RG59 cables for satellite captures

[tony123]

I know RG6 is better but what is bad about RG59?

[Gazorgan]

How long is your run? And what are you connecting to what?

RG59 is okay going 10 feet between a receiver and a TV. It is completely useless for going 90 feet between a dish and a receiver (won't see any signal, don't even try).

[painkiller]

For now, probably not much difference.
(Other than the distance issue mentioned above.)

However, in 2007 when current broadcasts are eliminated - in favor of the new standard, HDTV - RG59 will not do so well.

RG6 is specced to handle the signal bandwidth needed to support the transmission of HDTV.

RG59 is not.

[tony123]

My house is lined with RG59, over 50 ft from the dish to my receiver. The picture seems fine but I don't have anything to compare it to. I've never tried RG6.

Peak satellite signal is around 80 on a clear day. Would switching to RG6 increase it?

[painkiller]

1) Changing the cable from RG59 to RG6 does nothing with respect to peak signal received. While it might have some impact on that, I doubt it would be much.
2) The design specs (which I HAVE researched) between these two kinds of cables primarily has to do with the future. HDTV. The bandwidth of HDTV is mich broader and significantly different than current broadcast TV. RG-59 will not accomodate all of HDTV's bandwidth. In 2007, when current broadcast signals are replaced with just HDTV, you will likely have to change out all of your video cabling.
3) I am surprised that you may have RG-59 from the dish (to the rest of your home). If this was 'professionally' installed, the technician should have used RG-6 and nothing less.
4) When Comcast installs their Digital Cable to a residence, they use RG-11. (At least, here in Maryland.) It has similar specs to RG-6, for the sake of HDTV's bancwidth, but its signal to noise ratio is much better than RG-6.

If you want to improve the peak signal received (from the dish), you likely have to re-aim and center the dish. Or, there may be some obstructions within your line of sight having to do with it. Or, your physical location may mean your aim point is so low in the sky you might be pointing closer to the horizon, which might also be the reason for your signal strength issues.

[tony123]

Thanks for the detailed explanation. RG6 is used from the dish to my house, but the wiring inside the walls are RG59. Then from the wall to my receiver is RG6.

My house was built in 1989 and RG59 was the standard. I got DirecTV in 97 and the installer did not mention anything about switching to RG6 inside the walls.

What is the peak SNR for RG59 and RG6?

[painkiller]

There is no single answer for that question.
Video cable changes the signal over its length.
The longer it is, the more signal loss.
Check out the following links of you are interessted.
Different makes/vendors of cable quote differing figures.
And you have to be 'almost' an engineer to seperate the wheat from the chaff.

http://www.accesscomms.com.au/Specs/y8057spec.pdf

http://www.accesscomms.com.au/Specs/y8040spec.pdf

http://www.mjsales.net/coaxauto.htm#5765

[Dennis1968]

DirecTV started using RG-59 with their generation 1 & 2 receivers. Later generation models can not utilize the SN ratio of RG-59. That is why Generation 3 and up receivers are wired with RG-6.