RG11 Coax Cable: Lower Loss, Higher Cost, Real Trade-offs
Quick answer / TL;DR: Short answer: RG11 is a 75 ohm coaxial cable with a larger centre conductor and dielectric than RG6, typically around 14 AWG against RG6's 18 AWG, which gives it noticeably lower attenuation per 100 feet at the same frequency. Choose it when a CCTV or CATV run is long enough that RG6 loss becomes the limiting factor, or when the signal budget is tight at high frequency. Do not choose it for short patch runs, tight conduit, or anywhere the connectors cannot be installed properly, because a badly terminated RG11 performs worse than a clean RG6 run.
Three coaxial families: BNC for CCTV, F-type for TV, N for RF – each with its impedance.RG11 sits one step above RG6 in the 75 ohm coax family, and the step is mostly about diameter. A larger centre conductor and a larger dielectric mean lower attenuation per metre, which buys distance on a run that RG6 cannot reach cleanly.
That benefit comes with mechanical cost. RG11 is stiffer, has a larger bend radius, needs its own connector series, and is harder to pull through a crowded conduit. Whether it is the right choice depends on the run and on what is at each end.
Where RG11 Fits in the 75 Ohm Family
All three common 75 ohm cables carry the same impedance and the same kind of signal. What differs is size, and size drives loss. The centre conductor, the dielectric diameter and the shield coverage all scale together, so a larger cable has lower resistance and less dielectric loss per unit length.
| Type | Nominal impedance | Centre conductor | Nominal OD | Relative loss at 1 GHz | Typical use |
|---|
| RG59 | 75 ohm | about 22 to 23 AWG | about 6.1 mm | highest | short analogue runs, legacy CCTV |
| RG6 | 75 ohm | about 18 AWG | about 6.9 mm | medium | satellite, CATV drop, CCTV |
| RG11 | 75 ohm | about 14 AWG | about 10.3 mm | lowest of the three | long drops, trunk runs, high-frequency feeds |
| Hardline | 75 ohm | solid aluminium or copper clad | 12 mm and above | lowest overall | CATV trunk and feeder |
The relative loss column is the whole argument. At the same frequency, RG11 loses roughly 30 to 35 percent less signal per 100 feet than RG6, and considerably less than RG59. On a 60 metre run at 1 GHz that difference is the gap between a clean picture and a marginal one.
The Signal Budget That Decides It
A coax run is a budget: source output level, minus cable loss, minus splitter loss, minus connector loss, must stay above the minimum input level of the receiver with margin for temperature and ageing. RG11 changes one term in that budget, and only one.
| Run length | RG6 status at 1 GHz | RG11 status at 1 GHz | Verdict |
|---|
| Under 20 m | comfortable | comfortable | RG6, no benefit from RG11 |
| 30 to 45 m | usually fine | comfortable | RG6 unless the budget is tight |
| 60 to 90 m | marginal to failing | workable | RG11 earns its cost |
| Over 90 m | fails without amplification | marginal | consider hardline or an amplifier |
Two mistakes are common here. The first is specifying RG11 for a short run where it adds cost and stiffness for no measurable gain. The second is assuming RG11 removes the need to calculate: a 120 metre run at high frequency fails on RG11 too, and the correct answer is amplification or a different topology rather than thicker cable.
Mechanical Consequences Nobody Mentions
RG11 is roughly 10 mm in diameter. That changes what you can do with it, and the changes are not optional.
- Bend radius: RG11 needs a much larger minimum radius, and a tight bend deforms the dielectric and changes the impedance at that point
- Conduit fill: fewer RG11 cables fit the same conduit, which often decides the design before the electrical budget does
- Connector series: RG11 uses its own connectors, and forcing an RG6 connector onto RG11 gives a poor return loss and an unreliable joint
- Support spacing: the cable is heavier, so horizontal runs need more supports to avoid sag and stress at the connector
- Pull tension: higher stiffness means higher pulling force, and the connector end needs protection during the pull
The bend radius point is the one that fails silently. A kinked RG11 still shows continuity on a tester, but the impedance discontinuity at the kink produces reflections that show up as ghosts, dropouts on specific channels, or a return loss failure that is hard to localise.
Connectors and Termination
Compression connectors are the practical choice for RG11: they are consistent, they do not need a specific crimp die for each cable batch, and the result is waterproof when the connector is the right size for the jacket. Crimp connectors work but depend more on operator technique and on matching the connector to the exact jacket diameter.
The critical check is that the connector is specified for RG11, not for RG6. A connector with the wrong internal diameter either will not slide over the dielectric or will sit loose, and both outcomes produce a reflection at the joint. After termination, verify with a pull test and, on any run that matters, with a return loss or time-domain measurement.
Real-World Applications
Long CCTV drop from a pole to a building
A 70 metre analogue or HD-over-coax run at high frequency is the classic RG11 case. The thicker cable keeps the signal above the receiver threshold without an inline amplifier, which also removes a powered device from a pole. Use compression connectors and leave a service loop at the building entry rather than at the pole.
CATV feeder in a small distribution system
Between the tap and the building distribution, RG11 reduces loss before the splitter, which is the best place to spend the budget: loss removed ahead of a splitter benefits every leg behind it. Above this size, hardline is the correct cable and RG11 stops being economical.
Satellite IF distribution
Where a multiswitch feeds several receivers over longer runs, RG11 on the trunk side keeps the IF band above the receiver's threshold. The connectors and the DC pass-through rating matter as much as the loss here, because the multiswitch may power the LNB through that cable.
Where RG11 is the wrong answer
Inside a rack, behind a wall plate, or through a tight conduit with three other cables, RG11 is a liability. The mechanical stiffness turns into strain at the connector, and the bend radius cannot be respected in the available space. Use RG6 with a clean termination and accept a small loss increase.
Standards and Verification
The electrical and mechanical requirements for these cables are published, which means a specification can be checked rather than assumed.
- MIL-C-17: the original Radio Guide designation system that defines RG type numbers and their construction
- TIA-568.4: broadband coaxial cabling, including 75 ohm drop and distribution requirements
- SCTE standards for CATV drop systems: loss, shielding effectiveness and mechanical performance
- IEC 61196 series: coaxial communication cable construction and test methods
- UL 444 and the NEC: communications cable safety and jacket ratings
- IEC 61169 series: coaxial connector interface requirements, which define return loss expectations
Verification starts with the jacket print: type, impedance, conductor gauge and shield construction should all be stated. Then measure attenuation at the highest frequency of interest over a known length, and measure return loss on the terminated assembly rather than on the bare cable. A supplier who quotes only dB per 100 feet at 1 GHz without stating the test method is giving a marketing figure, not a specification.
Related reading: Coaxial cable guide: impedance, families and construction — blogs/news/coax-cable
Related reading: RG6 cable: the default 75 ohm drop — blogs/news/rg6-cable
Related reading: Hardline coax: when trunk cable replaces RG11 — blogs/news/hardline-coax
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RG11 better than RG6?
It has lower loss per metre because of its larger conductor and dielectric, so it is better on long or high-frequency runs. On short runs it adds cost, stiffness and connector complexity with no measurable benefit.
Can I put an RG6 connector on RG11 cable?
No. The internal dimensions differ, so the connector will not seat correctly and will produce a reflection and an unreliable joint. Use a connector specified for RG11.
How far can RG11 carry a signal?
It depends on frequency and on the receiver's minimum input. As a working guide, RG11 is comfortable at 1 GHz out to roughly 60 to 90 metres, while RG6 becomes marginal in the same band from about 45 metres. Above that, amplification or a different topology is the answer.
What is the minimum bend radius for RG11?
It scales with the roughly 10 mm diameter, so it is several times larger than RG6. A tight bend deforms the dielectric and creates an impedance discontinuity that shows as reflections rather than as a loss of continuity.
Is RG11 50 or 75 ohm?
RG11 is 75 ohm, the same as RG6 and RG59, and it is used for video, CATV and satellite IF. The 50 ohm family used for lab and radio work is RG58 and similar types.
Sourcing cables for a project, a store, or a private-label line? Contact our B2B sales team for specifications, certification evidence, and volume terms – FOB and CIF options available. Request a quote or sample.
