Last Updated on October 22, 2023 by Kevin Chen
Image source: ReadytoGocables
RG6 and RG11 are two types of coaxial cables commonly used for cable television, satellite TV, and other forms of wired broadcasting.
Both cables are composed of an insulated copper core surrounded by shielding to reduce interference from external sources.
While they tend to appear the same, there are some glaring differences between the two.
Before you buy one of these two types, it will be nice to know the clear differences so that at the end of the day you will be able to make the right choice.
And that is the primary purpose of this guide.
We are going to guide you on the differences between RG6 and RG11 coaxial cables.
Overview of RG6 coaxial cable
RG6 coaxial cable is a standard type of cable used to connect audio/video equipment, such as TVs and satellite receivers.
It consists of an inner copper conductor that has been insulated with a dielectric material and covered by two layers of shielding (usually aluminum braid and aluminum foil).
This cable is also often referred to as quad-shield cable because of the four layers of shielding.
The RG6 has a much lower signal loss than the older RG59 cable and is even capable of transmitting higher frequencies up to 3GHz.
That makes it suitable for carrying signals from satellite dishes, digital TV antennas, and HDTVs (high definition TVs).
Overview of RG11 coaxial cable
RG11 is a larger and thicker coaxial cable.
It consists of an inner copper conductor that has been insulated with a dielectric material. The most common material is polyethylene, but some higher quality cables may use a foamed polyethylene dielectric.
It is then covered by two layers of shielding (usually aluminum braid and aluminum foil) for the same purpose as RG6 – to reduce interference from external sources.
Features and specifications of RG6
To get into details, let’s have a look at the key features and even specifications of the RG 6 cables. You will then know whether the cable will meet your application needs.
Thickness
RG6 is 0.375 inches or 3/8 inches. This means that it is smaller than the RG11 coaxial cable.
Signal Loss/attenuation
Signal loss is usually measured in dB/Km, and it simply means how much of a signal will be lost along each kilometer of the coaxial cable.
The lower the dB/Km value is, the less you lose signals in your coax cable.
The signal loss of RG6 coaxial cables is between 3.2 dB/Km and 6.8 dB/Km
Center conductor
RG6 has an 18AWG center copper clad steel conductor. This conductor is responsible for carrying the signals from one device to another. It also helps to reduce signal loss.
Dielectric type
The cable has a gas expanded foam dielectric type. This dielectric type is responsible for holding up the coaxial cable. It also helps reduce signal loss and ensures power efficiency.
Shielding
RG6 has two types of shielding. These are aluminum tape and aluminum braid. The aluminum tape helps in rejecting interference while the aluminum braid is responsible for preventing outside noise from entering the coax cable. This helps to reduce signal loss.
Jacketing
Jacketing in the context of coaxial cable refers to the outer layer of the coaxial cable. It helps to protect the coax from physical damage, as well as reduce interference.
The jacketing material used in RG6 cables is typically a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or PE (polyethylene) material.
Applications
Commonly used for satellite, cable, and antenna coaxial connections.
Features and specifications of RG11 coaxial cable
Thickness
The center conductor RG11 coaxial cable is 14AWG. This means that it is thicker than RG6 coaxial cable.
Keep in mind that the thicker the conductor, the more signals it can carry without signal loss.
Signal Loss/attenuation
The signal attenuation of RG11 coaxial cable is between 2 dB/Km and 5.6 dB/Km . This coaxial cable is designed to have a very low signal loss and is suitable for long distance coaxial connections.
Center conductor
The center conductor of RG11 coaxial cable is a solid copper-clad steel. The lead wire has been used to provide better insulation and reduce signal attenuation.
Dielectric type
RG11 coaxial cable uses a gas-injected foam dielectric type. This is much thicker than the one used in RG6 coaxial cable and helps to reduce signal losses even further.
Shielding
RG11 coaxial cable has two types of shielding – aluminum braid and aluminum foil. The aluminum braid acts as an external shield and prevents outside noise from entering the coaxial cable. The aluminum foil helps to reject interference and reduces signal loss.
Jacketing
The jacketing type used in RG11 coaxial cable is a PVC material jacketing. This type of jacketing provides better protection from physical damage as well as radiation interference.
Applications
Commonly used for long-distance coaxial connections such as coax cable TV, satellite and CCTV coaxial cables.
Differences
From the features and specifications, let’s now look at the key differences between these two coaxial cable types.
Attenuation
From the features that we have just discussed, it is clear that RG11 coaxial cable has a lower attenuation rate than RG6 coaxial cable.
In other words, you are likely to experience more signal loss with RG6 than with RG11 cable for a similar length.
So, if you want to minimize signal loss, you will be safer with the RG11 cable.
And how do these cables minimize the signal loss?
Well, the thicker center conductor and dielectric used in RG11 coaxial cables helps to provide a better insulation. This helps in reducing signal loss.
Thickness
RG11 coaxial cable is much thicker with 14AWG than RG6 coaxial cable which has an 18AWG center copper clad steel conductor. As such, it has more capacity to carry signals without signal loss.
Applications
RG6 coaxial cable is commonly used for satellite, cable, and antenna coaxial connections whereas RG11 coaxial cable is best suited for long-distance coaxial connections such as coax TV, satellite, and CCTV cables.
So if you have a connection over a long distance, it is better to use RG11 coaxial cable.
However, if the connection is shorter and there’s no need for a thick coaxial cable, then RG6 coaxial cable should be adequate.
Flexibility
We can define the flexibility of a coaxial cable as its ability to bend without damage. As we can see, the RG11 coaxial cable is much thicker than the RG6 coaxial cable which means that it is less flexible compared to the latter.
This makes it difficult to work with when running cables through tight or narrow spaces.
So if you’re looking for a coaxial cable that is flexible and easy to work with, then the RG6 coaxial cable might be a better choice.
Length
When it comes to the length of cable, we usually do so in reference to the signal strength.
For coaxial cables, the best choice is to use one with a shorter length as this will prevent signal attenuation.
As we have already discussed, RG11 cables are less prone to signal loss as compared to the RG6. This implies that you can easily use a longer length of RG11 coaxial cable for coaxial connections without signal loss.
On the other hand, it is advisable to use shorter lengths of RG6 coaxial cable for coaxial connections as longer lengths will lead to signal losses.
Thus, in conclusion, we can say that when it comes to coaxial cables, RG11 coaxial cable is a better choice for coaxial connections over longer distances. It has lower attenuation rate and can easily take care of signal losses even with the longest coaxial cable lengths.
F-type connectors
T-type connectors are commonly used with coaxial cables and it’s important to make sure that the connector type is compatible with the coaxial cable.
For RG11 coaxial cable, F-type connectors are usually used whereas for the RG6 coaxial cable, BNC or RCA connectors are most commonly used. Thus, when selecting coaxial cables and connectors, it is important to keep the type of coaxial cable in mind.
Price
The last difference to consider when choosing between RG6 coaxial cable and RG11 coaxial cable is the cost.
Since RG11 coaxial cables are thicker than RG6 coaxial cables, they naturally tend to be more expensive. So if you’re looking for a budget-friendly coaxial cable, then the RG6 coaxial cable is the way to go.
Where to buy RG6 and RG11 cables in China
Whether you want to buy RG6 or RG11 coaxial cables, where you buy them will always matter. It is important to buy from reputable suppliers and sourcing agents.
This is the surest way of ending up with a coaxial cable that is likely to meet your needs.
Reputable suppliers always source their cables from the best manufacturers and ensure that their products are of good quality.
ICRFQ is one of the suppliers that you need when it comes to coaxial cables. We offer coaxial cables from some of the top manufacturers in China.
Feel free to contact us when you want RG6 and RG11 cables. we will be glad to give you the full support that you will need.
If you want to find more Electronic Components Distributors, please check out the following articles:
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Electronic Components Distributors In China
Electronic Components Distributors In India
Electronic Components Distributors In Singapore
Electronic Components Distributors In Malaysia
Electronic Components Distributors In Vietnam
Electronic Components Distributors In South Korea
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