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Coax Internet Cable: If I have to build one, what am I looking for exactly?

I am considering picking up an audio-grade coax cable to connect the internet wall outlet to the modem. My suspicion is that the digital coax cable that sits between the wall and modem is the same coax cable that feeds into a DAC--but with different connectors. I believe the standard coax connector to feed a DAC is the RCA connector while I need a Type-F connector to feed a coax-based internet service into the modem. 

I haven't seen anything on this forum on this topic. I also don't see any audio brands offering premade coax internet cables (e.g. http://thecableco.com).  

If I have to build my own coax cable to feed into the modem, what am I looking for? AQ has 3 connector offerings, including Type-F, for both 18 AWG and 24 AWG sizes. And their respective 18 AWG and 24 AWG pages list their compatible bulk cable being either "HD6" or "ITA, ITV or MAC 24". 

I figure that I might as well build a coax cable to feed into the DAC while I'm at it. It looks like the HD6, ITA, or ITV are made for different applications. From their price book, AQ says that HD6 is for "Video, RF, Digital, Subwoofer" while ITA is for analog and ITV is for video. From this info, I believe the HD6 bulk cable would be ideal to both feed a modem and a DAC. 

So, here are the main questions:

  1. Anyone know of any premade coax internet cables?
  2. If I need to build my own coax cables to feed the modem and DAC, does the info above look correct?
  3. Can anyone share their experience building coax cables?
  4. Can anyone share their experience upgrading their coax internet cable?
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lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,393 posts
 

I can tell you there are a breaks along the way from the head end. And cable installers who kluge parts on the pole. Of course a pure signal is generated from the plant. I don't know exactly where it gets picked up, like you said, from loose or unterminated connections.

 

riley804
1,224 posts
 

I can tell you there are a breaks along the way from the head end  

 

and you know this how ?  

 

 

 

 

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,393 posts
 

And how do you know there aren't. So you worked in cable, I worked in broadcast. Noise enters the signal path in some way. I'm not saying every dwelling in the country has an issue.

riley804
1,224 posts
 

@lowrider57

 

And how do you know there aren’t

 

you’re right , I dont.....but i dont think you do either as in order to know if there are leaks on the plant, you have to have a cable sleuth, which is programmed to a cable frequency, and has to be calibrated, which i highly doubt you have the equipment to do that...and these cable sleuths are not cheap at all.

 

On Sale! Comsonics Sniffer Sleuth II CATV Meter Model Sniffer-Sleuth II Comsonics Sleuth II (aaatesters.com)

 

also thinking that if you were to fix the issues that you have, whether it be a bad piece of cable, bad or loose fitting, you probably wouldnt need that filter that you have installed anymore.     the filter is a band aid.....and really doesnt fix the problem you have.       use the " sniffer " you have and find the issue.

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,393 posts
 

Interesting. As I stated I used a consumer device and all I was hoping for was a close measurement of RFI. The fact that my friend in a different city had RF on his coax line and router indicates interference is finding an entry point somewhere, somehow. With all the RFI around us, some cables have the potential to act like an antenna and I've never seen evidence that coax is capable of this. 

I live in a city rowhome in an old neighborhood where some houses aren't even grounded. Now we have FIOS, new transformers on the block, but my electrician tells me these homes with old wiring can be polluting the mains for each neighbor. I'm giving you some background on the level of noise possible in our mains. I'm only guessing that being in a large city there's some way RFI is entering the cable feed.

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