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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Alarms, Phones, Aerials, CCTV & Datacomms >> What's in a cable? https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1248280287 Message started by Joiner on Jul 22^nd, 2009, 5:31pm

Title: What's in a cable?
Post by Joiner on Jul 22^nd, 2009, 5:31pm

Bloody everything!

Digital signal breaking up over the past couple of weeks. They're pratting around with the Sutton Coldfield transmitter, but this was worse than you'd expect from the 'normal' pixelation and as it was possible to improve or make it worse by jiggling the cable from the wall mounted power unit to the aerial socket it appeared to be that.

Called the engineer out because the whole thing froze last night. As soon as he came (with his mate) they both went: "Ah, white cable."

They changed all the aerial cables and the picture's brilliant, better than it's ever been in fact. And no more pixelation at all! £25 and they'd come seven miles.

Title: Re: What's in a cable?
Post by Zambezi on Jul 22^nd, 2009, 6:10pm

Probably fitted PF100 sat grade coax?

Title: Re: What's in a cable?
Post by Lectrician on Jul 22^nd, 2009, 6:14pm

Digital grade coax such as CT100 or PF100 etc has a copper foil and copper braid.

Analouge satallite has an aluminium foil.

Older terrestrial has no foil, just a braid.

You get all flavours of the above in air-spaced and foam dielectric. Foam is used outdoors to prevent water ingress, and is less easily deformed when bending. Air spaced is for indoor use and is made because it is cheaper.

They make many cables for many purposes. They are all different for a reason ;-)

It annoys me when alarm guys use alarm cable for telephones, or DIYERS use telephone cable for alarms.

Title: Re: What's in a cable?
Post by Joiner on Jul 22^nd, 2009, 7:52pm

What amused me was that they'd fitted that white cable when the digital aerial was fitted a few years back. And the NEW cable they fitted between the power unit and the tv was white. Obviously a better shade of white.

Oh, and we can now get Film4 again.

Title: Re: What's in a cable?
Post by TIMBA-WOLF on Jul 22^nd, 2009, 11:07pm

this FILM4, is that cling film ,or copper foil!!!!!

::) ::) ::) ::)

Title: Re: What's in a cable?
Post by Joiner on Jul 23^rd, 2009, 8:04am

All together now... :D

Title: Re: What's in a cable?
Post by CWatters on Jul 23^rd, 2009, 7:47pm

Lots of good information on this site..

http://www.aerialsandtv.com

From top to bottom.. Poor, better, best.

The top one has no foil screen, the middle one has aluminium foil and the bottom on copper foil.

The colour of sleve is irrelevant. They sell the same cable in Black, brown or white. The good stuff is only 40p a meter so it's not going to break the bank..

http://www.aerialsandtv.com/onlinecableandmisc.html#Cable

I hope the plug for ATV is OK. I have no connection with them but they do provide a heck of a lot of good information on their web site.

Title: Re: What's in a cable?
Post by Twobarrows on Aug 4^th, 2009, 11:27am

Lectrician wrote on Jul 22^nd, 2009, 6:14pm:

t for a reason ;-)

It annoys me when alarm guys use alarm cable for telephones, or DIYERS use telephone cable for alarms.

Pray tell, why shouldn't I use telephone cable for alarms?

Title: Re: What's in a cable?
Post by Zambezi on Aug 4^th, 2009, 2:17pm

Because you don't want your phone to ring when your alarm goes off ;D

Title: Re: What's in a cable?
Post by Lectrician on Aug 4^th, 2009, 2:33pm

Every cable is designed for a purpose.

Why would you want to use telephone cable for alarms? It can't be a cost issue as there is nothing in it!

Telephone cable is not stranded and not really designed for screw terminals (even though cheapo phone sockets have screw terminals). It is designed for use with IDC connectors.

Security alarm cable is stranded and designed for use with screw terminals.

Every cable is designed for a different use.

Title: Re: What's in a cable?
Post by Twobarrows on May 21^st, 2011, 3:45pm

The old dial type phones had screw terminals, so why shouldn't I use telephone cable for alarms? Never mind them being about the same in cost, if I have telephone cable & no alarm cable I will use it (unless there is a VERY good reason not to). Just interested & playing devils advocate :-)

Title: Re: What's in a cable?
Post by Lectrician on May 21^st, 2011, 5:04pm

You can drive on flat tyres....

Title: Re: What's in a cable?
Post by Twobarrows on May 21^st, 2011, 5:45pm

I must confess I expected more....

Title: Re: What's in a cable?
Post by Lectrician on May 22^nd, 2011, 9:06am

You could wire a door bell in coax or a light fitting in bell wire, it would work, but it's not right.

Why use the wrong cable for the job when a drum of the correct stuff is less than a tenner?

Title: Re: What's in a cable?
Post by TIMBA-WOLF on May 22^nd, 2011, 4:13pm

And i will now really stir the pot with.....

and it also depends on the manufacturer......... as to the cable differences.............IF ANY!!!!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: What's in a cable?
Post by Twobarrows on May 22^nd, 2011, 4:55pm

Lectrician wrote on May 22^nd, 2011, 9:06am:

You could wire a door bell in coax or a light fitting in bell wire, it would work, but it's not right.

Why use the wrong cable for the job when a drum of the correct stuff is less than a tenner?

Never mind the cost, that's not my question.
If you wired anything in bell wire, it would be single strand and connected to a screw terminal surely?