What's the difference?

[Danny79 0]

Ok heres the question. I work for the cable company, Im an installer and we use RG-6 for the cable. But why is RG-59 used for cameras? I know why we use RG-6 but the only thing I can think of using the 59 is because of flexibility.

 

If there is no difference, then I can buy the connectors and the crimping tools and use my wire and then go buy the power wire separately. Does that make sense? Whats the benefit of using RG-59?

[Lolo Wolf 0]

Danny, here is a good read for you http://www.abccables.com/info-rg59-vs-rg6.html

[Lolo Wolf 0]

To insure a quality signal for your cctv installs use RG59 95%copper and avoid the typical cable company compression F connects (although Im sure you have access to plenty of them) use BNC and follow the standard cable guidelines for your runs/pulls entry, terminations etc... by doing so will you will be less prone to problems and rework.

[survtech 0]

You can't use cable intended for RF for LF signals. While there's nothing wrong with RG-6 per se, all coax for CCTV video must be constructed with pure copper, not copper clad steel.

 

RF signals travel on the outside of the conductor; this is known as the "skin effect". For that reason, only the very outer area of a conductor needs to be low resistance once the signal exceeds a certain frequency. As I recall, the nominal cutoff frequency for using clad vs. solid copper is 10-20MHz. See below:

Depth of penetration at 60 Hz, δ = .857cm;

Depth of penetration at 10 KHz, δ=.066cm;

Depth of penetration at 10 MHz, δ=.0021cm = 21 microns

 

With the price of copper as compared to steel, it makes sense to manufacture RF cables out of steel with a thin copper coating. This is not the case with CCTV as its lower frequency (<10MHz) means that the signal travels nearer the center of the conductor. Since steel has a much higher electrical resistance than copper, a CCTV signal would attenuate rapidly in a clad cable.

[scorpion 0]

I really respect that you asked for some opinions before you started your project.

 

It sounds more like you are a Master Tech, and are in charge of training new recruits, and you are the type to get "all of your ducks in a row".

 

The guys at Groupware International Broadband (G I Broadband) will probably still you away from the company that you work for now!!

 

I am really glad you had some input before you ended up with a mess on your hands.

 

Now if only you could use your RF meter to check out cameras!!