In a recent incident I had with a DirecTV service call, which I will post about later and save the space here to stay on topic, they questioned my cable I had installed.
The cable I had used back in 2002 was Belden cable part #7916A that is labeled on the jacked at 2.2Ghz sweep tested. To cut to the matter, both DirecTV and the idiot installer tried to tell me that I HAD to have 3.0 Ghz cable and that this would not work. I knew this was not true, as I am an IT guy and can run circles around 99.9% of anyone at or sent by DirecTV. However, I never say for sure so I shut down the install in part due to this until I was able to confirm for 100% FACT.
Bottom line is I contacted Belden DIRECT and spoke with THEIR tech support. You can't get any better than the ones that made the cable. What I thought was indeed 100% correct. The Belden 7916A cable that says 2.2 on it is the EXACT same cable used today that says 3Ghz. There is no difference whatsoever in how they make it now as opposed to the one labled 2.2Ghz. It is only the new labling and the fact it is now tested up to 3Ghz. The 2.2 is and can go way beyond what it is rated for and they said all of it will and does pass easily 3Ghz. Therefore, their tech said their is no need at all to replace it just to say 3Ghz as it is the very same cable period and to ignore what anyone else says.
This confimred what I thought and both the installer and DirecTV are 100% WRONG on requiring 3Ghz cable as long as it is 2.2Ghz or at least in case of Belden. The Belden tech did say they did know there are many companies that make cable that says 2.2 which actually will NOT pass anything higher or even is over rated at 2.2. However, Belden has always UNDER rated their cables and it is evident by the fact the 7916A is the same as it was back in 2002.
So, I did some more checking and it seems that both Belden and Comscope are just fine and are more than 100% acceptable for ANY HDTV use be it OTA, DirecTV, Dish, etc. I thought others may find this info useful in case they are told they MUST have 3.0Ghz cable and have installed Belden 2.2 or Comscope 2.2 cable to save yourself a lot of headache thinking you will need to install new.
NOTE: As I said above, this does not apply to cheap 2.2 rated cable and I have only 100% confirmed the Belden. The Comscope I am 90% sure on but have not spoke with their tech dept yet.
The cable I had used back in 2002 was Belden cable part #7916A that is labeled on the jacked at 2.2Ghz sweep tested. To cut to the matter, both DirecTV and the idiot installer tried to tell me that I HAD to have 3.0 Ghz cable and that this would not work. I knew this was not true, as I am an IT guy and can run circles around 99.9% of anyone at or sent by DirecTV. However, I never say for sure so I shut down the install in part due to this until I was able to confirm for 100% FACT.
Bottom line is I contacted Belden DIRECT and spoke with THEIR tech support. You can't get any better than the ones that made the cable. What I thought was indeed 100% correct. The Belden 7916A cable that says 2.2 on it is the EXACT same cable used today that says 3Ghz. There is no difference whatsoever in how they make it now as opposed to the one labled 2.2Ghz. It is only the new labling and the fact it is now tested up to 3Ghz. The 2.2 is and can go way beyond what it is rated for and they said all of it will and does pass easily 3Ghz. Therefore, their tech said their is no need at all to replace it just to say 3Ghz as it is the very same cable period and to ignore what anyone else says.
This confimred what I thought and both the installer and DirecTV are 100% WRONG on requiring 3Ghz cable as long as it is 2.2Ghz or at least in case of Belden. The Belden tech did say they did know there are many companies that make cable that says 2.2 which actually will NOT pass anything higher or even is over rated at 2.2. However, Belden has always UNDER rated their cables and it is evident by the fact the 7916A is the same as it was back in 2002.
So, I did some more checking and it seems that both Belden and Comscope are just fine and are more than 100% acceptable for ANY HDTV use be it OTA, DirecTV, Dish, etc. I thought others may find this info useful in case they are told they MUST have 3.0Ghz cable and have installed Belden 2.2 or Comscope 2.2 cable to save yourself a lot of headache thinking you will need to install new.
NOTE: As I said above, this does not apply to cheap 2.2 rated cable and I have only 100% confirmed the Belden. The Comscope I am 90% sure on but have not spoke with their tech dept yet.