AV CATV Cables

Summary: ProAV CATV Cables

ProAV Coaxial Solutions for Professional Integrators

Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire low-voltage coax cables designed for commercial and industrial ProAV deployments where consistent signal performance and predictable installation outcomes matter. From camera-to-switcher links and long-run baseband video to campus-wide CATV distribution, our ProAV offering helps integrators deliver reliable results on every job without unnecessary complexity.

SmartWire is our U.S.-made brand of low-voltage cable engineered for efficient pulling, clean terminations, and dependable signal integrity. All stock SmartWire coax cables include SmartWire Glide lubrication, which reduces pulling friction by up to 70% to speed installation and help protect cable during pulls through conduit and trays.

• Application fit: SDI/baseband video, ProAV signal distribution, headend to outlet runs for CATV and Cable TV, and general-purpose digital coax cable links in commercial environments.
• Performance-focused materials: precise 75 Ω construction, high-coverage shielding, and stable dielectrics to maintain return loss and low attenuation over distance.
• Installation efficiency: SmartWire Glide lubrication on every jacket for easier, faster pulls in both new construction and retrofit work.

Options at a Glance

• Gauge: 18 AWG is standard; select constructions also available in 14 AWG for applications requiring lower attenuation.
• Plenum and non-plenum designs to meet building code requirements across different spaces.
• Shielding choices: Tinned Copper Braid/OAS, Aluminum Braid/OAS, Aluminum Braid Quad Shield, Quad Shield, and Aluminum Braid Dual Shield.
• Jacket colors: Black and White standard; custom jacket and stripe colors available to support identification standards across projects.
• Lengths: 1000 FT standard; select items also available in 500 FT.
• Compliance: RoHS compliant.
• Compatible connectors: HOL-RCA6-MCV.

Available Constructions

• 18 AWG 1 Solid Bare Copper Plenum Low-Voltage: Type RG 6/U serial digital plenum design with O/A aluminum foil and 95% tinned copper braid for robust shielding and stable return loss. Nominal OD 0.234 in; ideal for ProAV camera, router, and display interconnects where a digital coax cable must hold spec over distance.
• 18 AWG 1 Copper Covered Steel Plenum Low-Voltage: Type RG 6/U plenum CCS construction for CATV and Cable TV distribution in air-handling spaces. Available with dual or quad-shield configurations to improve ingress protection in dense RF environments.
• 18 AWG 1 Copper Covered Steel Non-Plenum Low-Voltage: Type RG 6/U non-plenum CCS for cost-effective runs in non-plenum areas, risers, or conduit. Dual or quad-shield options support reliable RF performance for headend-to-outlet and device feeds using standard coax cables.

Where These ProAV Cables Fit Best

• Corporate campuses, conference centers, and training facilities requiring dependable pro av cable runs for presentation, streaming, and routing.
• Hospitality, higher education, stadiums/arenas, and houses of worship deploying broad CATV/Cable TV and digital video distribution.
• Broadcast production spaces needing consistent 75 Ω coax links for SDI and other baseband video paths.

How Windy City Wire Adds Value to Your Project

• Purpose-built low-voltage products and solutions that align with ProAV and CATV design requirements across commercial environments.
• U.S.-made SmartWire construction and consistent materials for predictable signal integrity and repeatable installation results.
• SmartWire Glide lubrication included on every cable at no additional cost to reduce installation time and rework during pulls.
• Choice of shield packages, plenum/non-plenum ratings, and jacket colors—plus custom jacket and stripe colors to standardize identification across your sites.
• RoHS-compliant constructions to support organizational and project compliance needs.

Summary
Choosing SmartWire ProAV coax from Windy City Wire gives integrators a dependable, low-voltage platform for video and RF distribution—whether the job calls for RG 6/U plenum for occupied spaces or non-plenum for pathways and enclosures. With thoughtful options in shielding, jacket color, and run lengths, plus SmartWire Glide lubrication to simplify installation, our products and solutions help reduce labor, maintain signal quality, and keep projects on schedule. Contact our team to match the right construction to your next ProAV, CATV, or Cable TV application.

Solutions: ProAV CATV Cables

AV CATV Cables for Commercial ProAV and RF Distribution
Windy City Wire supplies AV CATV coax cables engineered for commercial and industrial installations where uptime, signal integrity, and code compliance are essential. Use these pro av cable solutions to carry RF, QAM, ATSC, DVB, and serial digital video signals across campuses, high-rises, and large venues. Options include RG 6/U plenum and non‑plenum constructions with solid bare copper for serial digital video and copper‑covered steel for CATV distribution, along with multiple shielding levels to control interference in demanding environments.

Where these coax cables fit in modern AV systems

• Campus and enterprise CATV: Distribute Cable TV channels, QAM modulators, and IPTV‑to‑RF gateways from MDF/IDF closets to conference rooms, huddle spaces, and common areas.
• Hospitality and MDU headends: Serve hotels, resorts, cruise ships, and multi‑dwelling units with reliable RF backbones for set‑top boxes and tuners.
• Stadiums, arenas, and event venues: Feed concourse displays, suites, and concession screens with robust, quad‑shield CATV trunks designed to mitigate high EMI.
• Broadcast and production: Run serial digital video (SDI) between cameras, routing switchers, recorders, and projection in studios, control rooms, and production trucks using digital coax cable with solid bare copper conductors.
• Education: Drive lecture hall, classroom, and dormitory TV distribution via MATV/SMATV headends and modulators.
• Healthcare: Support patient room televisions, nurse station monitors, and educational channels with plenum‑rated pathways.
• Government and public safety: Feed EOCs, briefing rooms, and training facilities with hardened RF distribution that meets fire and building codes.
• Retail, banking, and QSR: Deliver channel lineups and in‑store content to endpoints, or feed RF modulators for menu boards and promotional screens.
• Houses of worship: Extend camera and distribution feeds across sanctuaries, fellowship halls, and overflow rooms.

Integration scenarios and signal types

• Headend to endpoint distribution: From satellite or Cable TV inputs through splitters, amplifiers, and QAM modulators to displays and tuners.
• SDI transport: Baseband digital video for live production, IMAG, and recording workflows where controlled attenuation and shielding are critical.
• RF backbone and risers: Building‑wide trunks and floor‑to‑floor links feeding taps, splitters, and drops.
• Hybrid AV systems: Coexist with IP video, control, and DSP systems; coax cables remain the reliable medium for RF and SDI where deterministic performance is required.

How to select the right AV CATV cable

• Plenum vs. non‑plenum: Choose plenum RG 6/U for environmental air spaces to meet code; non‑plenum for standard pathways. Both deliver consistent impedance and low return loss for RF and digital video.
• Conductor type by application:
  • Solid bare copper: Best for serial digital video (e.g., HD‑SDI/3G‑SDI) and long baseband runs.
  • Copper‑covered steel (CCS): Ideal for CATV and RF distribution where skin‑effect at high frequencies maintains low loss and provides added tensile strength for long pulls.
• Shielding level: From foil + braid combinations to dual‑shield and quad‑shield to combat ingress/egress near dimmers, LED walls, two‑way radios, and cellular DAS. Tinned copper braid/OAS options support low transfer impedance for clean SDI; aluminum braid and quad‑shield excel in high‑RF environments.
• Gauge options: Available in 18 AWG and 14 AWG to align with distance, attenuation targets, and connector strategy.
• Length options: Available in 500 ft and 1000 ft lengths to match project staging and reduce waste across large deployments.
• Color choices: Black or white jackets help segment risers, zones, or identify signal types in racks and pathways.
• Connector compatibility: Works with standard RG 6 compression terminations (F, BNC, RCA) for modulators, tuners, cameras, and routing gear; simplifies field terminations and service.
• Compliance: RoHS compliant constructions support enterprise sustainability requirements and project specifications.

Performance attributes that support reliable AV
Consistent 75‑ohm impedance, low attenuation, and high‑coverage foil/braid shields maintain MER/BER in CATV networks and preserve signal quality for SDI. The result is repeatable terminations, predictable RF balancing, and stable video across headends, amplifiers, and endpoints.

Use cases by industry

• Corporate: Building‑wide Cable TV distribution for lobbies and break areas; SDI runs for town‑hall broadcast and all‑hands spaces.
• Hospitality: Guest room and public area channel delivery, IPTV gateway integration, and back‑of‑house monitoring feeds.
• Education: Campus CATV, athletics facilities, and production classes needing dependable SDI camera lines.
• Healthcare: Patient infotainment, waiting room TV, and training auditoriums with strict pathway requirements.
• Government: Council chambers, courtrooms, and command centers where secure, interference‑resistant RF distribution is needed.
• Sports and Entertainment: Concourse and suite displays, press areas, and production booths requiring quad‑shield RF trunks.
• Retail/QSR: Regionalized content distribution to many displays via modulators and splitters.
• Industrial campuses: Plant‑wide channel feeds for announcements, safety messaging, and monitoring.

Project delivery and serviceability
For large rollouts with multiple zones and headends, pairing these AV CATV cables with our SmartWire tools can help streamline circuit identification, documentation, and future service, reducing troubleshooting time across multi‑floor deployments.

Need help choosing?
Our team can assist with takeoffs, loss budgets, shielding selection, and code compliance guidance to match your RF and serial digital requirements. Contact Windy City Wire to specify the right AV CATV cable for your next project.

Frequently Asked Questions: ProAV CATV Cables

• What AWG conductors are available with this SmartWire AV CATV Cables cable? 18 AWG and 14 AWG options are available in this category.
• What other colors is this SmartWire AV CATV Cables cable available in? Standard jackets are available in Black and White. Custom jacket and stripe colors can also be made to order—contact Windy City Wire for details.
• Is this SmartWire AV CATV Cables cable made with solid or stranded copper conductors? Solid. The copper versions use a solid 18 AWG center conductor. Some RG 6/U variants in this category use an 18 AWG copper-covered steel center conductor; no stranded options are offered.
• What length is this SmartWire AV CATV Cables cable sold in? We manufacture and stock SmartWire Building Wire in 1,000 ft length as our standard length. This category is sold in 1,000 ft lengths, with select items also offered in 500 ft.
• How is your SmartWire ProAV cable sold on spools or in boxes? Our SmartWire ProAV cable is packaged in our patented RackPack carton (box), not on spools. 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
• 19 Stocking Locations Nationwide - Find a Branch near you