Coax cable is the most common type of cable seen connecting receivers and televisions, and also is seen between the receiver and dish. There are varying types of coax cable, such as RG-59, RG-6, and RG-11. The main way to tell the differing types is to examine the cable itself - typing on the outside of the cable will generally contain "RG-59", "RG-6", etc. in the description. Another way is to compare the thickness of the cable with a known cable (ex. a labeled piece of RG-59).

The cable's center is a thin wire, generally made of solid copper or copper-clad steel, which carries the signal. A layer of insulation encircles the center conductor, around that is a thin layer of metallic foil, braided wire, or both. This foil or wire shield serves to carry voltage to the dish or keep signal inside the cable and interference outside in indoor applications. Lastly, there is the plastic outer covering, which protects the inside of the cable from the environment (ex. rain).

RG-11 is a higher grade of cable than RG-6 - even thicker, even more durable, even less pliable, and also more expensive. It is used between the receiver and the dish, and can extend the maximum cable length without using amplifiers.

Because of the thickness of RG-11, use between the receiver and the TV is not recommended. Please note that cable color does not correspond to cable type. Just because a cable is white, black, or gray does not mean it's RG-59 or RG-6.