Old Dish network Rg6 coax

[Bootyhunter]

I went to Youtube TV ahwile back, still have the old dish network satellite up on the roof, with the RG6 coax ran into my living room. Im going to take off the dish, leave the mount, connect a base scanner antenna to the coax and use it. The antenna and connectors are on order, will update when I get it set up with some pics and performance results vs antenna on scanner inside the house. Im expecting some moderate improvement.

 

[jtwalker]

Probably 75 ohm instead of 50 ohm, so not likely to be an ideal impedance match for your scanner.

 

[n3obl]

It should work fine for receiving even with the mismatch.

 

[vagrant]

I used RG6 for years with a discone antenna above my roofline. Worked fine for years with local and or strong RF signals. I even used that setup to monitor military aircraft as well. I have upgraded to LMR-400 and enjoy the slight gain. You'll probably enjoy the improvement with fringe signals using the outdoor antenna. Still, with that antenna improvement you can also increase your RFI (Radio Frequency Interference). This often comes from broadcast FM stations (88-108 MHz) and 152 MHz paging systems. There are filters you can use inline on the coax that will help. See the URL in my signature for FM filters. For paging systems, I use filters made by Dale Parr. Everyone's geographic and RF environment are different.

1. Much depends on what frequencies you wish to monitor. The higher one goes, the more one will appreciate improved coaxial cable.
2. If you only monitor a particular system/frequency, an antenna tuned just for that will dramatically help.
3. Did I mention filters? I have six various filters inline for my main scanners.

 

[wtp]

the old rule of thumb was,
if out in the weather for more than 5 years, it is time to replace it.
you could just try it and see what happens, no harm in that.
for reception only there are no rules.

 

[dave3825]

I use RG 6 from antenna to splitter and from splitter to dongles (SMA) and scanners (BNC). If you don't want to mess with installing connectors, and the f type is still on your lines, get an f type female to whatever your using.

 

[cavmedic]

As long as the coax is still
Good and hasn’t sucked in any water, you will be fine.

If you prep new connectors and the braid is powdery or the center conductor is tarnished, the coax is trash.

 

[dlwtrunked]

Probably 75 ohm instead of 50 ohm, so not likely to be an ideal impedance match for your scanner.

And also not matter. Some scanners were even designed to be 75 ohm but many vary quite a bit across their range. And even so, the effect is completely negligible (0.2 dB) for receiving. Not worth doing any thing about. (By the way, wideband transformers that convert the impedance have greater loss than the impedance mismatch.)

 

[KMG54]

I went to Youtube TV ahwile back, still have the old dish network satellite up on the roof, with the RG6 coax ran into my living room. Im going to take off the dish, leave the mount, connect a base scanner antenna to the coax and use it. The antenna and connectors are on order, will update when I get it set up with some pics and performance results vs antenna on scanner inside the house. Im expecting some moderate improvement.

It will work fine, just make sure there are no splitters or multi switches inline.

 

[KMG54]

Good solid copper quad sheild RG6 is rated to 3 gigs with low loss. Your scanner will never know the difference, it can't read the print on the coax. All my receive only radios yous rg6, My transmit uses real LMR400

 

[Bootyhunter]

the old rule of thumb was,
if out in the weather for more than 5 years, it is time to replace it.
you could just try it and see what happens, no harm in that.
for reception only there are no rules.

Its about 5 years old now actually. But the way its ran its attached to the side of my house, north side of my house so very minimal exposure to the sun in those 5 years and also out of the rain. It looks brand new still.

 

[Bootyhunter]

It will work fine, just make sure there are no splitters or multi switches inline.

There arent any, its a direct run, about 20 feet.

 

[Bootyhunter]

Good solid copper quad sheild RG6 is rated to 3 gigs with low loss. Your scanner will never know the difference, it can't read the print on the coax. All my receive only radios yous rg6, My transmit uses real LMR400

Exactly, much more forgiving on receive only equipment. Transmitting, coax has to be the right size and not too long a run of it to not lose more than you gain. Receivers thankfully dont seem to care too much what they are connected to(within reason).

 

[mmckenna]

There arent any, its a direct run, about 20 feet.

20 feet of RG-6? If it's not physically damaged and the connectors are not compromised, I would not waste 1¢ replacing that. You would not be able to notice the difference on a run that short. All you'll gain is a very slight improvement on the fringes of coverage, and bragging rights. Plus, cables like LMR-400 are a pain to run as the bend radius is much larger, plus you don't want to connect something like LMR-400 directly to a radio. So what little you'd gain (maybe 1dB) you'll lose some of that in adapters and jumper cables.

From what I've seen (and what others can probably confirm) is that the professional satellite installers use really good connectors on their installs and good cable. I'd not worry about replacing it.

 

[Bootyhunter]

20 feet of RG-6? If it's not physically damaged and the connectors are not compromised, I would not waste 1¢ replacing that. You would not be able to notice the difference on a run that short. All you'll gain is a very slight improvement on the fringes of coverage, and bragging rights. Plus, cables like LMR-400 are a pain to run as the bend radius is much larger, plus you don't want to connect something like LMR-400 directly to a radio. So what little you'd gain (maybe 1dB) you'll lose some of that in adapters and jumper cables.

From what I've seen (and what others can probably confirm) is that the professional satellite installers use really good connectors on their installs and good cable. I'd not worry about replacing it.

Yeah great points, exactly why I decided to repurpose it for a sanner antenna, its already ran, through the wall and everything, yes it a short run from the roof to my 2nd story living room, so why reinvent the wheel? I hate pulling cable and I am simply getting bnc to F adapters one to attach to the antenna which has a short pigtail that terminates in a bnc female and then one at the end thats in the house to attach to the scanner. I think it will work out well.

 

[mmckenna]

I am simply getting bnc to F adapters one to attach to the antenna which has a short pigtail that terminates in a bnc female and then one at the end thats in the house to attach to the scanner. I think it will work out well.

If you have not purchased those already, head over to Home Depot and pick these up:

Klein Tools Universal BNC Compression Connector for RG6/6Q (10-Pack) VDV813-607 - The Home Depot

Visit The Home Depot to buy Universal BNC Compression Connector - RG6/6Q VDV813-607

www.homedepot.com

You'll need the stripper and compression tool, but those aren't too expensive.

That'll remove adapters and a bit of extra loss from your setup. Plus you'll have some extra connectors left over for future projects.

 

[EAFrizzle]

If you have not purchased those already, head over to Home Depot and pick these up:

Klein Tools Universal BNC Compression Connector for RG6/6Q (10-Pack) VDV813-607 - The Home Depot

Visit The Home Depot to buy Universal BNC Compression Connector - RG6/6Q VDV813-607

www.homedepot.com

You'll need the stripper and compression tool, but those aren't too expensive.

Add some 3/4" PVC pipe to the order and you can turn out DIY Flowerpot antennas that will work surprisingly well.

 

[Bootyhunter]

Add some 3/4" PVC pipe to the order and you can turn out DIY Flowerpot antennas that will work surprisingly well.

My entire reason for doing this project is that its 90% done already. All I have to do is 1. Remove old satellite dish while leaving the mount in place 2. Mount my antenna to the existing mount with a couple hose clamps 3. Put Type F to BNC adapter on dish end of the cable and attach to antenna 4. Put F to BNC adapter on house end of the cable and attach to my scanner. A 1 hour project including retrieving and storing my ladder. Im simply putting to use some currently unused cable and trying to improve my scanner reception in the process.

 

[Bootyhunter]

Update:
The antenna got lost in the mail, finally arrived a couple days ago. I put it up this morning and used the old Dish rg6 cable with adapters on each end. Works great! Much improved, crystal clear reception!! I recommend putting your old satellite cable to use, the adapters are cheap and the cables already ran. Win win!!

 

[mmckenna]

Update:
The antenna got lost in the mail, finally arrived a couple days ago. I put it up this morning and used the old Dish rg6 cable with adapters on each end. Works great! Much improved, crystal clear reception!! I recommend putting your old satellite cable to use, the adapters are cheap and the cables already ran. Win win!!

Glad to hear it. Getting an antenna outside really helps performance.

Don't forget to waterproof your outdoor connections, lest your signal improvement be short lived.