The Numbers That Separate Them
RG59 runs at approximately 7.0 dB/100m at 100 MHz with a DC to 750 MHz range. RG6 is about 6.5 dB/100m and reaches 1 GHz. RG7 is about 4.2 dB/100m across 5 to 1000 MHz. RG11 is about 4.8 dB/100m to 1 GHz with conductor DC resistance around 3.5 ohms per 100 m against roughly 6.5 for RG6 and RG59.
Where Each One Belongs
RG59 is the analogue video and CCTV core, and its 750 MHz ceiling is the reason it is not used for modern broadband. RG6 is the standard drop cable for CATV, satellite and broadband. RG7 and RG11 are distribution and trunk cores, chosen when a run is long enough that drop-grade loss would eat the signal budget.
Weight and Handling
Reel weight per 500 m rises across the family: approximately 14–20 kg for RG59, 15–22 kg for RG6, 18–22 kg for RG7 and 24–30 kg for RG11. That matters for pay-off equipment, not just freight — a heavy reel needs a powered stand rather than a free-spinning one.
Conductor Choice Cuts Across All Four
Bare copper, copper-clad steel, copper-clad aluminium and copper-clad aluminium-magnesium are available on every core in the family. CCS adds tensile strength for drop and aerial work; CCA lowers cost where current is negligible; bare copper is specified where the tender demands it.
Choosing in Practice
Start from the run length and the frequency the network uses, then pick the lowest-loss core that meets the budget. Only then choose the conductor grade, because that decision is commercial rather than electrical in most cases.
