If you want a straight answer, the best satellite cable for most homes is a good quality, double-screened 75-ohm coaxial cable, and WF100 is the one most engineers reach for. It carries a digital TV or satellite signal with very little loss, shrugs off interference, and works just as well for a TV aerial. Cheaper cable can look identical from the outside, but the difference shows up as a pixelating picture, missing channels, or a dish that never quite performs.
We explain what the cable actually is, the main types of coaxial cable you’ll come across, why WF100 has become the default choice, and what to look for so you don’t waste money on the wrong type of cable.
What is coaxial cable?
Coaxial cable, usually shortened to coax, is the round cable that connects a TV aerial (sometimes called an antenna) or a satellite dish to your equipment. The name comes from its layers, which all share the same central axis. Each layer has a job:
- Centre conductor – a wire down the middle, ideally solid copper, that carries the signal.
- Dielectric insulation – a foam or plastic layer around the conductor that keeps the signal stable.
- Screening – a layer of foil plus a braid of fine wires that shields the signal from interference.
- Outer sheath – the tough outer jacket that protects everything from weather and wear.
The signal travels along this copper core as a radio-frequency wave, and the screening blocks outside electrical noise from getting in and spoiling it. This design is why coax can transmit a clean picture over a long run where an ordinary electrical cable could not.
Impedance: the number that matters
Every coax cable is built to an impedance, measured in ohms, and for television and satellite the industry standard is 75-ohm impedance. It is the value the whole system, from the dish to the receiver, is designed around.
You may also see 50-ohm coax cable, but that is meant for radio and data, not TV. Fit the wrong type and the signal reflects back on itself instead of flowing cleanly, which weakens the picture. For any satellite or aerial job, 75 ohm is the number to look for.
Why satellite needs better cable than a TV aerial
A dish and a rooftop aerial both use coax, so people often assume any cable will do. It won’t, for two reasons.
First, satellite signals run at much higher frequencies than Freeview from an aerial. Higher frequencies are fussier, and far more signal fades away over the length of the cable. Engineers call that fade signal loss, or attenuation. Second, a dish usually feeds a longer run back to the satellite receiver, and every extra metre of poor cable loses a little more.
Good coax cable is made to keep attenuation low and to block electromagnetic interference from things like WiFi routers, LED lights and mobile signals. That is why a proper high-grade coax matters more than it does for a short aerial connection.
Satellite cable types compared
Search online or walk into a store and you’ll meet a handful of names. Here are the types of cable you’re most likely to see, and how they compare for a dish.
RG6
RG6 is the most common coax you’ll find, and decent RG6 is fine for a dish. The catch is that quality varies hugely. Better RG6 coaxial cable has a solid copper conductor and a foil-plus-braid screen. Cheaper RG6 uses copper-clad aluminium or copper-coated steel for the core and a single thin screen, and that is where signal problems creep in. If you choose RG6 cable, choose good RG6.
RG59
RG59 is older and thinner, with more loss at these higher frequencies. It was designed for short, low-frequency runs, such as some older CCTV and video work, and it often uses a BNC connector rather than the screw-on fitting satellite needs. Avoid RG59 for a dish.
CT100 and WF100
CT100 was for years the benchmark coax in the UK: a low-loss 75-ohm coaxial cable with a solid copper core and a foil-and-copper screen. WF100 is the modern equivalent that most engineers now fit, built to the same high standard. Both are double-screened, low-loss, and suit a dish, an aerial and long cable runs alike.
Shotgun (twin) coax
Shotgun cable is two lengths of coax joined side by side in one sheath. A Sky+ or Sky Q box needs two feeds from the dish, so shotgun coaxial cable carries both in one tidy run. It is the same cable inside, just doubled up.
Why WF100 is the best satellite cable for most homes
WF100 satellite cable has become the go-to for good reason. It ticks every box that matters:
- A solid copper centre conductor, which carries the signal better than the copper-clad aluminium used in budget cable.
- A foam dielectric that keeps attenuation low over long runs.
- A double screen of foil and dense copper braid, which blocks noise far better than a single thin screen.
- A weather-resistant sheath, so an outdoor run from the dish holds up over the years.
In everyday terms, WF100 gives you a strong, steady signal with room to spare, whether the run is short or right across the house. It’s a cable you fit once and forget about, which is exactly what you want from something hidden behind the skirting board.
Connectors: the other half of the job
A cable is only as good as its fittings. Satellite and modern aerial systems use an F-connector, which screws onto the cable and holds firm. There are two common kinds:
- Compression F-connectors clamp tightly to the cable and give a reliable, weatherproof joint. These are the ones to use outdoors at the dish.
- Twist-on connectors are quick to fit but work loose and let in damp more easily, so they’re best kept for tidy indoor jobs.
Older equipment sometimes uses a BNC connector or a simple push-on aerial plug, but for satellites the F-connector is the standard. Whatever the fitting, a poorly made joint undoes the benefit of good cable, so it pays to get the connector right.
Coax cable for satellite: what to look for
If you’re buying coax cable for satellite yourself, a few checks will keep you right:
- 75-ohm impedance – the standard for TV and satellite, not the 50-ohm type used for radio and data.
- Solid copper conductor – not copper-clad aluminium or steel, which lose more signal.
- Double screening – foil shielding plus a dense braid with good coverage, for the best protection against noise.
- Low loss cable rated as low-loss, like WF100 or CT100, especially for longer runs.
- The right connectors – compression F-connectors for a reliable, weatherproof joint.
The same coaxial cable also serves as an aerial cable for a rooftop antenna. Match a quality coaxial cable with good connectors and you have an aerial or dish system that performs and keeps performing.
Common satellite cable mistakes
A few simple errors account for most of the poor pictures we’re called out to fix:
- Using thin, single-screened cable on a long run and losing too much signal.
- Fitting RG59 or cheap RG6 to a dish instead of proper low-loss coaxial cable.
- Kinking or crushing the cable, which permanently damages the layers inside.
- Poorly fitted connectors that let in damp or work loose over time.
Get the cable and the connectors right, and the signal quality holds up for years.
Getting your setup right
Choosing the best satellite cable really comes down to a good quality, double-screened 75-ohm coaxial cable, and for most homes that means WF100. Pair it with solid copper construction and proper F-connectors, and you’ve given your dish or aerial the best possible chance of a clean, steady picture.
If you’d rather leave it to someone who does this every day, The Aerial Guys can help. We’re a family-run team of local engineers, trading since 1991, and we fit satellite and aerial systems with the right cable for the job. Whether you need advice, a new satellite installation, or an existing setup put right, we’ll explain your options.
When you’re ready, get in touch and we’ll be glad to help.
