Coaxial cable might appear to be a simple wire with a solid center conductor, a circumferential outer conductor, and an insulator separating these two conductors. Every coax is not created equally and we must know what to use to maximize performance and dependability. Television antenna systems require a 75-ohm cable.

Coaxial cable is typically denoted with the prefix RG as in RG-6, RG-59, RG-11 and others. RG stands for “radio guide” and comes from military applications first standardized during World War II. Susceptibility to interference is strongly related to the composition and configuration of the cable's shielding. For television applications, a foil shield will provide total coverage and good effectiveness against high-frequency interference.

We now know that we need a 75-ohm coaxial cable. We know that a dual shield is better than a braid alone or a foil alone. A quad shield is even more impervious than a dual shield. Which Coaxial Cable Should You Use?