Quote:
Originally Posted by Jammer
Eight years ago I installed a maximum-effort OTATV antenna on the peak of my (steep) roof. The antenna was spun during a storm and I'm going up to repoint. The RG6 feedline has deteriorated and I'm going to replace it.
Are there better sources for RG6 that will withstand UV for a longer time? The stuff that's up there now is from Solid Signal. I have a spool of RG6 from Home Depot but I am beginning to question whether it is suitable for the portion of the run that is above the roof.
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My opinion is that the industry leader for coaxial cable is Belden. Whatever you buy, just make sure the specs say the jacket is UV resistant. (By the way some people think that RG-6U in the coax description means UV resistant--it does not, it stands for 'utility').
The cable jacket is usually made of PVC. From 0.5% to 2.0% carbon black is added to prevent UV degradation. At 2.0% the PVC is considered completely UV stable, but 0.5% is considered adequate. However, I have never seen these figures disclosed in any datasheets.
I have some coaxial cable on ham radio antennas that is approaching 20 years old that exhibits no more loss now than when it was new. From personal observations, I think more problems occur from improperly installed connectors or water intrusion from connectors that are not adequately waterproofed at installation OR from poor quality materials used in some lesser priced coaxial cables. For example, in some cables the foamed dielectic material (the white insulation inside) tends to crack and disintegrate over time.