Coax Cable

Summary: Coax Cable

CCTV Coax Cable Solutions

Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire low-voltage CCTV Cable for professional security integrators, electrical contractors and low-voltage distributors. Our coaxial product line covers RG59 and RG6 constructions for analog and serial-digital video, with options for plenum, non-plenum (PVC), and direct-burial installations. Whether you’re standardizing a large enterprise rollout or outfitting a single facility, our products and solutions are designed to streamline installation, improve pull performance, and deliver reliable video signal integrity.

All SmartWire cables are manufactured in the United States and come standard with SmartWire Glide lubrication applied to the jacket, reducing pull friction by up to 70% to help installers work faster and with fewer re-pulls. To simplify field identification and support your organization’s standards, we offer extensive jacket and stripe color combinations, plus clearly marked 18 AWG black/white color-coding on applicable power pairs. For CCTV and surveillance applications, our coax cables and siamese combinations help you complete more of the job with fewer pulls, fewer terminations, and less labor.

• Application-focused performance: Bare copper or copper-covered steel center conductors as specified by construction, with high-coverage braids for noise rejection and stable video.
• Installation flexibility: Options for plenum spaces, general-purpose (PVC), and direct burial; siamese builds combine video and power in a single pull of security camera wire.
• SmartWire Glide lubrication: Standard on all SmartWire cables to reduce friction during cable pulling.
• Project standardization: Broad jacket/stripe color options to visually organize surveillance camera cables by system, zone, or building.
• Lengths: 1000 FT standard, with select items also offered in 500 FT to align with project needs and reduce waste.

Key options at a glance

• Available gauges: 18 AWG, 20 AWG
• Available lengths: 1000 FT, 500 FT
• Shielding options (by construction): Bare Copper Braid, Tinned Copper Braid/OAS, Aluminum Braid/OAS, Aluminum Braid Dual Shield
• 18 AWG pair color code (where applicable): Black/White

Available Constructions

1. 20 AWG 1C Solid Plenum Low-Voltage: Type RG 59/U plenum coaxial with 95% bare copper braid for clean video in air-handling spaces; a dependable choice for indoor CCTV camera runs.
2. 20 AWG 1C Solid PVC (Non‑Plenum) Low-Voltage: Type RG 59/U PVC coax cables for general-purpose indoor routes where plenum rating is not required.
3. 20 AWG Coax + 18 AWG 2C Plenum Low-Voltage: Siamese Type RG 59/U plenum with 18 AWG 2-conductor non-shielded plenum pair (black/white) for single-pull video and power in plenum environments.
4. 20 AWG Coax + 18 AWG 2C Stranded PVC (Non‑Plenum) Low-Voltage: Siamese Type RG 59/U PVC with 18-02 unshielded stranded pair for efficient video-plus-power pulls in standard indoor spaces.
5. 20 AWG Coax + 18 AWG 2C Stranded Direct‑Burial Low-Voltage: Siamese Type RG 59/U with 18-02 unshielded stranded pair for underground pathways where protected outdoor routing is required.
6. 18 AWG 1C Solid Plenum Low-Voltage: Type RG 6/U plenum bare copper center conductor for longer in-building CCTV video runs requiring a plenum rating.
7. 18 AWG 1C Solid Plenum Low-Voltage (Serial Digital): Type RG 6/U plenum bare copper, specified for serial digital video signals where consistent impedance and bandwidth are critical.
8. 18 AWG 1C CCS Plenum Low-Voltage (CATV): Type RG 6/U plenum copper-covered steel center conductor for CATV distribution and video transport in plenum spaces.
9. 18 AWG 1C Solid PVC (Non‑Plenum) Low-Voltage: Type RG 6/U PVC bare copper for general-purpose indoor surveillance routes.
10. 18 AWG 1C CCS Non‑Plenum Low-Voltage: Type RG 6/U non-plenum copper-covered steel center conductor for CATV and extended in-building feeds.
11. 18 AWG 1C Solid Non‑Plenum Low-Voltage (Serial Digital): Type RG 6/U non-plenum bare copper for serial digital video paths where plenum rating is not required.

How Windy City Wire adds value to your CCTV projects

• Purpose-built selection: From RG59/U to RG6/U, plenum to direct-burial, and siamese combinations, you can match each cable to the environment and camera type.
• Faster installs: SmartWire Glide lubrication helps reduce pull friction and speeds rough-in, especially on long home runs and conduit pulls.
• Cleaner system design: Standard jacket/stripe color options help teams identify camera zones, recorder feeds, and power circuits at a glance.
• B2B reliability: Consistent quality and US manufacturing support large-scale rollouts and repeatable performance across sites.

For CCTV and security applications, SmartWire coaxial constructions provide dependable signal performance and practical installation advantages. If you’re specifying surveillance camera cables or security camera wire for your next build, our team can help you select the right product and configure jacket/stripe colors that align with your standards.

Solutions: Coax Cable

Coax Cable for Professional CCTV Systems

Windy City Wire supplies purpose‑built coaxial solutions for commercial and industrial surveillance. Our CCTV Cable options support new deployments and upgrades alike—from legacy analog video to HD over coax and SDI formats—while meeting the installation demands of campuses, plants, warehouses, healthcare facilities, and other large sites. Designed for signal integrity, code compliance, and jobsite efficiency, these coax cables help integrators deliver reliable video coverage with predictable performance.

Cable constructions that fit the application

• RG 59/U (20 AWG solid bare copper) – A proven choice for analog CVBS and many HD‑over‑coax systems (e.g., HDTVI, HDCVI, AHD). Available in plenum for air‑handling spaces and PVC for general purpose runs.
• RG 59/U “Siamese” with 18/2 power – Combines video and power for a single pull to each camera. Offered in plenum and PVC, plus direct‑burial options for perimeter and outdoor cameras. The 18 AWG power pair uses a black/white color code for straightforward terminations.
• RG 6/U (18 AWG center conductor) – Heavier gauge for longer runs and higher bandwidth requirements. Available in plenum and non‑plenum, with bare copper for baseband video/SDI and copper‑covered steel options for CATV/MATV backbones when required.
• Serial Digital (SDI) rated constructions – Select RG 6/U builds are designed for SDI (HD‑SDI/3G‑SDI) transport in production, broadcast, and security monitoring environments that require low loss and consistent impedance.
• Shielding choices – Options include 95% bare copper braid, tinned copper braid with OAS foil, aluminum braid with OAS, and dual‑shield designs to mitigate interference in high‑noise electrical and industrial spaces.

When to choose each type

• Plenum (CMP): Use in air‑handling spaces and areas governed by strict code requirements.
• PVC (CM/CMR): For general purpose and riser applications where plenum ratings are not required.
• Siamese RG 59/U + 18/2: Ideal where cameras need separate power and video, reducing conduit fills and simplifying pulls to fixed and PTZ cameras.
• Direct‑burial Siamese: For fence lines, parking lots, and remote poles without intermediate junction boxes.
• RG 6/U: Use when runs are longer, when SDI is specified, or when headend requirements call for the lower attenuation of 18 AWG coax.

System compatibility and integrations

• Analog and HD over coax: Supports CVBS and common HD‑over‑coax formats (HDTVI, HDCVI, AHD) used with modern DVRs and hybrid recorders.
• SDI video transport: Select RG 6/U SDI builds support HD‑SDI/3G‑SDI distribution for security operations centers and video walls.
• CATV/MATV backbones: RG 6/U copper‑covered steel options are suited to RF distribution in multi‑dwelling, hospitality, and campus environments.
• Encoder, DVR/NVR, and VMS workflows: Works with encoders, splitters, modulators, and distribution amps used to ingest or re‑route camera feeds to enterprise VMS platforms.
• IP migration with EoC: Many facilities retain existing coax to transport Ethernet over Coax adapters, extending the value of installed cable while transitioning to IP cameras.

Industries and environments we serve

• Manufacturing and industrial plants: High EMI areas benefit from dual‑shield and braid/OAS constructions for cleaner signals around motors, drives, and heavy equipment.
• Logistics and warehousing: Long camera home runs and tall racking often favor RG 6/U for lower loss and fewer intermediate points.
• Healthcare, education, and corporate campuses: Plenum‑rated options support code‑compliant pathways in complex buildings and shared spaces.
• Retail, hospitality, and entertainment venues: Siamese constructions simplify deployment of fixed domes, PTZs, and specialty cameras across sales floors and back‑of‑house areas.
• Transportation, utilities, and public sector: Direct‑burial and ruggedized choices support perimeter protection, gate control, and remote assets.
• Casinos and stadiums: SDI‑capable coax supports low‑latency monitoring, incident review, and video wall distribution.

Selection details that simplify specification

• Available lengths: 1000 ft standard, with select constructions also offered in 500 ft where appropriate.
• Available coax gauges: 20 AWG (RG 59/U) and 18 AWG (RG 6/U) to balance run length, attenuation, and bandwidth needs.
• Shielding: Choose from bare copper braid, tinned copper braid/OAS, aluminum braid/OAS, or aluminum braid dual‑shield based on electromagnetic noise levels and pathway proximity to power.
• Conductor materials: Solid bare copper for camera baseband and SDI runs; copper‑covered steel alternatives for RF distribution in CATV/MATV systems.
• Power pair identification: On Siamese builds, the 18 AWG power conductors use a black/white color code for quick, accurate terminations.

Why integrators rely on these coax cables

• Signal integrity: Solid bare copper centers and high‑coverage braids maintain impedance and reduce loss across diverse camera types.
• Fewer field issues: Construction options align with environmental and code requirements, cutting down on rework.
• Flexible deployment: From surveillance camera cables to CATV trunks, one supplier covers coax cables for multiple low‑voltage scopes on the same project.

Typical use cases

1. New build surveillance with HD over coax using RG 59/U or RG 6/U, depending on run length.
2. Retrofit of legacy analog using existing pathways and Siamese security camera wire to streamline terminations.
3. Outdoor perimeter cameras utilizing direct‑burial Siamese for combined power and video along fence lines.
4. Facilities that mix CCTV with MATV/CATV distribution, standardizing on compatible RG 6/U across the campus.
5. Operations centers moving to SDI for low‑latency monitoring and distribution to video walls.

Whether you are standardizing on RG 59/U for dense camera clusters or specifying RG 6/U for longer backbone runs and SDI sources, Windy City Wire provides coaxial CCTV Cable choices that fit the performance, code, and jobsite requirements of professional surveillance deployments. Contact our team for help matching the right surveillance camera cables to your system, distance, and environment.

Frequently Asked Questions: Coax Cable

• What AWG conductors are available with these SmartWire Coax cables?
  20 AWG and 18 AWG options are available, depending on the specific RG59, RG6, or Siamese construction.
• What other colors are these SmartWire Coax cables available in?
  In Siamese constructions, the 18 AWG power pair is color‑coded Black/White. SmartWire also offers custom jacket and stripe color options to match your standards—contact Windy City Wire for details.
• Are these SmartWire Coax cables made with solid or stranded copper conductors?
  Both are available. The coax center conductor is typically solid bare copper (with select RG6 options in copper‑covered steel), while the 18 AWG Siamese power pair is commonly stranded bare copper.
• What lengths are these SmartWire Coax cables sold in?
  At Windy City Wire, we manufacture and stock SmartWire CCTV cable in a 1,000 ft standard length. Select items are also available in 500 ft lengths.
• How are your SmartWire low‑voltage CCTV cables sold—on spools or in boxes?
  Our SmartWire CCTV cable is packaged in our patented RackPack carton to maximize installation efficiency. 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
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