Coaxial vs. Triaxial?
Coaxial vs. Triaxial?
Hello there! I have a question I’d love some help with. Since I’m not super familiar with networking, this might look a bit basic to those more experienced. I noticed some RF interference on my internet when streaming to YouTube, which isn’t usually an issue at home but does cause occasional drops in connection. A technician suggested my coaxial cable might be looping around the air conditioner unit before entering the house, possibly emitting a frequency that disrupted the signal. He recommended drilling a new hole so the cable would run straight instead of winding around the AC, which also reduced the length of cable needed. After he left, I tried streaming again and the drops were less frequent, though still noticeable. I’m wondering if moving the cable away from the AC helped. I’ve been looking into shielding options online, but I’m not sure how effective they are. I also read that triaxial cables offer better protection against interference due to their design, though they’re pricier. Would switching from coaxial to triaxial cables solve my problem? If so, where can I buy them? Can I connect them directly from the cable box to the modem without an adapter? What tools would I need, especially since my ISP doesn’t seem familiar with this setup? Any advice or alternative ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Avoid purchasing new cable. Maintain a distance of two feet from any AC power source—induction becomes noticeable only at that range unless significant power is used. Regarding interference, AC can influence performance to some degree, but there may be additional factors at play. Ensure the coax grounding is correctly configured. I’m unfamiliar with triaxial cable before.
It was properly grounded. The technician checked that, and I was just out there looking at it myself. This is triaxial cable: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triaxial_cable It's got more sheath, and has a larger bandwidth capability. It traditionally has been used for cable television. The coaxial cable is more than two feet from the A/C unit, but I am still having interference. Might not be that, but something somewhere is causing an issue.
You only need RG6 right now. I’m talking about the current standard. My internet actually comes through RG59. You should look at your modem signals. Check the page at 192.168.100.1 for more info. https://www.dslreports.com/faq/16085 Make sure to review your uncorrectable error count too. A high number means interference is present. Don’t forget, coax uses RF signals just like TV, Wi-Fi, cell networks, etc.—while Wi-Fi shouldn’t interfere, the other types can.
I believe my setup with RG6 isn't sufficient on its own. The interference patterns aren't steady, which means simply checking the modem signals won't reveal much—only a brief snapshot instead of a full graph or timeline. Since the issues appear sporadically every 20 to 30 seconds, they wouldn't stand out if I wasn't streaming live and relying on a stable connection. Without knowing the exact source of the interference, identifying a consistent pattern remains difficult. A technician was already dispatched to address the problem, which provided some relief but only partially resolved the situation. Now I'm exploring other options.
Unless your wiring is close to high voltage, EMI problems should be avoided. If streaming causes issues, it’s likely due to interference between 5-42 MHz—the range upstream operates in. Alternatively, a weak upstream signal might be the cause, especially if you're on the edge of acceptable performance and streaming pushes things further. Are you using Ethernet or WiFi?
I connect to the router via my computer, which is placed nearby. For testing, I once connected my PC straight to the modem instead of through the router, yet the problem persisted.