Not sure if this is forum is best to post on this issue, but here goes. I want to roll up a few digital spdif interconnects and have a bunch of Neutric 75 ohm BNC connectors for this purpose. Trouble is, they fit RG59 cable. It seems like most digital cables are RG11 or RG6. I've read that RG59 is great for RF applications but less for digital signals.
So, is it so that RG59 performs poorly with digital signals? And secondly, if the answer to that is "not necessarily" can anybody recommend a suitable RG59 grade to use? Thanks in advance. I'm blind here. Cheers
So, is it so that RG59 performs poorly with digital signals? And secondly, if the answer to that is "not necessarily" can anybody recommend a suitable RG59 grade to use? Thanks in advance. I'm blind here. Cheers
In most cases, RG6 cable is the best choice, but let’s back up. RG specifications, the “RG” used to stand for “radio guide”, (Radio Guide being Radio Waveguide) are used to distinguish different types of cables, but they aren’t the only way. In most cases an RG6 cable has better shielding than an RG59 cable, and is thicker because of it. However, many RG59 cables are just RG6 cables that didn’t quite meet those specs and are just repackaged.
RG11 is far too heavy and designed for underground long distance installations.
RG6 cables carry old analog TV signals as well as digital TV signals. But RG59 cables mainly carry analog video signals. They don't work well with digital or satellite signals at or above 3GHZ, for they cannot deal with such high-frequency equipment.
Digital is digital and basically unless the noise level exceeds 20% of the signal, is not subject to interference, unlike linear audio signals.
RG11 is far too heavy and designed for underground long distance installations.
RG6 cables carry old analog TV signals as well as digital TV signals. But RG59 cables mainly carry analog video signals. They don't work well with digital or satellite signals at or above 3GHZ, for they cannot deal with such high-frequency equipment.
Digital is digital and basically unless the noise level exceeds 20% of the signal, is not subject to interference, unlike linear audio signals.
Psst.... RG179.....Flexible and thin.
Secondly... Klotz Word Clock cables have the Neutrik connectors and very flexible high quality 75 Ohm cable. Cheaper and way better than the average separate BNC connectors and cable.
https://shop.klotz-ais.de/swcn.html
Secondly... Klotz Word Clock cables have the Neutrik connectors and very flexible high quality 75 Ohm cable. Cheaper and way better than the average separate BNC connectors and cable.
https://shop.klotz-ais.de/swcn.html
You might look into Belden 1505F. It is also a nice flexible 75 Ohm cable. Maybe depends which side of the pond you are on 🙂
RG59 is the grade, its a specification of cable. It has poor braid coverage (40%) and is not suitable for digital signals because it radiates them creating EMI. Some brands may do better than the spec of course, since its a minimum spec.
Go for a "low loss video cable" at 75ohm
RG6 is a more broad band, or less lossy, cable than RG59.
Quoted from internet:
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Apparently for SPDIF application the bandwidth is largely irrelevant. If the cable length is a few meters, I'd say it would make no practical difference RG6 or RG59.
SPDIF receivers can usually take a lot of abuse in terms of signal quality damage before they begin to fail to decode properly. I used to use a 1.5 meter long oscilloscope probe in 1:1 attenuation mode backwards when I ran out of coaxial cables during a test. Oscilloscope probe in that mode is equivalent to a 75-ohm cable with an approx. 100-ohm resistor connected in series. I had the BNC connector on the probe lead attached to a SPDIF output device, and the tip of the probe touching the SPDIF receiving device at its BNC center conductor, with ground lead alligator clip on the BNC barrel. The receiver works flawlessly to 24bit/192K, maximum to WM8805, the receiver chip.
Whatever cable you end up deciding to buy, try to get the models with stranded center conductor, for good flexibility. A lot of coaxial cables for house wiring have rigid, solid, single-strand center conductor, some of them are even copper-cladded steel instead of solid copper. They can be quite stiff and awkward to use as interconnects.
Quoted from internet:
"
RG 59 Signal Loss (in dB) per 100 ft
- Loss at 50 MHz: 2.4 dB
- Loss at 100 MHz: 3.4 dB
- Loss at 400 MHz: 7.0 dB
- Loss at 900 MHz: 11.1 dB
- Loss at 1000 MHz: 12.0 dB
RG 6 Signal Loss (in dB) per 100 ft
- Loss at 50 MHz: 1.5 dB
- Loss at 100 MHz: 2.0 dB
- Loss at 400 MHz: 4.3 dB
- Loss at 900 MHz: 6.8 dB
- Loss at 1000 MHz: 7.0 dB
Apparently for SPDIF application the bandwidth is largely irrelevant. If the cable length is a few meters, I'd say it would make no practical difference RG6 or RG59.
SPDIF receivers can usually take a lot of abuse in terms of signal quality damage before they begin to fail to decode properly. I used to use a 1.5 meter long oscilloscope probe in 1:1 attenuation mode backwards when I ran out of coaxial cables during a test. Oscilloscope probe in that mode is equivalent to a 75-ohm cable with an approx. 100-ohm resistor connected in series. I had the BNC connector on the probe lead attached to a SPDIF output device, and the tip of the probe touching the SPDIF receiving device at its BNC center conductor, with ground lead alligator clip on the BNC barrel. The receiver works flawlessly to 24bit/192K, maximum to WM8805, the receiver chip.
Whatever cable you end up deciding to buy, try to get the models with stranded center conductor, for good flexibility. A lot of coaxial cables for house wiring have rigid, solid, single-strand center conductor, some of them are even copper-cladded steel instead of solid copper. They can be quite stiff and awkward to use as interconnects.
One of the best cable manufacturers worldwide is Canare and the 'correct' RG59 type Canare cable to use for SPDIF Coax is L-3C2VS. This has a flexible (not solid) core. Neutrik recommend NBNC75BHK7 connectors for this cable, if that's what you have. If not post the model for the Neutriks you have to find a matching cable. Connector to cable match is important for impedance matching with the cable and maximising VSWR performance.