Coax Cables

Summary: Coax Cables

Pro AV Cable Solutions for Demanding Commercial Environments

Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire low-voltage coax cables purpose-built for professional audio/video, broadcast, and commercial integration. From camera feeds and distribution backbones to RF and control, our pro AV cable portfolio covers plenum and non-plenum constructions in the most common RG types your projects require. Whether you need an SDI cable for serial digital video, an rg59 cable for shorter high-frequency runs, an rg6 cable for longer distances, or CATV distribution with copper-covered steel, SmartWire delivers consistent electrical performance and installation efficiency across job sites.

SmartWire is the brand name of the low-voltage cable we manufacture in the United States. Every SmartWire pro AV cable comes standard with SmartWire Glide Technology lubrication applied during manufacturing to reduce pull friction by up to 70%, helping crews pull faster with less rework in dense pathways. Multiple shielding configurations are available to control interference and preserve signal integrity in high-EMI commercial spaces.

Why SmartWire for Pro AV installations

• Signal integrity for video and control: Precision coax constructions for SDI workflows, production camera feeds, distribution racks, and RF/control lines help maintain low loss and stable impedance over distance.
• Plenum and non-plenum options: Choose the right jacket system for code-compliant pathways in return-air spaces or standard zones without compromising performance.
• Shielding choices to fit the environment: Options include O/A foil with high-coverage tinned copper braid, aluminum braid with foil, dual and quad-shield designs to manage EMI in equipment rooms and risers.
• Conductor options for application fit: Bare copper for low attenuation and precision terminations; copper covered steel (CCS) for CATV distribution where pull strength and cost efficiency are priorities.
• Installation efficiency: SmartWire Glide lubrication coats the jacket to lower cable-pulling resistance, enabling cleaner, faster installs through conduit and trays.
• Color identification and customization: Standard and custom jacket/stripe colors help crews and service teams quickly identify signal paths and organization-specific standards from rack to field device.

Available constructions

1. 18 AWG 1C Solid Plenum Rated Low-Voltage: RG 6/U serial digital pro av cable with bare copper center conductor and O/A foil plus 95% tinned copper braid for excellent SDI shielding and low loss in plenum spaces.
2. 18 AWG 1C Solid Plenum Rated Low-Voltage: RG 6/U CCS design for CATV distribution; a durable choice for head-end to outlet runs where pull strength and long-distance performance are key.
3. 18 AWG 1C Solid Plenum Rated Low-Voltage: RG 6/U CCS variant for general video distribution in return-air spaces, available with high-coverage shielding to combat EMI.
4. 18 AWG 1C Solid Non-Plenum Rated Low-Voltage: RG 6/U CCS construction for cost-effective CATV and video distribution in standard pathways with dual/quad-shield options depending on site conditions.
5. 18 AWG 1C Solid Non-Plenum Rated Low-Voltage: RG 6/U bare copper serial digital sdi cable for longer camera and equipment runs where low attenuation and precise impedance are required.
6. 20 AWG 1C Solid Non-Plenum Rated Low-Voltage: RG 59/U bare copper serial digital with O/A foil and 95% tinned copper braid; ideal for shorter SDI and high-frequency patching inside equipment spaces.
7. 20 AWG 1C Solid Plenum Rated Low-Voltage: RG 59/U bare copper serial digital with O/A foil and 95% tinned copper braid; suited for SDI and video tie-lines in plenum return-air areas.
8. 19 AWG 1C Solid Plenum Rated Low-Voltage: RG 58/U bare copper, a 50-ohm coax often used for control, timing, and RF applications in commercial AV and broadcast support systems.
9. 10 AWG 1C Solid Plenum Rated Low-Voltage: RG 8/U 50-ohm coax with high-coverage tinned copper braid for low-loss RF backbones and specialty interconnects over extended distances.
10. 13 AWG 1C 7-Strand Plenum Rated Low-Voltage: RG 8/U 50-ohm coax with stranded center conductor and robust tinned copper braid, combining flexibility with strong shielding for long-run RF or control lines.

Options that match your specification

• Gauges: Select constructions available in 10, 13, 18, 19, and 20 AWG to balance distance, attenuation, and termination needs.
• Shielding: Tinned Copper Braid/OAS, Aluminum Braid/OAS, Aluminum Braid Dual Shield, Quad Shield, and other high-coverage designs available by construction.
• Lengths: Standard 1000 ft, with select constructions also available in 500 ft, 250 ft, and 100 ft to match project takeoffs and reduce scrap.
• Compliance: RoHS-compliant options available across this category.

How we add value to your next project

• Consistency from design to closeout: Purpose-built coax constructions for SDI, rg59 cable and rg6 cable runs, and CATV distribution reduce guesswork and standardize performance across sites.
• Labor savings in the field: SmartWire Glide lubrication lowers pull force, helping teams route bundles cleanly through pathways and busy racks.
• Right cable, right environment: Plenum and non-plenum options, along with multiple shielding configurations, help you meet code, combat interference, and protect signal integrity in real-world conditions.
• Streamlined identification: Standard and custom jacket/stripe colors support faster troubleshooting and service across enterprise campuses, arenas, and production facilities.
• Trusted AV partner: Windy City Wire focuses on low-voltage products and solutions for integrators, contractors, and facility teams—helping you deliver reliable systems on time and on budget.

Ready to specify SmartWire for Pro AV?
Our team can help you select the right pro av cable construction—coax cables for SDI camera paths, rg59 cable and rg6 cable for precise serial digital and distribution runs, or CATV-focused CCS builds—so your system performs from the first pull through final test. Contact us to review drawings, confirm shielding and gauge choices, and align lengths to your material plan.

Solutions: Coax Cables

Coax Cables for Professional AV Systems

Windy City Wire supplies commercial-grade coax cables engineered for the demands of ProAV integration. From SDI video transport to distributed television and RF systems, our portfolio covers 75-ohm and 50-ohm requirements across a range of gauges, shields, and ratings to help integrators deliver reliable signal performance in complex environments. Whether you are building out a broadcast control room, large venue, enterprise campus, or a mission-critical healthcare or government facility, we provide the right pro av cable for the job.

Where Coax Belongs in Modern AV

• Broadcast, Production, and Post – Transport 12G/6G/3G SDI video over true 75-ohm serial digital coax. Choose RG59 cable for short to mid-length camera runs, patching, and rack-to-rack links; use RG6 cable where lower loss is needed for longer distances. High-coverage tinned copper braid with foil provides the return loss and shielding stability SDI cable applications require.
• Stadiums, Arenas, and Live Events – Distribute feeds to replay rooms, displays, and production carts; tie in field POV cameras; and support RF intercom and wireless microphone antenna lines with 50-ohm options such as RG58/U and RG8/U for longer RF runs to remote antennas.
• Corporate and Enterprise – Feed displays and encoders in conference rooms, all-hands spaces, and training centers. Use RG6 cable for backbone CATV distribution and headend connections; RG59 cable for device-to-wall transitions and equipment rack wiring.
• Education (K–12 and Higher Ed) – Support campus TV distribution (CATV), classroom displays, lecture capture rooms, and student-run production studios. Coax cables maintain consistent performance across multiple buildings and extended pathways.
• Healthcare – Serve integrated OR video, simulation labs, and facility-wide television with plenum-rated coax for air-handling spaces and strict code compliance. Stable shielding mitigates EM interference near medical equipment.
• Hospitality and Entertainment – Hotels, casinos, theaters, and theme venues depend on coax for CATV distribution, in-room entertainment, and back-of-house monitoring. Quad-shield options help in high-interference areas filled with lighting and power gear.
• Government, Public Safety, and Defense – Courtrooms, operations centers, and training facilities rely on coax for secure video paths and RF systems. Plenum and non-plenum choices fit varied building codes and pathway types.
• Retail and Transportation – Digital signage backbones, menu boards, and terminal displays use coax for dependable, predictable video transport where uptime matters.
• Security and Monitoring – Legacy analog CCTV and HD-over-coax systems benefit from 75-ohm designs with robust shielding to protect image quality over extended runs.

Choosing the Right Coax for the Application

• Impedance and Use Case
  • 75 Ω (RG59/U, RG6/U) – Best for baseband video, CATV, and SDI cable transport. Select RG59 cable for shorter camera and rack links; use RG6 cable when you need lower attenuation for longer HD/4K paths or CATV backbones.
  • 50 Ω (RG58/U, RG8/U) – Ideal for RF, intercom, antenna distribution, IFB, and wireless microphone infrastructure in venues and broadcast environments.
• Conductor Type
  • Bare Copper – Preferred for serial digital video where return loss and conductivity are critical.
  • Copper-Clad Steel (CCS) – Common in CATV RF distribution where tensile strength and high-frequency performance align with headend-to-drop needs.
• Shielding Options
  • Foil + High-Coverage Braid – O/A aluminum foil combined with a 90–95% tinned copper braid delivers low transfer impedance and strong EMI/RFI rejection for camera, router, and rack interconnects.
  • Quad Shield / Dual Shield – Added protection for dense equipment rooms, venues with powerful lighting arrays, and long risers running alongside power.
  • Braid Materials – Tinned copper braid for durable terminations and stable shielding; aluminum braid variants for specific CATV use cases.
• Environment and Code
  • Plenum (CMP) – Use in air-handling spaces as required by code (e.g., above-ceiling returns in healthcare, education, and corporate facilities).
  • Non-Plenum – Suited for standard pathways, equipment racks, and spaces without plenum requirements.
• Distance and Gauge
  • Multiple gauges are available to balance loss, flexibility, and connectorization needs, including 10, 13, 18, 19, 20, and 23 AWG options depending on cable family. Larger conductors help reduce attenuation over long runs; smaller gauges aid in tight rack work and patching.

Application Highlights by Cable Family

• RG59/U (75 Ω) – Camera patching, short to mid-length SDI runs, equipment interconnects in control rooms, and device drops near endpoints.
• RG6/U (75 Ω) – Longer SDI links, digital signage backbones, and CATV headend-to-floor distribution.
• RG58/U (50 Ω) – RF comms, intercom trunks, short antenna leads, and test setups in production spaces.
• RG8/U (50 Ω) – Long RF antenna lines and distributed antenna systems where low loss and robust shielding help maintain RF integrity.

Installation and Integration Considerations

• Termination – Supports common BNC, F, and RCA terminations used throughout ProAV, broadcast, and CATV. Match connector type to impedance and cable family for best return loss and durability.
• Pathways – For ceiling plenums and return-air spaces, select plenum-rated models. In conduits near high-voltage lines or lighting dimmers, use dual- or quad-shield options to mitigate interference.
• System Design – Combine coax backbones with control and data cabling as needed; coax remains the predictable, low-latency physical layer for time-sensitive video and RF signals.

Lengths and Availability

• Available in multiple standard lengths to suit project staging and rollout, including 1000 ft, 500 ft, 250 ft, and 100 ft options.
• RoHS-compliant constructions available across families to support environmental and specification requirements.

Industries We Serve

• Broadcast and Production
• Sports and Live Events
• Corporate and Enterprise Campuses
• Education
• Healthcare
• Hospitality and Entertainment
• Government and Public Safety
• Retail and Transportation
• Security and Monitoring

Why Specify Windy City Wire Coax Cables

• Purpose-built options for SDI cable, CATV backbones, and RF systems.
• Shielding choices that match noise environments, from equipment closets to large venues.
• Plenum and non-plenum selections to meet building codes without compromising performance.
• Multiple gauges to balance distance, flexibility, and connector compatibility.

Next Steps

Share your system requirements—signal type, maximum distance, pathway rating, and termination preferences—and our team will help you select the right coax cables for a dependable, standards-aligned installation.

Frequently Asked Questions: Coax Cables

• What AWG conductors are available with this SmartWire Coax Cables cable?
  Available sizes include 10, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, and 23 AWG.
• What other colors is this SmartWire Coax Cables cable available in?
  Available jacket colors include Black, White, Green, and Purple. Custom SmartWire jacket and stripe color combinations can also be produced to match your standards—contact Windy City Wire for details.
• Is this SmartWire Coax Cables cable made with solid or stranded copper conductors?
  Both are available, depending on the construction. Many RG 6/U, RG 59/U, and RG 58/U options use solid bare copper center conductors, while select RG 8/U constructions are offered with stranded center conductors.
• What length is this SmartWire Coax Cables cable sold in?
  1,000 ft is our standard stocking length. At Windy City Wire we manufacture and stock SmartWire Building Wire in 1,000 ft length as our standard length. Select coax items are also available in 500 ft, 250 ft, and 100 ft lengths.
• How is your SmartWire ProAV cable sold on spools or in boxes?
  Our SmartWire ProAV cable is packaged in our patented RackPack carton for maximum efficiency as part of our complete solution. Learn more about our RackPack: https://windycitywire.com/solutions/rackpack-overview

Additional Links:

• Learn more about our SmartWire Cable
• The RackPack - Our patented cable delivery solution
• Our Transporters - RackPack Transportation Devices
• 19 Stocking Locations Nationwide - Find a Branch near you