Staff Answer
Aug 17, 2026 - 08:31 AM
Every coax cable loses some signal (attenuates) along the way. How much you lose depends on the type of cable and how long the run is.
200-type coax (like HiBoost 200) loses enough signal that we recommend keeping runs to 30 feet or less. For a 40- or 50-foot run, step up to 400-type coax, such as Top Signal TS-400. 400 coax only has about 35–40% of the loss of 200 coax. On a 50-foot run, that's nearly 3 dB of signal saved. Since every 3 dB is a doubling of power, that difference is significant.
There are some tradeoffs: 400 coax is thicker, more rigid, and harder to route through tight spaces, and it costs more per foot.
The same rule applies either way: Keep your cable run as short as the install allows. The shortest practical path is always the best-performing one.
