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-6 is a higher-quality cable than RG-59, being more durable, thicker (18 gauge center wire v. 20 gauge for RG-59), and less pliable. In a DISH Network installation, it is most commonly used to connect the LNBF(s) to the receiver at the "Satellite In" port, and everything else in-between.

RG-6 is commonly rated to support frequencies from 30-1800 MHz, though some RG-6 has a variably higher top end, up to 2500 MHz. Since Legacy DISH Network installs only use frequencies up to 1450 MHz, RG-6 is an ideal cable for them. DishPro technology uses frequencies up to 2150 MHz, which means that not only does the cable have to be RG-6 (or better), but the cable also has to be rated at least 2150 MHz to properly function in this type of install. The rating can generally be found typed on the outside of the cable.

For Legacy installs, DISH Network does not recommend cable lengths longer than 100' between the receiver and LNBF without using in-line amplifiers. If connecting a Legacy Twin or Quad LNBF directly to the receiver, that limit can be extended to 150'. Lastly, in DishPro installs, 200' of cable can be used before needing in-line amplifiers.

If properly installed RG-6 begins to fail, symptoms can include loss of all even transponders or loss of all transponders, from all satellite locations that cable is carrying. 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.