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Coax For Whole House FM Antenna

Sentimentali

Sentimentali

New Member
We relocated from the megaplex to a rural area. Now I need an outdoor roof mount antenna for better FM stereo reception. Which coax is recommended? RG6 or something else?
I plan to have coax run to 4 rooms. One of the locations is the basement. Are there any length of coax run concerns? Also, do I need to run a distribution amp?

Thanks.
 
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RG-6 is usually recommended. Coax length for typical home installation isn't an issue. Depending on antenna gain and signal strength for desired stations, you may need a distribution amp rather than a splitter. Too much signal can also be a problem, but often not in a rural area.

Lot's of good and recent info in the Tuner section here on the AK. The right antenna, lightning protection and grounding is very important. Good luck Sentimentali.
 
WaynerN said:
RG6 is the only one available.
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Any 75 ohm coax will work. RG59, RG11 also in common use for antenna cabling. In a residential application, length loss too minimal to be a concern, unless it's a very spread-out bldg.
 
I prefer RG-6 Quad shielded. Make sure you split the signal equally trying to keep the the signal lines approx. the same length. Make sure the Sound system and the antennae and the RF cable are all grounded to the same point to prevent ground loops. Preferably an 8 ft copper steak driven into the ground. Using #8 or #10 awg wire to the common ground location. A water pipe or the ground rod used for the electrical system will work too and is the first choice. That way there will e no ground loops between the antennae system and the AC electrical system. If the AC system is a three wire system, then using the same ground for the antennae system and the electrical system is essential. I use to install antennae systems for TV and FM back in the 60's while going to school and university. We even used antennae rotors to reduce multi path distortion for the clearest and best FM reception.
 
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Catmanboo said:
Any 75 ohm coax will work. RG59, RG11 also in common use for antenna cabling. In a residential application, length loss too minimal to be a concern, unless it's a very spread-out bldg.
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I have no idea where one would find RG-59 to buy. I can't find it anywhere.
 
A splitter will be needed and expect loss when doing so.

I used 300Ohm twin lead and three antennas. Two have a 2 way splitter on them. At the time the house was built and still true today most of my gear uses or can use the 300Ohm. Installed in the walls into a boxes. Wall plate with connectors mounted. If need be a adapter is added. Tuned the antennas when placed. Only one station has changed it's coverage since.

The reason I used the 300Ohm was due to loss. It being the lesser when compared to coax.

Has worked well but do wonder if the coax would of been OK too.
 
WaynerN said:
I have no idea where one would find RG-59 to buy. I can't find it anywhere.
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Any electrical supply source (Graybar, Wolff bros, Apex just a few around here), but usually one must have commercial account. Trust me, it's available. I have a bunch of 59, 6, 58, 11, 8, 8x left from my work days, along with plenty of connectors, I'm good to go.
 
Catmanboo said:
That price is f*#@ing insane. I'd expect that price on a 1000 ft. spool. I've only used such in my (former) trade, never heard of such small quantities unless special-order cut to customer-specs.
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Also notice that there are only 3 spools left in stock. It's not made anymore, there is only very expensive leftovers left.
 
WaynerN said:
Also notice that there are only 3 spools left in stock. It's not made anymore, there is only very expensive leftovers left.
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Not accurate. Belden makes three flavors. Lots of Chinese versions. Times Fiber stopped making it several years ago, but that’s because they cater to the long haul carriers, and 59 does not play there.

Regardless, I’d stick with RG-6. Better performance and nominal price increase.
 
Sentimentali said:
We relocated from the megaplex to a rural area. Now I need an outdoor roof mount antenna for better FM stereo reception. Which coax is recommended? RG6 or something else?
I plan to have coax run to 4 rooms. One of the locations is the basement. Are there any length of coax run concerns? Also, do I need to run a distribution amp?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

@oldflame is correct. You will lose 3db of signal strength with every two way splitter you add to the signal path and use to connect up your tuners. Get some RG6. and you may have to add an amplifier at the base of the antenna before you reach the downlead going into the house or apartment. The options on FM antennas are not what they used to be, but there are a few out there. Not sure if they are around anymore, but there used to be a company called Dropamp that made distribution amps for commercial use. They are quite good. Very low noise and could give you up to 16 db of gain. The key on any amplifier is the noise level of that first transistor. The lower the noise the better.
 
True, #6 for ground, but was thinking hum control. I'd put an antenna in the attic as opposed to outside. Another option.
I recently got a digital tv antenna for OTA, pulled 11 stations but none worth watching! Returned it, but should have tried it for FM.
My tuner is analog tho, not digital carrier ready. Are analog FM stations still around?
 
Semanon said:
Not accurate. Belden makes three flavors. Lots of Chinese versions. Times Fiber stopped making it several years ago, but that’s because they cater to the long haul carriers, and 59 does not play there.

Regardless, I’d stick with RG-6. Better performance and nominal price increase.
Click to expand...

Can't find it in my town and will not buy anything from Amazon.
 
WaynerN said:
Can't find it in my town and will not buy anything from Amazon.
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I applaud your choice to avoid Amazon. Use RG-6. Better all around, and 59 is only a little cheaper.

I used to design CATV/MATV/CCTV distribution systems for schools decades ago. Even then, the only place we’d use RG-59 was at short drops from directional couplers and rack wiring. Easier to work with, but the loss characteristics are awful. (Just fine for 88-108 MHz, though)
 
Capt Odyssea said:
True, #6 for ground, but was thinking hum control. I'd put an antenna in the attic as opposed to outside. Another option.
I recently got a digital tv antenna for OTA, pulled 11 stations but none worth watching! Returned it, but should have tried it for FM.
My tuner is analog tho, not digital carrier ready. Are analog FM stations still around?
Click to expand...
Yes, analog & digital use same frequencies. So-called HD/ digital antennas are pretty much a hoax. Fwiw, I have 5 antennas in my attic: crossed dipole & 6-element yagi(on rotator) for fm, inverted dipole for 10 meter ham, amplified dish for TV on same mast with fm beam & a multi band discovered for misc scanner, fm, whatever else I can use for. For those with metal roofing, yer outta luck for attic antennas.
 
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