How To Install Coaxial Cable? [6 Best Steps To Follow]

A coaxial cable (coax) is a type of cable that transmits television and internet signals into houses and other structures.

Connectors are required on the ends of these cables in order to connect them to appliances such as televisions and send signals. If you have a coax cable that does not have a connection, it is a simple matter to make your own.

Remove the insulation off the wire to reveal the inner conductor. Then lay a connector over it and secure it using a crimping tool. When working in confined places, utilize a right-angle connection to prevent the wire from being bent excessively.

This article will guide you on how to install coaxial cable easily.

HOW TO EASILY INSTALL COAXIAL CABLES?

Customers across the world benefit from the widespread usage of coaxial cable by cable operators, telephone companies, and internet service providers to provide data, video, and voice communications to them.

It has also been widely employed in the private sector.

The technology has been available for a long time (since the early twentieth century) and offers several unique benefits in terms of ensuring dependable and precise transmission.

It also has limits, which will lead it to be replaced in certain situations by fiber optic cable, category cable, or, in other circumstances, wireless communications in order to meet the needs of the future.

The success of the coaxial cable can be attributed to its shielded design, which allows the copper core of the cable to transmit data quickly and without succumbing to interference or damage from environmental factors.

Coaxial cables are used in a variety of applications, including data transmission.

The three most popular cable diameters are RG-6, RG-11, and RG-59, and they are as follows:

RG is an abbreviation for “radio guide.” The diameter of the various variants of RG cable is indicated by the numbers on the cable (59 meaning .059, and 6 meaning .06, etc.). They are sometimes referred to as RF cables, which is an abbreviation for “radio frequency.”

The majority of non-industrial coax is now referred to as RG-6, however, installers may want to utilize a stronger cable, such as RG-11. The impedance of RG cables used in residential applications should be 75 ohms.

The majority of connectors are F-style connectors, however, it is conceivable that your system makes use of N-style connectors.

There are numerous different types of F-type connectors for RG-6 cables, including the following:

• Connectors for compression
• Connectors with a screw-on design
• Connectors in the crimping style

An identical-type male and female connector will be required in order to connect two pieces of electrical equipment together.

Male connections have the center wire protruding from the connector, whereas female connectors have a place for the center wire to be inserted into the connector.

Be aware that coax cables can occasionally have signal leakage, which is referred to as ingress or egress. Tiling, hazy, or snowy signals are caused as a result of this.

What You’ll Need to Get Started?

It is feasible for homeowners who want to install cable in numerous receptacle locations to complete these installations themselves.

For more information, see Do it yourself cable installation. Installing this cable will, in reality, allow you to save money on your installation charges.

A weekend project should be able with the appropriate equipment, supplies, and training, saving you the money you would have spent on a professional cable installer.

See Also:

How To Split Coaxial Cable?

How To Crimp Coaxial Cable Easily?

Areas Of Concern For Coaxial Cable

The suggestions and tips to assist with the installation of coax cable may be divided into many categories:

1. Choosing the proper coax cable

There is an immense variety of coax cables available on the market, and making the right decision may not appear to be an easy task at first glance.

The first choice to be made before any installation is to determine the impedance that will be necessary. Coax cable with a resistance of 75 ohms is used for domestic hi-fi and video antenna feeds.

Professional, CB, and amateur radio all use 50-ohm cable as their norm. Once this judgment has been made, it is likely that the following decision will be made on the degree of signal loss that is considered acceptable.

Typically, the smaller the loss, the larger the diameter of the cable and, consequently, the higher the cost of the cable.

Typically, there are numerous cables with comparable performance figures, and the decision on which specific type number to choose will be based on the availability of stock from the various providers.

Once a suitable cable has been identified, it may then be purchased and placed at the desired location.

2. Weatherproofing of coaxial cable:

When putting coax cable outside, it is critical to ensure that the cable is appropriately weather-proofed to prevent damage from the elements.

This is a self-evident precaution, but it is one that is not properly applied on a significant percentage of setups.

It is important to have adequate weatherproofing in place since any moisture that enters the RF coax cable will result in a significant increase in the degree of loss.

In the event that any moisture enters the dielectric material between the inner and outer conductors, this will damage the performance of the dielectric material and raise the degree of loss in the system.

A moisture-soaked outer braid will oxidize and lose conductivity, which will limit the amount of current flowing between the tiny conductors that make up the braid. It will also result in an increase in the amount of passive intermodulation that is present.

When used in conjunction with a transmitter, the oxidized braid may generate small non-linear interfaces that will function as miniature mixers, resulting in this type of intermodulation distortion being produced.

If the cable is to be used externally, it is critical to ensure that the end is properly sealed and that no moisture enters the cable.

It is also important to ensure that the cable’s outer sheath remains intact and does not become damaged during the installation process or during subsequent use.

Another technique for avoiding excessive amounts of moisture from entering the wire is to loop it up and down several times in the same direction. Water will have a harder time getting into the cable and then moving along it in this manner.

However, if any moisture gets into the cable, it will be drawn into it by capillary action, therefore it is always better to make sure that the ends are well-sealed and secured before using the cable.

3. Be cautious of the radius of the coax bend

All cables have a bend radius, which is measured in millimeters. They should not be bent into curves that are any tighter than this in order to prevent damage.

An internal cable structure may be damaged if an RF coax cable is bent beyond its maximum allowable radius of curvature. As a result, considerably larger amounts of financial loss may result.

4. It is important to avoid scoring or rupturing the coaxial cable sheath while discussing physical damage to the cable.

It is also important to ensure that the cable sheath is not damaged in any way.

Using it externally, if the dielectric is damaged in any way, moisture may be allowed to enter. This will result in oxidation and moisture retention in the dielectric, which will increase the degree of loss.

5. Avoid crushing the cable during the installation process.

In a similar vein, caution should be exercised to ensure that the cable is not crushed, or is not at risk of being crushed.

If the RF cable sustains damage in this manner, the cable’s dimensions will be altered, and it will no longer have its characteristic impedance, as a result.

In addition, if the dielectric between the two concentric conductors in the coax cable is damaged, there is a possibility that the degree of loss will be increased as well. It may be required to bury coaxial wire on occasion.

For further information, see number six.

6. The normal cable should not be buried directly

Since it depends solely on the outer sheath for protection and is not intended to withstand the harsh conditions encountered in this application.

Instead, it can be routed through an underground conduit that has been designed specifically for the purpose of transporting buried wires. This has the advantage of being simple to replace if necessary.

Make certain, however, that the conduit does not become clogged with water. An alternative option to the usage of the conduit is the use of a type of coax cable known as “bury direct,” which is buried directly in the ground.

This form of coaxial cable is intended to be buried, and the outer sheath of this type of cable is designed to endure the continuous wetness and other environmental conditions.

7. Terminations and connectors for coaxial cable

Getting the cable terminations right is critical – especially when it comes to making the coax cable terminations completely watertight. Because the cable’s end is so accessible to moisture, it is possible for the cable to get waterlogged along its length.

In most cases, an RF connection will be used to physically end the coax cable, with the electrical termination occurring either at the antenna or in the receiver.

The connectors must be connected appropriately, and high-quality RF connectors must be used to ensure that the connections are successful.

Because they must be used in conjunction with RF connections on the equipment, even though connectors for home installations are frequently substandard in terms of electrical radio frequency performance, there is little option for utilizing them.

Professional applications can benefit significantly from the use of RF connections, however, it is important to ensure that the connectors are appropriate for the frequencies being utilized.

Some low-cost versions of RF connectors may not match the complete standard, resulting in reduced performance of the RF coax cable as a result.

As a result, it is important to always purchase connectors from reliable providers. Having said that, connections are not usually completely watertight.

A self-amalgamating tape should be used to cover the whole connection because RF connections are not completely watertight. The connector will be shielded from the elements as a result of this arrangement. 

How About Installing A Coaxial Cable Connector?

Step 1: The first step is to choose and strip cables.

Decide if you have an RG59 or an RG6 cable in your system. Coax cables are often classified into two categories, and you most likely have one or the other in your home.

The rubber casing of the cable is the most straightforward way to determine this. This is where the type should be printed.  It is important to note that RG6 is thicker and has more cushioning than RG59, which is the primary difference between the two cables.

The result is a more robust product that has become increasingly popular for cable and internet connections.

Step 2: Purchase a connector that is compatible with your cable type

The F-type coax connection is the most often used. Locate an F-type connection at your local hardware shop and make sure it matches the width of your cable. Purchase one for each cable that you will be connecting. 

N-type connections are also available, however, they are far less popular in residential installations than the others.

F-type connections are still available in a number of different configurations, including crimp and twist-on. If you’re not sure which choice is best for you, ask a store clerk for assistance.

Step 3: Cut through the rubber at a distance of 12 inches (1.3 cm) from the cable’s end.

Either a wire stripping tool or a razor can be used. Cut around the outer rubber layer of the cable at a distance of 12 inches (1.3 cm) from the end of the cable. After that, just peel it off to reveal the mesh below.  

Don’t go all the way through the cable with your cutters. Simply cut away the rubber coating on the outside. If you cut too deeply, you will destroy the link. If you want to perform this using a razor, do with caution. Avoid putting your finger in the path of the blade and keep the cable in a firm grip.

Step 4: Carefully peel the wire mesh away from the wall.

The second layer of the cable is made up of a wire mesh. Peel the mesh back with your fingers or a pair of pliers if necessary. Fold it down over the rubber casing below the initial incision you made and secure it with a rubber band.  

If necessary, a wire stripping tool might be used to cut through this part and remove it, but proceed with caution. Make sure you don’t cut too deeply into the cable so that you harm the conductor in the middle.

Step 5: Trim the dielectric plastic at the end of the cable to a length of 14 inches (0.64 cm).

The last layer of insulation for the cable is a white plastic casing that wraps around the primary conductor and provides further protection.

Gently cut around the plastic with a wire stripper or razor, starting at 14 inches (0.64 cm) from the top of the piece. Afterward, carefully peel it away to reveal the copper conductor beneath. 

It is possible that the plastic will be foil-covered. When it comes to removing the plastic covering, exercise extreme caution. If you do damage to the conductor, your signal will become weaker as a result.

Step 6: Discard any parts of wire mesh that are in contact with the conductor.

If any component of the mesh comes into contact with the conductor, it will degrade the signal quality. This is referred to as a stinger.

Double-check that the whole wire mesh has been pulled back and that no sections of the mesh come into contact with the conductor.

CONCLUSION On Installing Coaxial Cable

The proper installation of an RF coax cable can result in many years of good operation from the cable. However, with time, wear and exposure to the weather will cause the RF coax cable to degrade to the point that it may be necessary to replace it.

Because the decrease in performance would be gradual, it is possible that this may go unnoticed. It is only when it is finally replaced that a significant change will be seen.

The coaxial cable may be anticipated to last for the longest possible time if the proper precautions are taken to avoid water intrusion and reduce other types of environmental deterioration.

FAQs About Installing Coaxial Cable