In the United States you typically have two choices when it comes to delivery of your television signal from the source (cable junction or satellite dish) to the decoder (set-top box or internal television decoder). This choice is RG 59 or RG 6 coaxial cable.

RG 59 Cable

For many years households were able to use RG 59 with no significant problems. Analog signals were passed through the cable, delivering about 270 Mb/s.

The Need For More Bandwidth

As technology progressed, video signals became more complex. Satellite TV emerged with a digital signal, requiring more data to be delivered per second. Cable TV soon followed suit and started digital offerings, as well.

HD Television Signals

High-definition television began to emerge in 1999. The increased pixels per frame again required more data to be delivered.

RG 6 Cable

Owing to these demands, RG 6 cable started becoming more widely used in the 1990's, mainly due to its ability to deliver significantly more data than RG 59. HDTV can demand up to 1.485 Gb/s. A key drawback to RG 6 cable is that the signal tends to degrade in cables over 100 feet in length.

The Bottom Line

Although there are many technical differences between RG 59 and RG 6, for the average user the key difference is that RG 6 is best used for digital, satellite and HD signals. RG 6 can also easily handle standard-grade signals, as well. RG 59 may work in limited instances with higher-grade signals, but should be avoided if possible.

Source:

Arnold's Satellite

ABC Cables: When should I use RG 59 vs. RG 6