RG-6; How to tell?

[pjrocco]

So I recently upgraded to HD... I had the DirecTv tech run a new line from the SL3 directly into my HR-21. I noticed right away that the new line he ran was much smaller in diameter than the original line that was ran for my SD receivers. When I asked if it was RG-6 he told me that DirecTv only carries RG-6 and it can come in different diameters depending on who makes it.

Is this a true statement? Should RG-6 be thicker or thinner that standard coaxial? How can I check to make sure it is RG-6?

Also, the tech used the same line that was hooked up from the wall to my old SD box. Should he have made a new line, or with the old line be fine?

[tcusta00]

Sometimes it will say RG6 on the cable itself - it's sometimes printed very lightly and only every few feet depending on the manufacturer.

You can also take an old RG59 if you have it laying around and physically compare the diameter of the copper... again, it may be printed on the outside somewhere. RG6 is much more rigid.

If the old line is RG6 then it should be fine... if it's RG59 then no, it should be replaced for best results.

[FTA Michael]

IIRC, RG6 specifies the signal insulation qualities of the cable, not the thickness.

A lot of this satellite digital TV stuff is pass/fail. Short runs of relatively good RG59 often work okay in passing along enough signal for everything to work. If something fails or has intermittent problems, replacing the RG59 with RG6 is a good idea.

[satjoe]

So I recently upgraded to HD... I had the DirecTv tech run a new line from the SL3 directly into my HR-21. I noticed right away that the new line he ran was much smaller in diameter than the original line that was ran for my SD receivers. When I asked if it was RG-6 he told me that DirecTv only carries RG-6 and it can come in different diameters depending on who makes it.

Is this a true statement? Should RG-6 be thicker or thinner that standard coaxial? How can I check to make sure it is RG-6?

Also, the tech used the same line that was hooked up from the wall to my old SD box. Should he have made a new line, or with the old line be fine?

Your existing cable was RG6 quad, this is used by CATV installers, Direct tv uses RG6 Dual. Quad can look much larger becase of all the extra braided wire used for shielding.

Good luck