Mercury 100U Foamed PE Coaxial Cable CCA Braid Black - 100m

The Mercury 100U is a 75 Ohm RG59 coaxial cable built around a 1mm solid oxygen-free copper (OFC) conductor, a 4.6mm foamed polyethylene dielectric, a copper foil screen and a copper-clad aluminium (CCA) braid. The cable measures 6.6mm in outer diameter and is supplied on a 100m reel with cut markers printed on the jacket at regular intervals to assist with measuring runs during installation.

Designed for satellite dish installations where dual or quad LNBs require twin cable runs from the dish to the receiver, and for CCTV systems where coaxial connections are preferred over IP or wireless links. The 75 Ohm impedance matches standard satellite receiver inputs, F-connectors and BNC connectors used in analogue and HD-CVI CCTV cameras. The foamed PE dielectric reduces signal attenuation compared to solid polyethylene, with attenuation measured at 6.6dB per 100m at 100MHz and 21.6dB per 100m at 1000MHz.

The CCA braid (64 strands of 0.12mm copper-clad aluminium) provides the outer shield layer, sitting over a copper foil screen that wraps the dielectric. This dual-layer screening reduces electromagnetic interference from nearby power cables and RF sources. The black PVC jacket is rated for indoor and sheltered outdoor use where the cable is not exposed to direct UV or standing water. The 100m reel length suits typical domestic satellite dish runs of 20-40m with enough spare cable for routing through loft spaces and down walls.

What's the difference between OFC conductor and CCA braid?

The centre conductor is solid oxygen-free copper (OFC), which carries the signal with minimal resistance. The outer braid is copper-clad aluminium (CCA), which provides shielding at lower cost and weight than a full copper braid while still meeting the performance requirements for satellite and CCTV installations at the distances typical in domestic settings.

Can this cable be used outdoors?

The black PVC jacket is suitable for sheltered outdoor use where the cable is clipped to walls under eaves or run through conduit. It is not rated for burial or direct exposure to UV and standing water. For unsheltered outdoor runs, consider a cable with a UV-resistant jacket or install this cable inside conduit.

What connectors does this cable take?

The 6.6mm outer diameter suits standard compression F-connectors for satellite installations and crimp or compression BNC connectors for CCTV. The 1mm solid conductor and 4.6mm dielectric are standard RG59 dimensions, so most RG59-rated connectors will fit without modification.

How much signal loss occurs over a typical satellite dish run?

A 30m run from dish to receiver at satellite frequencies (950-2150MHz) will see approximately 6-10dB attenuation depending on the exact frequency. This is well within acceptable limits for domestic satellite reception, where LNB output is typically 90-100dBμV and receiver sensitivity is around 50-60dBμV.