G'day! You have bought a massive 4K television, installed a high-gain aerial on the roof, and subscribed to all the streaming services. Yet, when you sit down to watch the news or the cricket, the picture pixelates, stutters, or drops out completely. It is a fair dinkum frustration that plagues many Aussie households. Before you blame the broadcaster or the antenna itself, take a look at the wire connecting it all. The humble antenna cable is often the culprit behind poor reception.

Also known as coaxial cable (or coax), this lead is responsible for carrying the delicate digital signal from the roof to your lounge room. Using an old, damaged, or low-quality cable is like trying to water the garden with a hose full of holes; you simply lose too much signal along the way.

RG6 Quad Shield: The Industry Standard

If your home was built more than 15 or 20 years ago, your walls might be full of an older type of cable known as RG59. While this was fine for analogue TV, it struggles with modern digital signals. It has a thinner core and less shielding, making it susceptible to interference.

The modern standard for Australian homes is RG6 Quad Shield antenna cable. As the name suggests, this cable features four layers of shielding (foil and braid) wrapped around the central copper conductor. This heavy-duty protection is vital for blocking out "noise" from 4G and 5G mobile towers, electrical appliances, and even your neighbour's Wi-Fi. If you want a picture that doesn't glitch every time a car drives past, Quad Shield RG6 is the non-negotiable choice.

Connectors Matter

A cable is only as good as the plugs on the end. There are two main types you will encounter in Australia.

PAL (Belling-Lee) Connectors: These are the smooth, push-in plugs found on the back of most TVs. They are convenient but can sometimes be loose, leading to signal loss.

F-Type Connectors: These are the screw-on plugs used on wall plates, splitters, and Pay TV boxes. They provide a solid, threaded mechanical connection that cannot be pulled out accidentally.

Professional installers prefer F-Type compression connectors. Unlike the cheap screw-on or crimp-on ends you might find in a bargain bin, compression fittings create a watertight, 360-degree seal that locks the cable in place. When a technician visits a trusted electrical wholesaler to restock, they will almost always choose compression fittings to ensure they don't get called back to fix a loose plug.

DIY vs Professional Installation

It is important to know where you can and cannot do it yourself.

The Fly Lead: This is the loose cable that runs from your wall plate to your TV. You can absolutely buy a high-quality, pre-made antenna cable and plug it in yourself. Replacing a thin, cheap fly lead with a custom-made Quad Shield lead is often the cheapest way to fix reception issues.

Fixed Cabling: If you need to run a new cable through the roof, down a wall cavity, or install a new wall plate, this is regulated work. In Australia, fixed telecommunications and broadcasting cabling must be installed by a registered licensed cabler. They ensure the cable is routed away from power lines to prevent interference and safety hazards.

Get the Right Signal with Schnap Electric

To get the best possible picture, you need components that are built to handle the Australian digital frequency landscape. Cheap cables often have insufficient shielding or brittle jackets that crack in the sun.

Schnap Electric Products is a leading supplier for the trade industry in Australia. They stock a comprehensive range of audiovisual installation gear, including premium rolls of RG6 Quad Shield antenna cable, professional-grade compression connectors, and high-quality splitters. By providing the same professional-grade equipment you would expect to find at a major electrical wholesaler, Schnap Electric ensures your TV signal remains strong, clear, and interference-free. For a perfect picture every time, trust the AV range from Schnap Electric.