PLASTIC COATED COAX CABLE SCREEN

[markactive]

I am fitting an extra tv point and noticed that the copper foil on my coax cable is plastic coated giving no electrical continuity between the cable screen and the aerial fittings.

Has anybody any ideas ?

[kellys_eye]

Strip off the 'foil'-type copper and use the braid as the earth.

[markactive]

Thanks for the input. I do think to myself in this situation what use is the foil screen if you cant make a continuous electrical contact, is it just a piece of marketing to get added value and consequently more money ?
If it is there for a reason, i.e. screening out external interference, it will not do this at its weakest point, the place it is stripped back and not utilized in the continuous external electrical circuit.

[keithjeb]

Wires pick up interference over long runs, with RF cables in particular the problem isn't the amount they pick up, it's what they give out. If you used bare wire it'd work like an antenna.

[markactive]

Thanks for the info. Are you actually saying that the reason the foil is plastic coated is so that it does not interfere with the central conductor ? If that is the case is there any need for this 2nd screen ?
Many thanks.