R value for the coax to my Tailgaiter

[Passin_Thru]

Hooked up my tailgaiter to the TT wire run and ran a short coax to the Tailgaiter from the exterior feedthrough. Tried to get it going but wire got very hot. Why is the R value in the house Coax different that the R value for a campground satellite hookup? I am going to buy new coax and run it but seems strange to me.

[wa8yxm]

While your information is partially correct. RG-59 is smaller in diamater than RG-6 (There is that standard) and if you check with Belkin, who makes cables of both types you will find that both RG-59 and RG-6 come in a range of qualities.

The very best 59,,, IS not much different from the worst RG-6, but, at any given freuency the average grade 59 is like 4 times the loss of RG-6.

And when you start talking "Lowest Bidder" used in many motor homes.. it can hit 8-12 times the loss.

Source: Belkin Cables via the ARRL handbook

[fpresto]

There is always a lot of confusion about RG6 VS RG59 and people make a lot of wild statements.
First there is no standard for either. The term was used in the military 50 years ago and meant Radio Grade. It was replaced by Mil-Spec years go. Typically what is called RG6 has better insulation over the core conductor but since there is no standard the only thing that really makes it RG6 is what the manufacturer stamps on the rubber.
It is not at all uncommon for a good quality RG59 to out perform a lesser quality RG6.
Even if both are of equal quality the slight difference in loss between the two will not be noticeable until you get runs of over 100ft and for satellite probably much greater.
In an RV you will get absolutely no difference between the two. The connectors on the ends will have a much greater effect. Poor quality or poorly installed connectors can ruin a signal whether it is RG6 or RG59.

[Chris_Bryant]

The Tailgater runs all of the power to operate the dish motors through the coax- not just the lnb power.

[wa8yxm]

If there is a dead short the receiver is very likely going to go bad and not provide any current (Blown fuse type bad).. had it happen a couple of times.

This is why I posted about the 30 amp cord hauling 5-10 amps so hot I had to wear gloves to coil it up.... Till I got to the part of the cable that was shaded..> it was SUNLIGHT that warmed it up.

Same with my Gen-turi, Only one time has it been too hot to handle.. SUNLIGHT was the cause. not the generator.

[SCVJeff]

The only current draw through coax is the LNB, and that ain't gonna warm any coax unless there is a dead short and the rcvr current limiting is broken

[wa8yxm]

R value? Normally that refers to insulation.

Satellite cable should be high grade RG-6, Now if you have 59 and the antenna gets power via the coax, and it's a "Automatic" antenna, that can warm it up a bit (Smaller wires) but if the wire is getting hot, something is wrong.

OR.. Something is in direct sunlight.. Had that happen once, a 30 amp lien delivering perhaps 5-10 amps peak was too hot to touch.. Till I got to the part that was in the shade.

[hilldude]

Used my Tailgater first time this weekend hooked to outside connector for cable worked ok. Don't know what wire is used in motor home, they will use the cheapest they can find. Run a new RG6 wire and try it.

[SCVJeff]

I move that the OP reset and ask the question again with full details of why they are asking.. There is no 'R' in coax, and impedence makes no difference. It's also unlikely that a sat receiver can get coax 'hot', there simply isn't enough current. Voltage doesn't make hot, current does.

So, one more time, very slowly please...

[Bill_Satellite]

While you are correct that it is not much voltage, the receivers send 13V or 18V through the coax to receive odd or even transponders. This would not cause any kind of warmth so if what the OP is saying is that the coax gets hot, there is a much more serious issue somewhere.

[rreynold51]

If it got hot to touch it sounds like there's an internal short some where.....the sat receiver runs 5v or so thru the coax to the LNB so the coax center conductor may be shorted to ground some where it the connections are all correct....could use a meter and check....

[YC_1]

Something does not add up.

Are you saying the coax got hot to the touch along its length or just at the rv?

Are you absolutely positive the jack you plugged it into is for satellite versus "park cable" ?

Some miswiring may be putting voltage across the cable.

More detail please.

[BB_TX]

My Tailgater came with a 50' RG6 coax. That is what you should use if yours did not come with one. I initially used the existing internal short run of coax in the 5er (RG59) until I could run a new RG6 internally. Worked fine with the short run of RG59.

[Bill_Satellite]

R value?
What the heck do you mean and no, there is no real difference between RG59 and RG6 unless you run the cables hundreds of feet.

[n7bsn]

Should all be 75 ohm, shouldn't be any 52