Coax Cables

A coaxial cable is generally used for cable television connections from the wall connection to the antenna connection of a television device, recorder or decoder. The special thing about this cable is that both the image and sound are transmitted via the same cable.

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Due to the special structure of the coaxial cable (namely coaxial), the coaxial cable is a cable with very little radiation loss. In addition, high-frequency signals from outside cannot penetrate the cable and thus disrupt the signal. This makes coaxial cables very stable cables in use.

What is a coaxial cable?

A coaxial cable is a type of cable that consists of a central conductor surrounded by an insulating layer, which is then covered by a conductive shield (the outer conductor) and a protective outer sheath. The diagram below illustrates the structure of a typical cable. The electrical signal moves along the inner conductor.

How does a Coax cable work?

Coaxial cables are often chosen for their shielded design, which allows the core conductor to transmit data quickly while protecting it from damage and interference.

Coaxial cables mainly consist of four different layers:

1. A core conductor, usually a copper wire, through which data and video are transported.
2. There is a dielectric plastic insulator surrounding the copper wire.
3. A braided copper layer protects the cable against electromagnetic interference (EMI).
4. The outer layer is a plastic coating that protects the inner layers from damage.

Coaxial cables transport data via the core conductor, while the surrounding shielding layers prevent signal loss (also called attenuation loss) and help reduce EMI.

What is the transmission speed of coaxial cables?

The transmission speed of coaxial cables is 10 Mbps (megabits per second), which provides them with 80 times transmission capacity compared to twisted cables.

Advantages and disadvantages of coaxial cables

Advantages of coaxial cables:

• Economically beneficial.
• Easy to wire and install.
• Easily expandable.
• Excellent resistance to electromagnetic interference (EMI).
• Capacity up to 10 Mbps.
• Durable.

An additional advantage of coaxial cables is that the electromagnetic field that carries the signal is only present in the space between the inner and outer conductors. This implies that coaxial cables can be installed next to metal objects without losing power, unlike other types of transmission lines.

Disadvantages of coaxial cables: The biggest disadvantage of using coaxial cables is that a single cable failure can bring down an entire network.

What is better: Coaxial cable or fiber optic cable?

Both cable types can be used to transmit video, audio and other data, each with its own advantages and disadvantages when setting up your network.

The most suitable choice depends on the distance and the amount of data you want to transfer. Fiber optic cables can transport signals over miles without an amplifier. Coaxial cables have more signal loss, so they are better for short distances. Fiber optic can process considerably more information and is more expensive. Although fiber optic is less common in residential settings than coax, its rollout continues to grow worldwide.

Coaxial cables are easy to install and very robust. Fiber optic offers higher and faster data transfers, ideal for professional networks or large residential complexes such as business parks, universities or apartment buildings. For home installations or medium capacity networks, most people choose coaxial cables.

In terms of costs, fiber optic is initially more expensive, but offers a long service life. After installation, the costs for dedicated internet via fiber optic remain higher than for shared cable internet connections. It's crucial to consider these options before making a decision that will affect your network service in the long term.

Coaxial cable for television or computer

For use with the television, a cable with an impedance of 75 Ohm is required. However, when used for computer networks, the cable must have an impedance of 50 Ohm. At networkkabel.eu we sell both types of coaxial cables.

Types of coaxial cables

There are primarily two types of coaxial cables: cables with an impedance of 75 Ohm (Ω) and those with an impedance of 50 Ohm.

Cables with an impedance of 75 Ohm are usually used for video signals, while 50 Ohm cables are often used for data transfer and wireless communication. Within the world of coaxial cables, Ohm refers to impedance, which is the resistance in the cable to the flow of electrical energy.

What is an RF coaxial cable?

RF coaxial cables are used to transport radio frequency signals. This type of cable is the standard for TV connections and has a single pin that plugs into the RF input of a device.

What is an RG-6 cable?

RG-6 cables have larger conductors, resulting in superior signal quality. They have thicker dielectric insulation and a different type of shielding, allowing them to better handle signals at the GHz level. Due to the thin structure of this cable, installation in walls or ceilings is relatively easy.

What is an RG-59 cable?

RG-59 cables are frequently used in households and resemble RG-6, but have an even thinner core conductor. This makes them an excellent choice for short distances and low frequency transmissions.

What is an RG-11 cable?

RG-11 cables are easily identified by their thicker jacket compared to other coaxial cables, which makes installation more difficult. However, they offer a lower level of attenuation than RG-6 or RG-59, implying that they can transport data over greater distances.