It can transmit all types of television signals - broadcast, cable, digital and satellite. Price per meter from 30 rubles.

SAT 703 cable

Also products under the Cavel brand. The central conductor is made of copper with a thickness of 1.13 mm. Screen made of two layers of aluminum-plastic foil and copper-tin braid, shielding coefficient from 80 dB, shell made of PEG dielectric and PVC, total thickness - 6.6 mm. It transmits all TV signals with high quality and is recommended for satellite TV, including outdoor installation. Price per meter from 40 rubles.

Cable DG 113

Manufactured by Cavel, technical indicators are similar to the SAT 703 brand, but the shielding coefficient of DG 113 is higher and starts from 90 dB. This ensures high-quality transmission of high-frequency signals without interference. Excellent cable for indoor satellite dish. The most expensive antenna cable. The cost of a meter starts from 65 rubles.

So many options - which TV cable is better?

Based on experience with low current, we recommend taking a high-quality CAVEL cable. The Italians ate the dog in the production of antenna wires for 47 years of work. And the brand has become a reference all over the world. Of course, such a cable costs more, but it is always 100% worth the investment.

Satellite, cable, digital TV - which cable to choose

Surely you are interested in:

• what antenna cable is needed for digital television;
• what tv cable would be better suited for cable TV;
• which television wire is better to use for a satellite dish.

From practice we know for sure that dividing into so many types of television and selecting a cable for each is a waste of time and money. The reason is simple, the frequency of channels, regular terrestrial, digital TV and cable channels, are not very far apart and fit in the range from 49 to 800 MHz.

This gap is qualitatively “closed” by all types of cables of the brands SAT 50, SAT 703, RG 6, DG 113, RK 75. And if the total length of the television wiring is up to 20-30 meters, then the signal attenuation is practically not felt. Even RG 59 copes well with work in a star circuit or when connecting one TV.

! Feel free to choose one type of cable for digital, terrestrial and cable television.

And to the question: which television wire is better for digital or cable TV? — let’s answer this — any of the Cavel cable family will give a 100-point head start to other brands. But, if you need to “fit” into a budget option, RG-6 is also suitable.

Antenna wire for satellite television

Satellite channel broadcast frequencies are higher and are measured in thousands of megahertz. The cable must transmit them without significant losses, which in high frequency range tangible and growing rapidly with every meter. Plus, there is a transmission of special pulses and supply current for the converter local oscillator.

Besides, satellite channels are more sensitive to electronic interference, which means that effective cable shielding is required. The stability of the outer shell is also an important thing. Satellite dish stands outside, and part of the wire will be on the street. And there all the delights of the weather and precipitation will begin to actively age and destroy the shell

Therefore, choose a high-quality cable with lower attenuation, durable copper core, excellent screen and reliable sheath with carbon protection.

! We recommend antenna wire for satellite television grades SAT 50, SAT 703, DG 113 or their analogues.

The best option

Without antics and dancing with a tambourine, let’s say that a high-quality branded Cavel television cable is a super-optimal option in terms of price-versatility. You get much more than just excellent technical specifications and beautiful picture on TV.

1. Workmanship. The branded cable is an order of magnitude higher than the budget analogue. For example, in inexpensive assortment (especially made in China) it is very easy to pull out the cable stuffing from the sheath. With the luxury Cavel cable, you will be tortured to tear off even a small piece of “skin”.
2. Versatility of installation. The branded wire is thicker, stronger, and fits perfectly under the plaster like in a cable channel. And when installed externally inside the plinth, Cavel easily withstands mechanical stress.
3. Reliability of contacts. All connections with sockets, plugs, etc. good contact, when using a proprietary Cavel cable. Because it is made of high quality materials.

Let's sum it up

The online store site offers an assortment of antenna cables from the affordable Russian RG 6 to the branded Italian Cavel. As well as accessories, electrical and television sockets.

We answer any questions about TV cables and accessories. We select complete set for a turnkey home TV network.

Call and ask! Phones