Vent: Stop wrapping coax cables too tight around the corner

I keep seeing new guys cinch down RG6 like they're tying off a boat. If you pull it tight around a 90 degree corner, you're flattening the dielectric inside. Had a service call in Austin last week where the customer's internet kept dropping. Found a cable that looked fine on the outside but was pinched flat right where it wrapped around a stud. Checked it with a meter and the return loss was shot. You really want at least a 2 inch bend radius, anything tighter and you're asking for trouble. Has anyone else seen this cause weird intermittent issues that take forever to troubleshoot?

2 comments

2 Comments

rayc8318d ago

Nah, if you can't wrap a cable tight without crushing it you're probably using the wrong tools for the job anyway.

alice_barnes3517d ago

Oh come on, is wrapping a cable really that big of a deal? I mean, sure, don't crush it to the point where it's permanently damaged, but most of the time a little tightness isn't going to ruin anything. People act like you need a degree in cable management just to avoid a few kinks.