How do I extend my cable?
Every day somebody emails us to ask "How do I extend my satellite LNB/terrestrial aerial/cable TV cable?" or "where can I buy a Sky extension cable?" or "I need a Freeview TV cable extension" or I need a Virgin extension cable. Please tell me exactly what to buy". Usually, they don't bother to tell me their existing cable type, length, age or connectors. Nor do they tell me their colour preference, whether a wall socket is fitted or required, whether they prefer single or twin, whether the extension must be indoors or outdoors or whether they can easily reach the dish, aerial, cable entry point or whatever. I'm not going to get involved in a question/answer process because it's too time-consuming, so please read on.
Firstly - beware! Some so-called "satellite extension leads" sold by DIY stores are unsuitable for LNB cable extensions. They might (just) be OK for TV aerial extension but not for satellite. As a general guide, if the cable is really thin and flexible, it probably won't do.
Exception: our own "ultra-thin white cable" is suitable for short runs up to about 20m for LNB signals and 40m for TV aerial and RF signals. However, if you don't mind using thicker, stiffer cable, WF100 is better (lower signal loss).
Sky or Virgin Extension Cable looks like this:
All the information you need is on the relevant pages of our site but it seemed like a good idea to put some pointers on this separate page. However, you should click on the blue underlined links and read our technical information before purchasing anything! Sky extension cables are suitable for anything requiring 'F' plugs, including all satellite dish feeds and cable TV feeds. Click HERE to purchase.
Hybrid extension cable
Note: you must NOT run cable beneath a carpet unless it is in a solid channel that will protect it from being crushed. It only needs to be slightly oval to ruin your signal! Avoid kinks and crushing. Click HERE to purchase.
Freeview extension cable looks like this:
Click HERE to purchase.
1. Should I extend the cable?
Satellite TV signals are very weak and the high frequencies are attenuated by all cable. If the signal is too weak, you will not get a "grainy picture" as with analogue TV; you will lose the picture completely.
It is not possible to predict whether you can safely add a specific length of cable but, as a general rule, if your signal strength indication and signal quality indication are strong (e.g. at least 60% on a Sky Digibox) then it should be safe to add up to 5 metres of WF100 or TX100 cable. All you can do is try it. Simply trail the cable along the floor to test it. Don't waste time and energy drilling holes or clipping the cable until you are certain it is working OK.
Note: in all cases where you make the cable longer, you will reduce your "rain margin". This may not affect you but, if it results in picture loss during poor weather, the only solution is to shorten the cable again or install a larger dish. (An "equalised gain slope" LNB amplifier will occasionally help to compensate for cable length but don't rely on it.)
2. Should I extend or replace the whole cable?
As we say on our cable info. page, it's always better to replace the entire length of cable but it's usually OK to join it if you have no alternative. However, a poorly made joint might cause loss or degradation of some channels without affecting others, so read our instructions and do it properly.
Cable has a typical life outdoors, in sunlight and rain, of 5 years before signal loss becomes evident. For this reason, cable installed outdoors should be secured so that it is as easy as possible to replace. (Painting it with a good oil-based paint will help to protect it, as will running it inside a waterproof conduit. In contrast, running it along a rainwater gutter, where it stays damp AND exposed to ultraviolet, will shorten its life.) If your outdoor cable is more than 5 years old and unprotected, consider replacing rather than simply adding an extension. If it's more than ten years old, replace it regardless.
2. What cable should I use?
We stock only double-screened cable, which is suitable for Satellite, Terrestrial, Cable TV*, analogue and digital. If you save pennies by buying inferior cable elsewhere, you may find that it loses more signal and, worse, allows interference in or transmits interference out into adjacent cable or equipment. Please read the notes on our cable info. page and on this review page. You'll find the cheapest ready-made black cables here. The most popular cable is WF100 (which comes in 6 colours) but please do read all the notes. (We may supply TX100, which is almost identical to WF100.)
*Cable TV is normally rented - not owned by you - so you may not be permitted to touch it. Adding cable will lower the signal level so you may need a technician to adjust it.
We are also offering ultra-thin cable, which is less obtrusive than ordinary coaxial cable.
3. How should I join the cable?
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| Buy cable with 'F' plugs fitted (see links above) or fit an 'F' plug to each cable as shown here |
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| and use a Threaded "F" barrel coupler to join them. |
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| If you will be repeatedly connecting/disconnecting, fit a push-on 'F' adapter and grease it (see below) to minimise wear. |
| 4. Will a cable Joint Lose signal? The signal loss in a correctly made joint is negligible.
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| Showing how the "threaded F barrel coupler", the "push-on F adapter" and "F plug" fit together. | 
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| If you need to swap the connection between two receivers, use an LNB switch. |
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| If the joint will be outdoors, or in a damp place, use plenty of silicone grease inside the plug where it will exclude air and moisture to prevent corrosion of the copper contact areas. |
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| and self-amalgamating tape to make the joint weatherproof. |
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| An alternative for RF cables or "fly-leads", which are not connected between the dish (LNB) and satellite receiver, is the simple "TV coupler". You can fit the cable with TV plugs. |
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| However, if the connection is carrying power for an amplifier or "magic eye", you must solder the plugs as described here or buy ready-made leads. |
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| Don't forget to order clips if you need to fix your cable to a wall or skirting board. |
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| See Can I use an extender plate? |
5. What should I use to extend the twin cable
from my Sky-Plus or Sky+HD dish?
You can use single cable, as above, or twin cable. There are two types of twin cable:
WF100 twin, (black, brown or white) which is high quality, low loss cable that resists kinking fairly well. You'll need two 10 mm holes in the wall or one 14mm hole. Be sure to form the cable into a "drip loop" below the hole and weatherproof the hole to keep out rain and insects.
WF65 "shotgun", (black or white) which has fairly high losses. The total cable length should be kept to 20m maximum if this type is used, unless you increase the dish size to compensate for the signal loss. However, you can use much longer runs for aerial or RF connections since these use lower frequencies where losses are lower. This cable has the advantage of being narrow enough to fit through a single 10 mm diameter hole.
Also see our INSTALLATION KITS
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