Is the Colour of Coaxial Cable significant?
I was sent a very nice email by someone who didn't want to post here because they were worried that their question was a dumb one. No, it is not a dumb question, it is a very good one!
Folks should go ahead and post in threads here rather than email or PM me.
The question was whether the colour of a coaxial cable is significant. The answer is no, the colours are meant to just be options for the installer/consumer.
Here is one example of how I've used a few different identifiers such as RG6 colours, imprinted info, and silver or gold connectors to sort out some complex installations:
- black Belden-brand w. silver connectors = VHF TV antenna
- white Belden w. silver connectors = UHF TV antenna
- white RCA-brand w. silver connectors = ExpressVu 91 dish LNB left
- white Belden-brand w. gold connectors = ExpressVu 91 dish LNB right
- beige Belden w. silver connectors = ExpressVu 82 dish LNB left
- beige Generic-brand w. gold connectors = ExpressVu 82 dish LNB right
- black Belden w. gold connectors = CATV Internet
The purpose of doing all that was so that I could tell right at the grounding blocks at the house demarc point exactly which lead went where. Any time there are similar coloured coax lines and I cannot see their connectors, I can check the imprinted info on them to tell which strand is which. I've tried to keep the same scheme inside the house but sometimes its been impossible due to inacessibilities. A person could use all the same colours for such cabling but they'd have to label each strand separately in weatherproof manner. The problem is that they cannot tell in mid-strand which cable it is if they cannot see the ends.
I am a fan of Belden coaxial cable but Amphenol is a great brand too. Having said that, I've not had any problems with generic RG6 or the RCA-branded spool I once bought at Home Depot.
EDIT: Jase88 makes an interesting point later in this thread in Post #40 that white coaxial cable does not heat up in the direct sun as much as black does - good to keep that in mind for possible connection failures on hot roof tops in the summer