RG59 Basic construction

STANDARD SHIELD

TRI-SHIELD

QUAD-SHIELD

CONDUCTOR

MATERIAL

BC/CCS

BC/CCS

BC/CCS

Nom.Dia.

20AWG

20AWG

20AWG

DIELECTRIC

MATERIAL

Foam PE

Foam PE

Foam PE

Nom.Dia.

3.66mm

3.66mm

3.66mm

SHIELD

MATERIAL

Al Foil+Al Braiding

Al Foil+Al Braiding+Al Foil

(Al Foil+Al Braiding)*2

COVERAGE

40%-95%

40%-95%

35%-53%

JACKET

MATERIAL

PVC/PE

PVC/PE

PVC/PE

Nom.Thick.

0.80mm

0.80mm

0.86mm

Nom.Dia.

6.10mm

6.10mm

6.70mm

Application

 RG-59 is often used at base band video frequencies, such as composite video. It may also be used for broadcast frequencies, but its high-frequency losses are too high to allow its use over long distances; in these applications, RG-6 or RG-11 is used instead. In cases where the transmission distance is too long for these media, such options as UTP (unshielded twisted pair) or fiber optic can be used.
RG-59 coaxial cable is commonly packed with consumer equipment, such as VCRs or digital cable/satellite receivers. Manufacturers tend to include only RG-59 cables because it costs less than RG-6 does. However, given the short lengths provided (usually 4–6 ft or 1.2–1.8 m), this is generally sufficient for its typical use.
RG-59 is frequently used to synchronize two digital audio devices, such as ADAT optical devices. This is called word clock.

Nom.Dia.

1.30mm

1.30mm

1.30mm

Application

A common type of 75 ohm coaxial cable is cable television (CATV) distribution coax, used to route cable television signals to and within homes. CATV distribution coax typically has a copper-clad steel (CCS) center conductor and a combination aluminum foil/aluminum braid shield, typically with low coverage (about 60%). 75 ohm cables are also used in professional video applications, carrying either base band analog video signals or serial digital interface (SDI) signals; in these applications, the center conductor is ordinarily solid copper, the shielding is much heavier (typically aluminum foil, and 95% copper braid), and tolerances are more tightly controlled, to improve impedance stability. Cables typically have connectors at each end.