Running Coaxial Cable Outside

[Arkman]

I'm trying to get cable out to my garage. I have a detached garage so its not as easy as it could be. Right now my cable comes off a telephone pole close by then drops into my house. I was thinking about taking another one and just following it back the way it comes in (over the garage) and drop in down into the wall. I have a concrete sidewalk and patio between my garage and house so i cant trench it in unless I go a really really long way around.

Is it ok to run just a normal coax cable outside or should I get something special. Does any one have any better idea of something to do. I know its hard cause you guys cant see what i'm talking about.

Thanks!

 

[mthieme]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

You want to use RG6 if not RG11. There is an underground rated flavor of each with as many as four shields.
I assume you're talking coax for cable TV service (?).

 

[Arkman]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

thanks. Yeah I'm talking about cable tv service. I wasnt sure if there was something special, so I will take a look for that stuff.

Thanks again!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

Just be sure to secure it and put in the proper drip loops. Your in a snow area .... remember the weight of ice .......... secure the ends so you do no damage.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

we've use rg59 for video cameras outside and have had no issues. and trust me, we have mighty winters here.

 

[Splat]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

I would also recommend rg6 at a minimum. Less leakage. Some cable companies will give you a hard time if you don't run proper cables.

When we built our new house a few years back we wired the whole thing in rg59. The cable guy refused to hook us up because the leakage of it was so high. We had to cheat and run rg6 back to where he was making his connection.

Bill

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

I would also recommend rg6 at a minimum. Less leakage. Some cable companies will give you a hard time if you don't run proper cables.

When we built our new house a few years back we wired the whole thing in rg59. The cable guy refused to hook us up because the leakage of it was so high. We had to cheat and run rg6 back to where he was making his connection.

Bill

i hope you got a new cable guy. he is full of beans. i've got rg59 running to my satellite dish with not issues. it's all in the connections. we also use it exclusively on hundreds of video cameras with zero issues. so next time a cable guy gives you a hard time about anything, show him the door.

 

[UnregisteredUser]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

should I get something special?

Yes you should. When making a suspended run outside there is a special cable. It has an extra wire that runs outside of the coax. It is there for two reasons;

1) To take the stress of hanging off of the lighter gauge wires that your signal runs through.

2) It acts as an anchor wire to your hook or whatever you are using to anchor too.

See attached image, you can purchase this wire from Radio Shack and loads of other sources.

 

[Arkman]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

If the coax coming into the house already has that wire on it, can I just piggy back on that same wire by doing something like zip tying them together? Then drop the one down to the garage.

 

[UnregisteredUser]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

If the coax coming into the house already has that wire on it, can I just piggy back on that same wire by doing something like zip tying them together? Then drop the one down to the garage.

I would guess that would work.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

If the coax coming into the house already has that wire on it, can I just piggy back on that same wire by doing something like zip tying them together? Then drop the one down to the garage.

Yes you can, but I agree with most posters on using RG6. I only have one cable service, and if their guy tells me I have to use that, then why use something else? The reason is the load the rg 59 puts on the splitter is not as balanced as the load the RG6 puts on it. Also, black tie wraps are better suited for outside use than the clear ones. Less UV deterioration and subsequently, breakage.....good luck!

 

[i386]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

Often your cable guy will have to test cable before he installs equipment in your house. A lot of the time RG59 simply won't pass and he knows it.

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

i hope you got a new cable guy. he is full of beans. i've got rg59 running to my satellite dish with not issues. it's all in the connections. we also use it exclusively on hundreds of video cameras with zero issues. so next time a cable guy gives you a hard time about anything, show him the door.

Is that copper core or copper clad steel you are using?
You know the difference right?
Between the 2 different applications that you state?

Just asking....

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

That would be "A" no...

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

Agree on the RG-6.
I used to work for the cable company and Direct TV..RG-59 is outdated and has a higher signal loss.Any long runs should be RG-11.
Outdoor cable runs need to be what is called "flooded" cable with the additional copper support wire.The flooded cable means it has a silicone layer inside the outer black coating that protects it from corrosion.It is also used for underground runs.
There should be a terminal block up on the pole you could use rather than going from the house all the way back.
Depends on the cable company and what they would allow.
Copper clad is cheaper,the center conductor is just coated in copper instead of a solid copper wire.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

Often your cable guy will have to test cable before he installs equipment in your house. A lot of the time RG59 simply won't pass and he knows it.

Very True,
Any service calls i used to do we had to replace any RG-59
As far as satellite the 59 is a big no! If it works you are very lucky...
If it starts dropping every other channel you will know why...

 

[i386]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

If anyone cares...

Cable that's made to be strung from one point to another is called aerial cable. It's got a solid core wire on the outside that takes the strain so the conductor doesn't have to. That wire is called a messenger. I don't know why, but that's what it's called.

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

i hope you got a new cable guy. he is full of beans. i've got rg59 running to my satellite dish with not issues. it's all in the connections. we also use it exclusively on hundreds of video cameras with zero issues. so next time a cable guy gives you a hard time about anything, show him the door.

You have alot to learn...

Yes you should. When making a suspended run outside there is a special cable. It has an extra wire that runs outside of the coax. It is there for two reasons;

1) To take the stress of hanging off of the lighter gauge wires that your signal runs through.

2) It acts as an anchor wire to your hook or whatever you are using to anchor too.

See attached image, you can purchase this wire from Radio Shack and loads of other sources.

You are exactly correct! With the right cable.

Agree on the RG-6.
I used to work for the cable company and Direct TV..RG-59 is outdated and has a higher signal loss.Any long runs should be RG-11.
Outdoor cable runs need to be what is called "flooded" cable with the additional copper support wire.The flooded cable means it has a silicone layer inside the outer black coating that protects it from corrosion.It is also used for underground runs.
There should be a terminal block up on the pole you could use rather than going from the house all the way back.
Depends on the cable company and what they would allow.
Copper clad is cheaper,the center conductor is just coated in copper instead of a solid copper wire.

Now you are on the right track...

Flooded, is what's used for outdoor purpose's, whether it be above OR below ground.
Now when your talking CATV or VIDEO, when talking about cable....
A whole nuther story ...

It comes down to this,

Frequencies..

In CABLE, the freq range is 50-750 mhz.
You can get away with a copper clad steel.
Because the carrier only rides on the outside.

On VIDEO, the mhz is way lower, it needs the WHOLE center conductor to ride....
and will go farther....

attenuation is the true factor with both....

You just need to know how they both work.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

There are 4 items to consider:

1. You really want RG-6 or better. RG-59 has a higher loss and with the longer runs this can be a problem. The characteristics of co-ax is that the loss increases as the frequency goes up.
Many times the cable company will introduce "tilt" to compensate. Tilt puts the higher frequencies at a higher level than the lower frequencies with the idea that they will all equal out at the end.
While people do use RG-59 for video cameras the top frequency you will see for video is about 5MHz. Your cable will be up to 300 or 450 MHz. The loss is much much more significant.

For the person running RG-59 for their dish - Dishes have an amplifier at the horn called the LNB. These help compensate for the loss in the cable. At the receiver you just need a signal that is high enough to feed the receiver.

The LNB is probably giving you enough signal so that you see no problems. On the other hand you might see less rain fade if you use the better cable. You will probably run into problems if you wanted to split the signal to 2 different receivers.

(The other problem with sat communications is the S/N ratio of the received signal. If everything else is working fine, like the cable run, when you experience rain fade or the dish moves the signal goes down. As long as you are above the threshold you should be fine. Since more and more sat signals are going digital you typically see no problems until you hit that threshold, then the signal dies quickly)

2. If the cable is to go outside you do want flooded cable to keep the water from getting in and deteriorating the cable.

3. The RG ratings do not adress shielding. Video is fine with a simple braid shield. Cable TV is not. (in fact, braid shielding is rated at how much braid there is.
For cable you really want to have a foil and braid shield. I have used good cable for cable with 2 foil shields and 2 braid shields that alternated.
You really want to eliminate leakage. Any signal that leaks in will show up as a faint video in the background.

4. Supporting the cable. The other people here are right. You do not want the RG co-ax to have to support itself hanging there outside. That is why the cable company has that additional messanger cable to support it.
Yes you can use tie-wraps to attach it to the cable companies wire but they may not like it. You may want to have separate support.
BTW - make sure the nylon tie-wraps are UV resistant. I have seen them get brittle in the sun and fall apart fairly quickly.

 

[i386]

Re: Running Coaxial Cable Outside

Yes you can use tie-wraps to attach it to the cable companies wire but they may not like it. You may want to have separate support.

Right. If they wanted to replace the drop for some reason or if a tree limb took it out. Having your stuff tied to theirs could create a problem.