componet cable

[russellsrule]

I want to run component cable from my basement HD sattelite receiver to my HD flat panel lcd in my kitchen upstairs. The run would be 40 to 50 feet. What would be the best type of cable to use without spending a bunch.::

 

[highfigh]

RG-59 or RG-6. RG-6 Quad if there's a lot of RF in the area. Use solid copper center conductor- copper clad steel is stiffer and when it bends, hte foam dielectric tends to compress and this causes problems with signal quality. If you'll be using the TV for audio too, get some RG-59/5 bundled cable. It's much easier to run, although you may need to look around for mini connectors. Run at least one Cat5e with this in case you need to use IR or RS-232 for control. Run a 4 conductor and a 2 conductor speaker cable, too. You never know what you'll decide to do in the future.

The RG-59/5 is more money but takes up much less space and you'll spend much less time in running it.

 

[10010011]

Pacific Cable makes custom cables for a reasonable price.

Looks like a 50 foot component video plus audio would run about $75.

 

[russellsrule]

Are stranded wire center conducter coax cables as good, worse, or better than solid copper center conductor?

 

[BMXTRIX]

There are any number of cables which you can use, but the standards of using a 75ohm cable are the norm. I personally use Extron's mini-HR cabling throughout my home for runs of 100 feet and more over min-RGB cabling, similar tot he cables used in the photo above.

Yet, if you really just want something and have the access to run pre-fab cabling, then I wouldn't spend the money on something more expensive as these will do you phenomenally well...
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10235
- get the 'premium' ones.

The final cables I end up with look similar to the photo shown above, and I would say that a very good way to do things is to run/make your own cables if you are up for the task. You can run standard RG-6 coaxial cable to your wall and baseemnt and either terminate it with RCA ends...
http://www.parts-express.com/webpage.cfm?webpage_id=3&CATID=39&ObjectGroup_ID=125
You can call Parts Express and have them send you the right RCA ends and the right tool along with a spool of cable to get things done.

Personally, over about 6 or 10 feet I tend to make all my own cables myself. This way I can get the exact length I need every time.

I would suggest that you might want to run things to a wall plate as well, then use a shorter interconnect between the wall plate and the equipment.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10425&cs_id=1042502&p_id=2999&seq=1&format=2

 

[highfigh]

Are stranded wire center conducter coax cables as good, worse, or better than solid copper center conductor?

The only thing that will usually have stranded center is RG-58, used for ring networks in computer systems. Remember, you can't push a rope and if you use F connectors, the center needs to be rigid. Even for BNC and RCA compression fittings, the center needs to push into a tip and if the cable is stranded, it won't. I have used literally thousands of the F-Conn RCA connectors and they work well, without being particularly expensive. They make a wide variety, including mini the kind for installing BNC and RCA plugs on the mini cables.

The benefit of solid copper is flexibility, more than anything. Coaxial cable usually has a plastic foam dielectric (the white or colored soft plastic that the center runs through) and it can compress. If it compresses, the distance from the center to the shield decreases and noise, interference and reduced frequency response result.

BTW- cabling has a recommended minimum bend radius, which is 4x the cable's diameter. This means that laying cabling over the crisp edge of framing, metal ducts, brackets and anything else will result in the bottom cables being kinked and problems will arise from this. Wire management supplies are in the electrical department of all hardware and big box stores- use them and your installation will be more reliable.

Google for more information.