Outdoor TV cable. Can I use a cable to connect multiple TVs? Marking on the outer covering

In the process of choosing a television cable, you have to deal with a wide variety of offers, which even experienced specialists cannot evaluate. That is why, before purchasing the necessary coaxial cable for your TV, it is advisable to understand all the intricacies of its design and the main differences between the different brands of this product (they are shown in the figure below).

From the variety of television (TV) cable samples offered on the market, we choose the only brand that is optimally suitable for this specific situation. How to choose the right coaxial cable without losing sight of even the smallest detail will be discussed in this review.

TV cable design

The design of most cable television products is almost the same, since they include the following similar parts:

• The central core is in the form of a thin copper conductor;
• The dielectric sheath insulating this core is made of polyurethane;
• A layer of shielding foil;
• Additional screen based on steel (copper-plated) wire;
• PVC protective sheath.

Note! Because of this design of television cable, it is sometimes called coaxial.

The internal insulating sheath performs its assigned function, and the outer PVC coating protects the entire cable from mechanical deformation and damage.

Purpose and parameters of the main components

The central core of a cable product can have two designs, in one of which it is made of copper-plated steel wire, and in the second of pure copper. Copper conductor is used to transmit all types of television signals, as well as to power satellite TV converters via coax.

Additional Information. The cable for satellite television must also have only a copper central core (diameter is about one millimeter). In all other cases, copper-plated wire will do just fine.

At the same time, it is possible to save on material costs with a relatively high quality of signal transmission.

The reliability of the existing screen braid determines how efficiently a TV signal is transmitted via a coaxial line, as well as protection from interference from extraneous sources. Therefore, this part of the cable during its installation requires a special approach (in terms of cutting the braid and its reliable fixation).

Aluminum foil (lavsan) is used to make screen film, and the braid itself can be made on the basis of copper or tinned wire (sometimes the same aluminum is used for its manufacture). Choosing the right television cable with this design means ensuring a high shielding coefficient (about 60-80 dB, and in some cases up to 90 dB).

The dielectric made of polyethylene (PE) in the inner part reliably protects the central core and at the same time insulates it from unwanted contact with the screen and outer braid. The outer PVC sheath, in addition to reliable protection against deformation, protects the cord from moisture, dust and strong temperature changes (when laid outside buildings and on strings).

Brands and characteristics

If you want to decide which television cable is better, you should proceed from the fact that this product can be produced in various designs. The main ones are the following brands:

• SAT 50, 703;
• RG 6, 59;
• as well as DG 113 and traditional RK 75.

The listed products for cable television have a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms and can be used to connect several televisions at once. Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Cable RK 75

This type of cable product is traditionally produced in Russia and has a long history dating back to Soviet times. It contains the same central core of pure copper (diameter - 1 mm), around which a PE dielectric is located.

On top of this structure there is a shielding braid made from thin copper wire or from a double layer of aluminum lavsan (foil and braid). A cable with a single-layer protective shielding is usually used in terrestrial and cable TV systems.

Products with double screen protection can also be used for digital TV systems, and they are usually installed in the interior spaces of buildings.

This cable is a Russian brand, but it is produced in China. Its central core is made of copper or copper-plated steel wire of millimeter thickness in a protective sheath of polyethylene. The total thickness of the wire together with the insulating layer, braiding and protective sheath is approximately 6-6.8 mm (see figure).

Most often this type of wire is used in cable or regular television broadcasting, but it is sometimes used for digital television. Cable products of this class are among the cheapest types of products that have a very reasonable price.

Cable RG 59 (modification of cable RG-6)

This type of RG-6 cable has a thinner central core (diameter - 0.5-0.58 mm) and an outer size of about 6.0 mm. It is ideal for transmitting various types of data, including satellite signals transmitted over distances of up to 190 meters.

Important! Due to the low conductivity of the relatively thin central conductor, the signal attenuation in such a cable increases by half (see figure below).

The high level of loss in RG 59 results in image quality deterioration that increases with each additional meter. This sample cable product can only be used for one receiver.

Its disadvantages are associated with the installation features of a thin conductor, which is fixed with great difficulty in the coaxial connector and often breaks off if handled carelessly. In addition, large attenuation in a thin core greatly weakens the signal in series circuits.

Cables SAT 50, 703 and DG 113

The manufacturer of these two types of cable products is the Italian company Cavel. The first of these wires has a copper central core 1.0 mm thick, as well as a reinforced screen made of foil and copper-tin braid.

The shielding coefficient is more than 60 dB.

PEG dielectric is used as the inner insulating shell, and the outer protective coating is made of PVC. The total diameter of this cable product is 6.6 mm, and its price per meter is slightly higher than other samples. SAT 50 is capable of transmitting all types of television signals and can work as part of cable, digital and satellite equipment.

The SAT 703 product has a slightly thicker central core (1.13 mm), its screen is designed in the same way as in the previous case. The difference is the overall cable thickness of 6.6 mm and the shielding factor of about 80 dB. This cable has good transmission characteristics and can be used in any TV systems, including satellite channels.

The DG 113 brand cable is produced by the same manufacturer, but, unlike the two models discussed, it has a higher shielding coefficient (from 90 dB). It provides the highest broadcast quality with virtually no interference. However, the cost of one meter of this product, most often used for satellite dishes, is one of the highest.

Which cable is better

If you want to find an answer to the rhetorical question about which television cable is better, you need to proceed from the following considerations.

For satellite TV, preference in all cases should be given to products from the Italian company Cavel (despite the relatively high cost).

The opinion of experts, who believe that it is pointless to choose a separate cable for each of these cases, will help you decide which cable is needed for simple, digital and cable television.

Additional Information. The fact is that the frequency channels for all of the listed types of broadcasting are practically no different from one another and fit in a limited range from 49 to 800 MHz.

This frequency gap can be covered by using any of the previously discussed types of cable products. If problems arise with what is better to choose: the Italian branded wire of the “Cavel” brand or the budget option RK-75, you should proceed only from financial capabilities. All intermediate cable product offerings should be considered transitional between the two extremes.

To summarize the material discussed in this review, we note that even taking into account all that has been said, for digital or cable television it would be much preferable to use any product from the “Cavel” family. Despite the fairly high cost of these cables, they can be used to provide high-quality broadcasts of any television sources and programs.

Video

Even the best antenna won't do its job if you're using a low-quality TV cable. And in combination with its illiterate installation, problems with the correct reception of television signals will certainly arise. As a rule, information about it is included in its specification or printed directly on the outer shell. However, we cannot always verify this data, and sometimes even this information is not always reliable! How can you figure out which TV cable is better? All you need is basic knowledge and a little observation - below we offer 7 practical ways.

A coaxial cable consists of several components that determine its properties and quality. It consists of two conductors, the axes of which are combined, that is, they coincide. This is the principle of coaxiality (alignment). The outer conductor serves as a shield for the inner conductor.

How it works

The standard structure of a coax is as follows: a metal core (usually a copper conductor), a dielectric made of polyethylene or Teflon (rarely), an outer conductor: a braid of intertwined wires (an option is an additional metallized layer, foil and copper braid), a PVC sheath.

1. internal conductor, affects the quality of signal transmission;
2. dielectric - a layer of plastic;
3. metallized layer (a combination of copper and polyester or a combination of aluminum and polyester);
4. metal braid, the denser its weaving, the higher the quality;
5. outer shell for protection against moisture and radiation, on it you will find the manufacturer's markings.

Where is it used?

Coaxial cable is used for:

• signal reception - TV, FM radio;
• Signal transmission: from 1.8 MHz to 3 GHz;
• for high frequency connections between devices;
• in data transmission networks, in measuring instruments.

Which cable is best to use for TV? Definitely high quality. Quality is a parameter that cannot be neglected, especially when it comes to digital signal reception. Here is the relationship: if you have good reception, but an unimportant signal, the transmitted image will be distorted. Conversely, high-quality transmission will not make up for poor reception quality.

Coaxials, as they are often called, are characterized by generally accepted criteria:

• resistance (Ohm);
• the amount of signal attenuation (losses at 10, 100 and 1000 MHz, indicated in dB per 100 m);
• permissible power or maximum operating voltage (kV);
• wave propagation coefficient.

Choosing a television cable will also be correct based on the following characteristics:

• cable cord diameter (mm);
• flexibility;
• dielectric material;
• material of the outer insulating layer.

The most common coaxial cable for use in apartments is flexible and has a diameter of 6 mm. And this is justified: problems can arise with rigid cables if their installation requires small bending radii.

Large diameter coaxial cables are designed to transmit higher powers. Their black outer shell indicates that they are for outdoor use because they are protected from damaging ultraviolet rays. Cable products with white coating are used indoors as they prevent combustion.

Marking

When you buy a domestic product, there are usually no difficulties with its designation.

• RK - radio frequency cable;
• 75 - conductor resistance 75 Ohm;
• 4.8 - diameter;
• 34 - the first digit shows the insulation group, heat resistance category. The second digit is the serial number of the development;
• TU - technical manufacturing conditions.

But the markings of imported cables can confuse you. Meanwhile, here is the definition of Western standards:

• DELINK - manufacturer;
• SAT-752 - name;
• Cu/Cu - material of the central conductor and braid (Cuprum - copper);
• 1.13 - thickness of the central core;
• 0.12*64 - thickness and density of the braid;
• Cu-foil - full copper;
• Coaxial cable - coaxial cable;
• 75 OHM - conductor resistance 75 Ohm;
• ISO 9001-2000 - certificate of conformity.

Choosing quality

So how will you check the cable quality? According to the following seven signs!

Purpose

External insulation not only resists external influences and mechanical damage - what it is made of largely determines the properties of the cable wire.

The most commonly used polyvinyl chloride coating for cable cords. You can choose them for wiring in the apartment. The coating made of light-stabilized polyethylene distinguishes the cords for outdoor use. In addition, outdoor cables have a protective gel-like layer against weather conditions and sunlight. By removing a section of insulation, you can see if there is a gel-like lubricant underneath that protects the inner surface of the cable from moisture.

Outer shell strength

Just try removing the outer layer by hand. If the PVC or PE coating is weak and easily slides off the braid or foil layer, lengthening and stretching, this no longer guarantees sufficient cable strength.

Quality of the shielding layer

The shielding layer is aluminum or copper foil wound onto a dielectric. Its task is to protect the signal passing inside the cable from external electromagnetic waves that can cause interference. It also prevents the signal from leaking out to prevent it from weakening. For both conditions to be met, the foil must be glued to the dielectric layer. This can be easily checked by removing part of the shell and examining the shielding layer. If the foil moves freely along the dielectric layer, this means that it was not glued, which means that during installation, when you need to bend the wire properly, the film will slightly open the dielectric and create an unprotected “gap” through which signals will penetrate.

Braid density

The most common braid is a copper or aluminum mesh made of wire with a diameter of about 0.12 mm. The higher the braid density (more wires), the higher the electromagnetic density of the cable. This is another barrier to protect the transmitted signal from interference.

At first glance, the density of the weave is difficult to assess. Pay attention to the interweaving of the hairs, at what angle? If they are laid freely, longitudinally, then we are dealing with a thin braid. And vice versa, if they form a dense mesh that covers the entire wire, then the braid coating is dense, “airtight”. The signal will be under reliable protection.

Dielectric check

The dielectric is a polymer layer made mainly of polyisobutylene. It is important that this material is foamed in a physical way. Chemical foaming does not have a long-term effect - after a few years the dielectric will collapse. A fragile dielectric means there is a 100% risk of displacement of the central core and loss of coaxiality. You cannot use such a wire for.

Unfortunately, the nature of such foaming is difficult to analyze without special tools. But is it possible to check whether the dielectric is dense and whether it is well “welded” both to the core and to the foil (screen)? This is of key importance when bending the cable and determines its permissible bend radius.

Coax class

The cable class characterizes the degree of electromagnetic leakage. The higher the class, the greater its density and resistance to external interference. Higher tightness is achieved by choosing the type and number of screens and braids used. Cable wires are distinguished:

• two-layer – two layers inside: foil + braid;
• three-layer – foil + braid + foil;
• four-layer – braid + foil + braid + foil.

Of course, the greater the number of layers, the greater the electromagnetic density, the higher the class and quality of the cable wiring. To choose the right television cable, you need to see what class we are dealing with. It is enough to “clean” it layer by layer, reaching the dielectric.

Core type and thickness

The type of inner core and its thickness are directly related to the signal attenuation in the cable. Low attenuation cables maintain adequate signal quality throughout the entire length to the receiving device.

Coaxial cores can be made of copper or copper-plated steel. Copper has better conductive properties and reduces resistance to electrical charges. Therefore, it is more often used in various types of cables. In turn, the diameter of the wire increases the active conducting surface and reduces the resistance to these charges.

If the core is soft and does not change color after a small scrape or cut, you can be sure that you are dealing with copper wire. However, if the center wire is rigid, and after cleaning the top layer of copper the silver color of the steel clearly appears, then you have a copper-plated wire.

Let's sum it up

If the time has come to choose, it is better to choose the cable that fulfills all the mentioned conditions:

1. the thickness of the inner core exceeds 1 mm;
2. the shielding film is glued to a physically foamed dielectric;
3. has triple or quadruple insulation;
4. braid density of at least 64% (densely spaced wires with a thickness of at least 0.12 mm);
5. the coating of the outer insulating layer is adapted to the purpose of the cable;
6. the maximum attenuation at frequencies of 862 MHz and 2150 MHz is respectively lower: 21 dB and 32 dB (parameter for 100 meters of wire).

By choosing an antenna cable according to these rules, you can be sure that you are dealing with an excellent quality product that you can count on for both analog and .

To connect your TV to cable TV or an antenna, you need to purchase a special TV cable and put F-plugs on its ends.

If this simple task is not solved correctly, the TV, when receiving both analog and digital signals, may operate unstably or with poor image quality due to signal losses in the cable and its connections.

Selecting a TV cable

Even an excellent TV and correctly fitted 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 antenna cable is 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 core 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 high-frequency current flows. Current in an electrical network flows across the entire cross-section of conductors.

The high-frequency current of a television signal flows according to a different law. Everyone knows how laundry is spun in the centrifuge of a 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

The most widely used antenna cables on the market are coaxial antenna cables from different manufacturers with a characteristic impedance of 75 Ohms, 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. The RG 6U cable has a central steel core, galvanically coated with copper, an aluminum foil screen and copper alloy braiding, this is a 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. Every home craftsman can do this work independently using available tools if he follows the instructions below.

The voltage of an analog 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. When cutting a cable, an accidental short circuit between the central conductor and the shielding braid is also not dangerous.

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 sheath 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 the inside of the antenna cable foil, there will be no contact, or it will be very poor. 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 of an angular 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 there is poor contact in the plug, it becomes necessary to re-solder it.

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, 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 tongue is bent sufficiently and place the plastic cartridge 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 televisions, 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, you need to select the signal source Antenna or Satellite TV in the TV Menu and perform automatic or manual channel tuning.

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 a screwdriver blade. The main thing is to prevent the shielding braided wires 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. With a minimum set of standard tools and no skills, almost anyone can correctly 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 analogue 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. The signal comes out unchanged from one output, and from the second output it is cut off by a high-pass filter. Thus, the ability to watch all television channels is limited 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 is a coupler for subscribers of the full package of television programs, and on the right is for subscribers of the social package.

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 the splitter for two subscribers, as in this example, is replaced with a three-slot 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 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. A television amplifier will additionally require a supply voltage, and this must be taken into account when choosing its installation location.

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 of up to 100 km from the transmitting antenna.

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 may 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.

Where are we today without TV? In many homes, this electrical appliance has become practically a member of the family. We enjoy watching colorful TV shows, documentaries about nature or science, music concerts, box-office films and much, much more. Naturally, we want the picture our pet produces to be as beautiful and high-quality as the one we saw when purchasing it in the store.

But often the image of a house is strikingly different for the worse, and many users simply do not realize that they just need to make the correct connection and the picture will “come to life.” The article will tell uninitiated people which television cable is better, how to choose it correctly, and how to connect.

Of course, we twisted our hearts a little when we said that for a good image it is enough to choose the right cable. In fact, the quality of the received image—its resolution—plays a more important role.

But, nevertheless, this does not detract from the merits of the wires, since if you install a cable that does not correspond to it on a high-quality signal, all you will see is the maximum throughput of the selected option, that is, the image will become worse. We will reveal this dependence in more detail throughout the article.

Today there are two types of broadcast signals: analog and digital. We won’t go into physics and just outline the main difference.

Their transmission principle is similar, and some cables are capable of transmitting both signals. The main difference is that a digital signal is a square wave and carries only two possible values: one is a zero and the other is a one.

That is, all information is transmitted in the form of binary code, like in a computer. Thanks to this, it is possible to cut off all the interference that abounds in the analog signal, and transmit the picture with sound in its original quality. In addition, the analog signal transmits a lot of unnecessary information, which reduces the throughput of these cables.

All this does not mean that an analog connection cannot transmit a high-quality signal. In some situations, the use of such wires is preferable to their modern competitor. Let's list all the analog cables used so far and figure out how to connect them

Coaxial cable

Here is a standard television cable, which everyone, without exception, is probably familiar with.

It is made in the form of a round elastic wire, which consists of:

• Central vein;
• A dielectric, which acts as an internal insulator and envelops the central core along its entire length;
• Shielded interlayer - not all cables have it, as this increases the price per linear meter of the product.
• External conductor;
• An insulating sheath that protects the cable from damage.

This cable is used not only in television equipment, but also in communications, and even for military equipment. It can transmit both types of signals and has not lost its relevance for many years in a row.

In modern television systems, in addition to connecting external antennas, it is used: when connecting a satellite dish to the receiver; when connecting several receivers in series; on cable television. Consequently, the picture quality in all these cases will depend entirely on the coaxial cable.

Which coaxial cable is worthy of the end consumer's attention? To answer this question, you need to find out all the main technical characteristics of this product, and what external factors should be taken into account when choosing.

From this video you will learn how to choose the right TV cable.

• Cable resistance - as we remember from school physics course, resistance is measured in Ohms. For a good home cable, this parameter should be at least 75 Ohms. This value is stamped on the cable itself, and can simply indicate a specific number, or be encrypted, for example, RK - 75.75.

Advice! If you see a cable with one of the following markings - RG -6, RG -59, RG -11 - then you can safely purchase them, as they meet all the requirements for home television systems.

• Signal attenuation indicator - any television channel broadcasts on its own non-repeating frequency. Accordingly, each of them has its own level of signal attenuation - for some it is higher, for others it is the opposite. Therefore, you should purchase a cable with the lowest loss level, which is measured in dB/100m.
• Next, you should think about where the TV will be located and what route you are going to take to connect the wires to it. If a significant part of the cable (outside the window does not count) runs along the street, then it is worth choosing an option that is resistant to changes in temperature and humidity. To avoid mistakes, choose thicker wires with dense braiding, a powerful core, layers of carbon and various impregnations.
• Not every coaxial cable is suitable for transmitting a satellite signal. If your version has a central core less than 1 mm in diameter, then interference is inevitable. And all due to the fact that in addition to the signal, power for the convectors passes through it.
• It is better if the cable cores are made of copper.
• Choose options with a durable shell. Color doesn't matter.
• A layer of foil and dense braiding is required.

Now, regarding cable routing:

• It is possible to lay a coaxial cable next to power lines only if its thickness is at least 6 mm;
• The cable must not be bent more than 90 degrees, otherwise the dielectric shells may be damaged;
• The length is selected individually, depending on current needs;
• Use connectors and splitters to route the cable. Don't make homemade connections.

These tips will be useful to you to answer the question of how to improve your cable TV signal. Now let's figure out how to mount a connector on a cable with your own hands. Here are instructions and photos on the topic.

• To begin, remove about two centimeters of the outer insulator;
• Then cut off the braid and internal dielectric, leaving about 5 mm at the base;
• Take a connector - in our case, this is an option designed for a satellite receiver, which has a screw thread for connection.

• Place the connector on the end of the cable;

• The connector will be tight to fit, so apply some force to make sure it fits snugly;

Well, to make the connection stronger and not fall apart during operation (the receiver can be moved to another place), reinforce it with regular electrical tape.

We may have devoted too much space to this cable, but it is still the most versatile of all solutions.

Tulips are not only flowers

All the cables that we will consider below are used to connect equipment indoors. It is impossible to purchase them as moldings and mount the connector yourself. And the first on our list will be, perhaps, the most popular option - a composite RCA jack cable. In Russia it is better known as “tulip” or “bell”.

The cable has three cores, each containing at the end a standard RCA (male) plug, which looks like a contact pin protruding forward, surrounded by a round rim of metal. The mating connector (“female”) is located on the contact panel of the connected equipment and has a diameter of 8 mm.

One core is intended for transmitting a video signal, and the remaining two are for stereophonic.

The image quality that this connector is capable of transmitting is quite good - it is quite capable of handling a 480p signal with minor losses in quality. The disadvantage is that the composite mixes signals together thanks to multiplexing technology, which is why the quality of the restored image deteriorates compared to the original. Such signals, when mixed, create the effect of blurring shades and primary colors along the boundaries of objects - the picture turns out to be slightly blurry.

Currently, watching television channels online is becoming increasingly popular, although many homes still use televisions. Some people watch TV programs using a regular antenna, others use a satellite dish, and in most cases they use cable television. It is worth noting that the antenna cable has a huge impact on the quality of television broadcasting. In the era of innovative technologies, it is difficult for consumers to decide on the choice of products of this type, so today we will focus on products of this type.

A little theory

The antenna cable consists of several conductive wires of small diameter, insulated among themselves and covered with common insulation. The main purpose of the cable is to transmit induced interference to the TV. Any antenna cable has special characteristics that can be calculated using formulas.

Antenna conductors are manufactured in various designs, both from solid wires and from stranded wires. If it is necessary to manufacture a flexible antenna cable, threads are used. It is worth noting that the attenuation value depends on the design of such a product. The more flexible the antenna cable, the higher the attenuation value, which in turn describes the loss of signal from the start of the power supply to the receiver.

How to determine the best TV cable?

At the moment, the market offers several types of antenna cables for TV with a huge difference in cost. What's the difference? The first thing you should pay attention to is the quality of the insulation. In cheaper versions it is very fragile. The second criterion for the price range is the material from which the center conductor is made. It is better to give preference to conductors with copper conductors. Shielding the antenna cable for a TV is also one of the determining criteria for the price range. The screen helps to obtain a clearer television signal from the antenna.

Insulation

The outer sheath should be as dense as possible; the service life of the cable directly depends on it. One of the best and most reliable is fluoroplastic insulation. It is highly resistant to any external influences. In the production of coaxial antenna cables, PVC-based insulation materials are also used. This insulation has a fairly low cost and is cheaper than other types of insulation. Its advantages include high elasticity and heat resistance.

Center conductor

The central conductor of the coaxial antenna cable is made of copper or alloys. The main core, consisting of copper, has a number of advantages, due to which it is incredibly elastic, reliable and not brittle, and also guarantees correct fixation of the connection connector. The center conductor of the antenna cable, made of copper, contributes to the best loop resistance of the DC current passing in the antenna wire. This cable parameter is very useful if long-length products are used, and amplifiers are used to power the entire structure.

Also, in a copper conductor there is practically no signal distortion, so it is preferable to choose such devices. An important factor is the thickness of the core: the larger, the better. Size plays a big role in this case, so be careful! The gold-plated connector will provide better signal conductivity.

Shielding

Typically, aluminum foil or film with braiding is used as a screen. In the production of old-type cables, braided wire was used as shielding, although nowadays cables of this type are also found. The price of an antenna cable with one screen will be much lower, but it is impossible to use such a product to broadcast a television signal.

With the help of a shield, it is possible to reduce the impact of interference on the cable and thereby reduce the level of interference emitted by it. Double shielded cables have higher attenuation values, resulting in improved quality of the transmitted television signal. If the cable does not have a shielding layer in the form of foil, then the presence of additional interference on the TV screen, as well as a number of other side defects, is ultimately guaranteed. It should also be noted that as the cable length increases, the signal level will deteriorate.

We have decided on the selection criteria and the price of the antenna cable, which averages sixty rubles per meter; now we will consider installation issues.

Compound

There are several options for how to connect the antenna cable. To connect a conductor through an adapter, it is necessary to remove the outer sheath from both ends of the cable. Next, you should clean the internal insulation of the conductor cores and make the connection through an adapter. To connect a plug to a socket, you need to screw a television plug onto one end of the cable, and a television socket onto the other, and then connect them. For better reliability, it is necessary to wrap this connection with electrical tape.

The plug can be either straight or angled, and there is no difference in installation between them. An angled plug is used for connections where a straight plug is inconvenient to use, and when creating complex turns.

Another way to connect an antenna cable is to route it through an adapter with one input and two or more outputs. The splitter is attached to the floor or wall to prevent the cabling from being pulled out.

One of the old proven methods is twisting. This method is the least reliable because the connection is not protected from electrical interference. To improve the quality of the transmitted signal, the twist can be soldered with tin and placed away from electrical wiring to reduce the impact of interference.

Connection

Let's look at how to connect the antenna cable. When purchasing a cable, you need to make a small allowance for length, since due to the large number of providers that provide television services, cables often fail.

In this regard, it may be necessary to re-cut the television cable. As a rule, on the walls in the entrance there are installation boxes from which antenna cables run through the apartments. These boxes contain TV signal couplers. To connect the TV cable to the cable network, you need to connect the antenna cable connector to the subscriber tap located in the installation box, and the second cable connector is connected to the TV.

Connection

Sometimes the question arises about how to connect the antenna cable to the TV when there is no plug. To connect a cable without a plug, you must remove the cable insulation, unscrew the shielding braid, and then clean the insulation of the central core.

If for some reason your braid is made of a metal such as aluminum, then you can install several copper wires in the free connection space. For better reliability of fixing the cable in the connector, we recommend sealing the connection with improvised means, such as glue. Connecting in this way will last for a long time and provide good retransmission of the television signal.

If we conduct an analysis, we can conclude that the most positive reviews are for the CAVEL brand cable. Most users note many advantages of this product.

One of the advantages of such cables is that they prevent moisture from getting inside. Since water significantly attenuates high-frequency energy, it can cause greater signal loss. Therefore, cables of cheaper products often use various foam dielectrics and even carbon films. However, they do not save the cable from catastrophic moisture absorption.

Also, one of the indisputable advantages of products of this brand is that when kinked, the cable braid is not destroyed, which cannot be said for those where the braid is not dense. Usually, after compression, the dielectric easily returns to its shape, and the braid remains in the same position, which leads to its deformation.

Finally

We hope that after reading this article you have learned everything about antenna cables, because choosing between the best options will always help you in arranging your home. Remember that when choosing the product you need, you must first consult with the seller. It is also recommended to always consider the chemical dielectric and its braiding.