Interesting things I learned about coax

  • Thread starter Thread starter TECHNOKID
  • Start date Start date
T

TECHNOKID

Guest
The problem with those HD jobs is simply that they are given as subcontract to jobbers and often (note the world often as it isn't always the case), the labor isn't always (note again always as it isn't always the case) qualified in order to provide the cheapest labor cost possible. The so called technician(s) also has to spend a very short time on site otherwise if the opposite happens to often, he will definitely get told as in order to make as much money as possible, they have to maximise the installs/calls done within the same day. We also have to give the benefit of the doubt as when making cable terminations, even the best technician can fail at times. However, leaving the old type cabling is totally unacceptable. I realise that using old cabling isn't so much the cable cost but ratter time consuming which drops the profit since labor is the actual big cost for the jobber(s). Using the old cabling is chasing for problems to occur therefore, consumers should request NEW cabling ALL the way throught the entire new circuit path and make sure this is WRITTEN black on white on the contract. Before you sign anything, MAKE SURE you INSPECT the job!

This is the main reason, I will NOT let any outsider touch any of my cabling (inside the house I mean) as ALL I will allow the company is to do the connection up to the outside of my house onlyand will PERSONNALLY do anything related to any inside jobs.

As pointed out, on many occasions outside providers are used therefore, if this is the case doing as Pinza points out (complaint) could well be of service to the company as they can change only what they know! If their subcontractor is believed to do this type of job repitively, they'll be able to change accordingly!

H.N.Y!
Ren
 
Just wondering is RG 59 coax cable the brown cable that was used by shaw cable. I have that on my main living room tv. I am using a SW44 switch I have 3 TV's. The power inverter is on the living room TV. I have nothing but problems always getting switch error 004 on main TV. Other TV's are fine but the all use the RG6 coax cable and the picture is so much better on them. I am using a 4100 on main TV and 3100 on other 2 TV's.
 
Coaxial cable comes in a variety of colours so you cannot depend on that to tell what it is. Shaw probably put in RG6. You need to look at the text that is either printed or imprinted on the cable itself. It should clearly say RG6, RG59, Class 59, Class 6, etc. etc. or something similar. If the label doesn't make it clear, post here with the label info you are seeing.
 
I have had many, many Bell ExpressVu receivers over the years, and even had DirecPC at one time, and even after all that, I keep discovering new things.

Four years ago when I installed my dual PVR 5200, I could not get it to work. Eventually I poked around on the 'net and found out somewhere in the Ether that I needed to use RG6 coax from the SW24 to the reciever. Oddly enough, I had one run of RG59 and one run of RG6 going to my wall outlet. The RG59 previously supported a remote TV. Fortunately it was easily rectified and when I connected the second RG6 to the back of the 5200, all was right with the world. I continued to use the RG59 cable run from the back of the 5200 PVR to a remote TV in the bedroom and works fine.

My other two coax runs to other rooms, by a fluke, happened to be wired into the outlets with RG6. However, from the wall outlet to both receivers, I had used RG59 patch coax cables. Both the 3100 and 4100 worked just fine for the last few years with that configuration.

Then today I decided to install a SW44 in preparation for pulling a second coax from my second dual LNBF to finally have access to Sat 82. I followed the instructions to the letter and my Dual PVR 5200 and my 3100 came up without an issue. However, my 4100, which is the one using output 1 on the SW44 and where the power is inserted would NOT work. I couldn't figure it out and finally replaced the patch cable from the wall outlet to the 4100 with RG6 and it all worked.

I still can't figure out why the 3100 still works with the RG59 patch cable. I have plenty of RG6 cable in the garage and can make lots of patch cables, but I am curious as to why they never seem to meniton this anywhere, at least not anywhere I have found. Lots of wiring diagrams, but no real indication of RG6 vs RG59. I will have to assume the the power inserter is the reason your require RG6 to the back of the receiver.

I will assume if you have this installation completed by a Bell installer, this is not an issue, but if you are like me and do it yourself, it good to know.

Just thought I would post this in case someone else finds it useful.
 
Thanks Pinza, I've added the links posted by stampeder to a couple of the stickies in the installation forum.
 
RG6 will certainly handle the voltages better than RG59 which is a smaller sized cable but also bear in mind that the 3100 and 5200 are bother older models and maybe they could work to slightly lower tollerances than the newer "cheaper" 4100 can.

You do indeed raise a valid point about most wiring diagrams I have seen, they do not mention that it should all be RG6... I just take it as read that people know that it should be I admit I am guilty of that.

If Dosborne or Hugh read this as I am sure they will, it would indeed be a great idea to have a sticky that covers the basics of Cable type in this Forum.
 
Thanks dosborne, I am sure that will be of help to many people thinking of doing there own installations.

Dare I suggest a simple 1 line entry on the first post that reads, "RG6 is the preferred cable type to use for all satelitte installations, please see following links in post #? for more details"...?
 
Digital Home FAQ: Cables and Connections:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=76085


Digital Home FAQ: Cables, Splitters:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=3327
 
Done. I've also updated the info in the link to mention possible signal loss using RG59 for dish receiver connections.
 
The only issue with saying "use RG6 everywhere" is the coax cable supplied with the receivers for connecting from your receiver to your TV (if you choose to do it that way, most don't) is an RG59 cable. The bright red tag says "must be used to connect to TV only". I also use an RG59 run for the output from the back of the dual PVR to the remote TV, to stay in line with their "receiver to TV" methodology they seem to dictate. I wonder if it really matters if you use RG59 or RG between the TV and the receiver? For output from the 5200 to a second TV, coax is my only option. Ditto for my old small TV which only has a coax input. My other TVs all use S-Video or composite.

Good to know..Trish :)
 
Wow! Thanks for all the info. I learned a ton of stuff.

I finally have all the cables going to and from the SW44 and into all three receivers as RG6. I am having a problem with my 5200 losing the satellite signal periodically when I change channels (or whatever you call them on a satellite dish). It doens't happen every time, just occasionally, but it's very frustrating. I have checked all the connections and they seem solid, and the power supply to the inserter seems to be working just fine. Any advice?

Trish :)
 
I have asked for years now why on earth Bell supply that small piece of garbage RG59 for the Receiver to TV hook up via RF. No-one has ever been able to tell me why it is not RG6, apart from the cost factor I guess.

RG59 works fine for RF signals only, as long as the distance involved is pretty short, less than 40 or 50 feet on a regular RF output on a receiver. The 5200/3200/9200 & 9242 all have a higher power RF agile modulated output that is some 10dB more than "normal" receivers so 100' should be achievable with ease on RG59. With RG6, it being a larger cable etc, the distances can be well over 300', I know I have done it.

RG59 does not like Voltages, it will burn out, so that is why it should NOT be used on the input side of any receiver.
 
Given that the connectors on the equipment are meant to support either RG6 or RG59 and not both, could this be why Bell supplies an RG59 cable for "connection to TV only"? Are they using an RG59 connector on the back of their receivers for output to the TV? That would explain the RG59 cable they supply. Just a thought.

Trish :)
 
Guess I will replace that last piece of RG59 that goes from the wall into the receiver. Good thing I have a roll of it in my garage.

Thanks!
 
One more question for you smart guys. Just curious why there are two connections for each satellite. Is one sound and one picture?

Trish :)
 
My only issue with going to these threads is I was unable to find them using the RG6 or RG59 search. When I did a search for coax, thousands of threads came up -- too many to sort through.

Thanks :)
 
I am guessing you mean 2 connections on the input side of the SW44.?

That is because to way the SW44 works is that on Input 1a it always gets ODD Transponders, on 1b it gets EVEN transponders from 91 degrees and the same again for 82 on 2a & 2b.

That is the simple answer that might not be strictlyly correct, it might be 1a gets EVENS and 1b gets ODD but you know what I mean......lol
 
That post was intended for Pinza, not you. Here's a post useful for those new to the forum, along with search tips (which may not have helped in this case, but still good to know).

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=57741
 
It's definitely input "1a" that is the problem, as it's always cycling through "odd" transceiver numbers. I must have a bad connection on the 1a side. Will check and see if that fixes the problem. Never occurred before I installed this SW44. Had an SW24 for years and it worked fine.

Thanks again....Trish :)
 
Back
Top