rg-6 not doesn't always have to be swept to 3Ghz

[ronfelder]

Well I was awakened this Sunday morning with a Dishnetwork tech at my door. No sub contractor but an honest to goodness employee of Dish.

He has told me that my cabling is ok. That if it was the cabling it wouldn't work on either tv. That as long as it's rg-6 it'll work. That the spec isn't as important as they say it is.

The problem is now fixed. It turns out on the channels that I was having problems with either it had a signal strength of just 45 or one had no signal. He replaced as cautionary the lnb and found a bad barrel connector. Everything now works fine on both receivers.

BTW it was SR communications of New Jersey who wouldn't fix the problem three weeks ago.

I am going to write a thank you note to ceo@echostar.com thanking them for the quick reply this morning and fixing the problem.

Ron

Ron

 

[Mike500]

rg-6 not doesn't always have to be swept to 3Ghz

Absolutely correct. It's just a test. Cable that has not been tested can be just as capable of 3 Ghz performance. Cable made by quality manufacturers as Belden, Commscope or Times Fiber will almost always pass, if tested. They can only mark it "swept to 3 Ghz", if it was done.

Some of the best cables made, are not marked swept to 2.2 or 3 Ghz.

Some of the so call cheap foreign made swept to 3 Ghz cable sold to satellite dealers is just crap, even though it may pass the 3 Ghz test.

Generally, a good experienced technician can see and feel quality just by examining the cable and working with it.

 

[charlesrshell]

Good points. Has anyone seen coax with the braid shield made out of copper or maybe it was brass? I don't think it was gold. It deffinately was a gold looking color. I have a friend that used it in his home. He claims it is better than aluminum.

 

[Mike500]

Good points. Has anyone seen coax with the braid shield made out of copper or maybe it was brass? I don't think it was gold. It deffinately was a gold looking color. I have a friend that used it in his home. He claims it is better than aluminum.

Copper with aluminum mylar foil with a solid copper core was once manufactured by Monster Cable. I still have some of this high end stuff. It matters only if I had to do a long cable run due to lnb switching voltage drop.

Otherwise, it does not matter.

Gold braid is a marketing ploy. The plating is very cheap and only microns deep vacuum deposited over copper or even aluminum. I suppose, it could prevent some corrosion. It's basically for show.

 

[ronfelder]

Absolutely correct. It's just a test. Cable that has not been tested can be just as capable of 3 Ghz performance. Cable made by quality manufacturers as Belden, Commscope or Times Fiber will almost always pass, if tested. They can only mark it "swept to 3 Ghz", if it was done.

Some of the best cables made, are not marked swept to 2.2 or 3 Ghz.

Some of the so call cheap foreign made swept to 3 Ghz cable sold to satellite dealers is just crap, even though it may pass the 3 Ghz test.

Generally, a good experienced technician can see and feel quality just by examining the cable and working with it.

I understand what you're saying. The reason I brought this up is that so many people who replied ot my other posting felt that my problem was do to my having six year old cabling installed by the original Dish installer and the cabling in the wall put in by the builder of my house.

Mine might not sweep out to 3Ghz I don't know, just know that i've got plenty of signal and once he replaced the one bad barrel connector the few transponders that were weak now come in great.

Ron

 

[Mike500]

The 3 Ghz connector sockets is like two small curved and tapered trumptets. The center conductor of the coax contacts the socket on a ring over a longer length.

A cheap barrel conductor has two weak springs that contacts the center conductor on basically two small spots.

There's the difference.

 

[ronfelder]

The 3 Ghz connector sockets is like two small curved and tapered trumptets. The center conductor of the coax contacts the socket on a ring over a longer length.

A cheap barrel conductor has two weak springs that contacts the center conductor on basically two small spots.

There's the difference.

If I remember correctly he said the bad connector was rusted. He changed the lnb on the chance that it might have a problem too.

My questions is if the bad connector made some transponders either dead or to weak, how come it didn't hurt all the transponders to the same extent?

Ron

 

[bweiteka]

Even transoponders are carried at a higher frequency through the cable than odd transponders, and therefore more susceptible to signal loss. Usually the first thing to go is the even transponders when you have a bad connector or bad cable in your Dish system.

 

[Liquidforce88]

Even transoponders are carried at a higher frequency through the cable than odd transponders, and therefore more susceptible to signal loss. Usually the first thing to go is the even transponders when you have a bad connector or bad cable in your Dish system.

Very True.

Just did a service call today. Customer was having signal problems. After aiming the Dish correctly (you could tell the customer tried to do it) was only getting the odd transpoders on a DP Twin. Found a barrel connector in the wire outside. Took it apart and there was no center conductor left on either side they were rusted away. Funny how it could still get the odd's with connections that were that bad.

 

[HCI]

Gold braid is a marketing ploy. The plating is very cheap and only microns deep vacuum deposited over copper or even aluminum. I suppose, it could prevent some corrosion. It's basically for show.

Its like the gold wallplates you can buy at walmart. They suck but they look pretty.

Funny how it could still get the odd's with connections that were that bad.

I have found it is usually the other way around. Even transponders will show when odd do not if its a bad or shorted out connection.

 

[SimpleSimon]

Partial short = trouble with Odd.
Partial open = trouble with Even.

Examples:
Short = stray shield thread on the center conductor.
Open = low-end barrel connector - as Mike500 says.

 

[chadzx11]

Well I was awakened this Sunday morning with a Dishnetwork tech at my door. No sub contractor but an honest to goodness employee of Dish.
Ron

I'd like to see your $9/hour DNSC tech tell that to the SBCA. They preach solid copper/UL Listed/swept tested cable. I think they might know a little more about it than most of us.

 

[HCI]

I'd like to see your $9/hour DNSC tech tell that to the SBCA. They preach solid copper/UL Listed/swept tested cable. I think they might know a little more about it than most of us.

Cable that is not swept to 3Ghz is very capable of passing the signal but is not TESTED that high.

 

[chadzx11]

I know that, and you know that, but that doesn't make it SBCA compliant. They want UL listed, solid copper core, swept tested cable. That is all I am saying!

 

[Mike500]

Cable that is not swept to 3Ghz is very capable of passing the signal but is not TESTED that high.

Over the years the SBCA has become more of a political organization than one of technical expertise. They have marginalized themselves to the point that a lot of experienced satellite installers and dealers just consider them to be a non issue.

Solid copper center conductor cable is a lot more fragile than the copper plated steel equivalent. It kinks and snarls a lot easier and does not perform well in aerial drops in which weight stretches it under tension.

Copper is only an issue for long runs due to switching voltage drop.

 

[ronfelder]

Cable that is not swept to 3Ghz is very capable of passing the signal but is not TESTED that high.

Mine might not be swept tested to 3Ghz but after replacing a rusted barrel connector and the lnb everything works great. the tech from Dish who most deifintely seemed to know what he was doing said the spec isn't that critical.

Everyone on this board said my problem was the coax based upon the spec. Well i'm guessing either I have unmarked 3Ghz cabling or it isn't as important as they say it is.
Ron

 

[SimpleSimon]

Mike500 has it right - the SBCA is worthless. Once they started accepting corporate members/sponsors some years ago, it was only a matter of time.

I won't use untested cable - but I probably couldn't find any nowadays anyway. I also won't use solid copper - for the reasons Mike500 says. If I'm on an install where it might be an issue, I'll find another way. RG-11 solves a lot of problems.

Ron: Generally, when people start pointing at cabling, think connectors too. I think at least some in your other thread said that.

 

[ronfelder]

Mike500 has it right - the SBCA is worthless. Once they started accepting corporate members/sponsors some years ago, it was only a matter of time.

I won't use untested cable - but I probably couldn't find any nowadays anyway. I also won't use solid copper - for the reasons Mike500 says. If I'm on an install where it might be an issue, I'll find another way. RG-11 solves a lot of problems.

Ron: Generally, when people start pointing at cabling, think connectors too. I think at least some in your other thread said that.

Guess you're correct. The tech did find a bad barrel connector.

Ron