Coaxial Cable Construction and Signal Transmission Characteristics

For RF installations requiring coaxial cables, it is usually preferable that you maintain the attenuation loss as low as possible. Cable runs for RF installations should be maintained as short as possible to ensure minimal signal loss.

Coaxial Cable Construction

Typically, attenuation loss is a factor of cable length and frequency of operation. The longer the cable run, the higher the loss and the higher the frequency of operation the higher the attenuation. It is therefore advisable to use the 400 and 600 series cable for runs greater than 100ft.

Coaxial Cable Roll

Below is a table showing typical attenuation loss for some common types of coaxial cables:

 

200 Series Coaxial Cable Typical Attenuation in dB
Frequency (Application)	10 ft	20 ft	50 ft
Low-Band Cellular (600MHz, Band 71)	0.9	1.8	4.5
900MHz ISM (LoRaWAN, Helium, etc.)	1.2	2.2	5.5
Mid-Band Cellular (1900Mhz PCS)	1.7	3.3	8.1
2.4GHz (WiFi 4)	1.9	3.7	9.2
3.5Ghz (C-Band, CBRS)	2.3	4.5	11.2
5GHz (Wi-Fi 5/6)	2.8	5.5	13.5
6Ghz (Wi-Fi 6E)	3.1	6.1	14.9

 

 

 

400 Series Coaxial Cable Typical Attenuation in dB
Frequency (Application)	20 ft	50 ft	100 ft
Low-Band Cellular (600MHz, Band 71)	0.7	1.8	3.5
900MHz ISM (LoRaWAN, Helium, etc.)	0.9	2.2	4.4
Mid-Band Cellular (1900Mhz PCS)	1.4	3.3	6.5
2.4GHz (WiFi 4)	1.6	3.7	7.4
3.5Ghz (C-Band, CBRS)	1.9	4.6	9.1
5GHz (Wi-Fi 5/6)	2.3	5.6	11.1
6Ghz (Wi-Fi 6E)	2.6	6.2	12.3

  

 

 

600 Series Coaxial Cable Typical Attenuation in dB
Frequency (Application)	100 ft	150 ft	200 ft
Low-Band Cellular (600MHz, Band 71)	2.3	3.4	4.5
900MHz ISM (LoRaWAN, Helium, etc.)	2.8	4.2	5.6
Mid-Band Cellular (1900Mhz PCS)	4.3	6.3	8.4
2.4GHz (WiFi 4)	4.9	7.2	9.6
3.5Ghz (C-Band, CBRS)	6.0	9.0	12.0
5GHz (Wi-Fi 5/6)	7.4	11.1	14.8
6Ghz (Wi-Fi 6E)	8.3	12.4	16.5

 

Consider the following when choosing a Low-Loss/ Ultra Low-Loss Cable:

• Characteristic impedance (Should match with impedance of other network components).

• Frequency of application as it determines the attenuation of your signal, the higher the frequency the higher the attenuation.

• Operational power handling capabilities

• Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR)

• Environmental conditions (Determines the level of cable flexibility, shielding & cladding material etc.)

• Noise handling (The symmetry of signal and returning current carrying conductors cancels, to first order, all effects of external electromagnetic fields. Any residual susceptibility in a coaxial cable results from imperfections in its shield)

• Phase Delay (Time delay for each frequency component)
  

 

RfWeL stocks a wide variety of low loss and ultra low loss cables for your diverse needs. Contact our Wireless Communication Specialists here to help with your cable/ pigtail selection.

 

View 600-series low-loss cables: 

View 400-series low-loss cables: 

View device connectors and adapters: 

View device pigtails: 

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