

Coaxial Cable Selection Guide

Coaxial Cable Selection Guide Contents 1. Introduction

2. Low Loss Communication Cable

2.1. CFD Cable

2.2. HDF Cable

2.3. BT3002 Coaxial Cable

2.4. LMR Cable

3. Cable numbering

4. Cable selection

5. Some of the reputed brands of cable manufacturers

6. Conclusion

7. Annexure 1. Introduction This article talks about the following topics: Low loss communication cable

Cable numbering system

Cable selection criteria

Some of the reputed brands of cable manufacturers 2. Low Loss Communication Cable In the next section, we discuss some of the specially designed low loss coaxial cables designed, LMR, CFD and HDF, for communications systems such as wireless LAN, GSM and GPS applications. 2.1. CFD Cable CFD or Celled Foam Dielectric is a series of low loss cable, which are functionally similar to the LMR and HDF series cable. CFD cable is ideally suitable for 2.4 GHz WiFi antenna cabling outdoor installations. The physical and electrical properties are comparable with the RG58/U and RG8 cable. These 50-ohms cables exhibit good attenuation property and at the same time are rugged to be used in outdoor applications. CFD construction Properties CFD 200 CFD 400 Mechanically similar to RG58/U RG8/U JIS 8D Nom impedance 50 Ω 50 Ω Velocity of propagation 83% 85% Capacitance 80 pF/m 78 pF/m DC resistance Conductors Inner 0.0196Ω/m 0.00456Ω/m Outer 0.016Ω/m 0.00541Ω/m Attenuation MHz dB/m dB/m Attenuation 2400 0.54 0.22 Attenuation 2000 0.49> 0.19 Attenuation 1500 0.42 0.16 Attenuation 900 0.32 0.12 Attenuation 450 0.22 0.08 Attenuation 220 0.15 0.06 Attenuation 150 0.13 0.05 Attenuation 50 0.07 0.02 Attenuation 30 0.05 0.02 Outer diameter 4.95 mm 10.3 mm 2.2. HDF Cable HDF is a closed cell polyethylene dielectric low loss flexible cable, very similar in functionality as the CFD and LMR cables. It is ideally suitable for WiFi applications at 2.5 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequency bands. It uses a center conductor made of solid copper or copper clad aluminium. HDF construction details and its electrical characteristics are given in Annexure B. 2.3. BT3002 Coaxial Cable BT3002 is a 75-ohm coaxial cable. It has a solid center core (1×0.31mm) and a double braid shield with a PVC Jacket. The outer diameter is 3.55mm. BT3002 coaxial cable is commonly used for interconnection of data or telecommunication equipment with 75ohm connector like SMB RF connector, 1.0/2.3 RF connector, and 1.6/5.6 RF connector. BT construction Properties BT3002 Nom impedance 75 Ω Capacitance 66 pF/m Attenuation MHz dB/100 m 100 20.9 50 14.5 20 9.3 10 6.6 5 4.6 2 2.9> 1 2.1 2.4. LMR cable LMR cables are high performance broadband, flexible, low loss 50 Ohm coaxial communication cables designed for use in wireless applications such as: 2-way land mobile, IEEE 802.11a & 802.11b, Cellular, Wireless local loop, PCS, LMDS, Wireless Internet (WISP), MMDS, Broadband wireless data, CLEC, Telemetry and Paging. LMR cables are useful in connections such as internal component and equipment wiring, inter/intra cabinet jumper cabling, Base station and antenna jumpers, tower and pole feeder runs, in-building runs, including riser runs and air-handling plenums and rooftop installations.

Fig. LMR cable LMR cable sizes range from LMR-100 (2.54 mm) to LMR-1700-DB (31.75 mm). Because of its flexibility it can be used as small size feeder cable in place of larger corrugated feeder. They exhibit better attenuation property compared to RG cables for wireless applications. Features of LMR cable (from Times Microwave Systems): Polyethylene Foam Dielectric Closed cell

Dry nitrogen gas injected- no moisture to degrade performance

High velocity

Low loss High Performance Flexible Shielding System Multi-laminar aluminium composite tape bonded to the dielectric provides > 90dB isolation shielding (180dB cross talk)

Bonded construction ensures 100% effective shielding acts as a second moisture barrier

Outer Braid of tinned copper provides positive means for grounding and connector attachment Polyethylene Outer Jacket Heavy duty UV, sunlight and weather resistant, extended shelf life LMR cables have lower loss and better shielding than comparably sized braided cables. Polyethylene jacket, closed cell foam poly dielectric and bonded tape conductor contributes to the better weather resistance as compared to braided cables and 9913. A wide variety of connector interfaces with the LMR cable is used such as:



o N o MUHF o F

o BNC o 716DIN o LC

o TNC o SMA o HN

o UHF QDS (quick disconnect)

o Reverse polarity

o QMA 3. Cable numbering The history has it that the use of coaxial cables has been made popular by the military during the World War II. They were the ones to come out with commonly used coaxial cable such as the RG cable. The name RG stands for Radio Grade. The military brought out a handbook, named MIL-HDBK-216 (published in 1962) containing reference material for the coaxial cables. The handbook designated the cables in the form RG-"cable number" or RG-"cable number/U". For example, RG-6/U means RG-6 type of coaxial cable for 'Universal' (U) applications. These designations, since then have been made obsolete, and the Military Handbook withdrawn. However, for historical reasons (such as familiarity with the name RG and its usage over the generations), these designations continue to be used till today. In practice, the cable manufacturers list their cable products (in the form of a catalogue) with their own designations and provide cross-reference to the equivalent RG number. Part or Identifying Number (PIN): The PIN consists of the letter "M" followed by the specification number, the associated slash sheet number and the sequentially assigned dash number or "RG" number. (Reference: MIL-C-17 spec document) The military standard specification being used today is called the MIL-SPEC standard, MIL-C-17. The specification enlists all types of coaxial cable being designed and manufactured today. It designates the cable with MIL-C-17 numbers for a cable, for example, M17/75-RG214. It is to be noted that, since there is no standard applicable to RG-'number' type of cable being manufactured today, there is no guarantee that the cable will conform to the electrical and physical characteristics. It is left to the users to verify these characteristics by referring to the manufacturer's catalogue data or through test results data published by them. The RG designators are generally used to identify a compatible connector that will fit the inner conductor, dielectric and the jacket dimension and geometry of the old RG series cable. Apart from the RG designation, some of the other designations used for coaxial cable in the industry are the URM, CT, BT, RA, PSF and WF series. Other popular cable type name includes LMR, HDF, CFD, and H series. 4. Cable selection Cable selection criterion is driven by the end application from the system design perspective. Sometimes, success or failure of a system performance has a direct bearing on the cable design. In today's applications, cables are exposed to conditions such as extreme temperatures, chemicals, abrasion, and extensive flexing. These variables have a direct impact on the materials used for cable insulation and jacketing as well as the construction of the cable. Using a systematic approach will help ensure that we select the right cable for our application - an approach that includes the following: List the constraints that will affect performance, including electrical, mechanical, environmental, and application-specific factors.

Share this list with the cable manufacturers so they can select the best materials and construction; through testing and data analysis, the manufacturer should demonstrate that the cable would, in fact, perform in the specified environment.

Understand the total cost of ownership. What is the cost of a failure? Electrical performance is the first criteria in selecting a cable system. Factors that effect should be explored in detail, such as, the ones that compromise signal integrity: Electromagnetic interference (EMI) from internal and external sources;

Crosstalk, due to undesired coupling of signals between two transmission circuits;

Attenuation, which ultimately determines the maximum length of a signal cable;

Conductor resistance, which affects voltage drop over a power line. In general, while selecting a cable or designing a cable system the following six important electrical requirements should be considered: Cable Impedance

Power Handling

Frequency of Operation

Signal Attenuation

Phase/Group Delay

Noise or cross coupling Mechanical stress of a cable system happens when it is exposed to high-speed motion in restricted space, such as in hand-held devices or automation and aerospace applications. Movement like random, rolling, and torsion types of motion cause flexing; or when they rub against each other, the cable chain, or other hardware in the system, generating friction that can result in jacket abrasion. Mechanical stress also happens when a cable is manually operated, which can result in kink, pinch, or crush due to improper handling. Hence, tensile strength of the cable is essential in overcoming mechanical stress. Also, in harsh environment, a cable can come into contact with sharp surfaces that can cut or expose it to severe abrasion. Extreme acceleration and vibration can lead to mechanical stress that can compromise the signal integrity and cause failure of a cable. Environmental stress results from the physical area and climatic conditions in which the cables are exposed. Extreme temperatures and pressures (vacuum) affect cable materials, with low temperatures making them brittle and high temperatures causing them to become soft. Like extreme temperatures, extreme pressures (like in vacuum or hydrostatic pressure) can have a significant impact on cables in which the insulation or the jacket gets affected. Radiation can damage both insulation and jacket materials, depending on the type and dosage level. As environmental stress can shorten the life of a cable, these issues must be taken into account when designing a cable system. Application-specific stress results from constraints that are unique to the application. For example, aerospace applications require lightweight and small size cables to minimize mass during take-off. Network routers in high-speed computing applications require a long cable that has high bandwidth and high data rates, so cable size and attenuation are important considerations for these applications. There is also a need to check the connector compatibility, which is application specific (audio, video, high speed data etc). Cables used in public places (transportation and automation applications) should additionally take into account the safety issues such as flammability, voltage, and the use of halogens. 5. Some of the reputed brands of cable manufacturers Belden

Commscope/Andrew

Gore

Canare

Gepco

Times Microwave Systems

Meggit 6. Conclusion To summarize the contents of this cable discussion; we have covered different aspects of RF and microwave coaxial cable, from audio-video to RF and to speciality cables used in submarine and aerospace application. In conclusion, we would like to note that with the advent of new methods of technology the material and construction process has improved. Cable industry is a well spread-out and established one and serves a vital role in the telecommunication industry. Research community and industry together, have evolved newer transmission line concepts, gearing the cable industry to meet future challenges. Certain aspects of a cable; like cable testing and assembly has been covered in a separate article, which can be found at www.rfcables.org. 7. Annexure Annexure A The table* below shows a comparison of electrical and physical properties of different types of cables and referred to by their RG and MIL-W-17 type names. Type (/U) MIL-W-17 Z 0 (Ω) Dielectric

Type Capacitance

(pF/ft) O.D.

(in.) dB/100 ft

@400 MHz Vmax

(rms) Shield RG-4 50.0 PE 30.8 0.226 11.7 1,900 Braid RG-5 52.5 PE 28.5 0.332 7.0 3,000 Braid RG-5A/B 50.0 PE 30.8 0.328 6.5 3,000 Braid RG-6 /2-RG6 76.0 PE 20.0 0.332 7.4 2,700 Braid RG-6A /2-RG6 75.0 PE 20.6 0.332 6.5 2,700 Braid RG-8 52.0 PE 29.6 0.405 6.0 4,000 Braid RG-8A 52.0 PE 29.6 0.405 6.0 5,000 Braid RG-9 51.0 PE 30.2 0.420 5.9 4,000 Braid RG-9A 51.0 PE 30.2 0.420 6.1 4,000 Braid RG-9B 50.0 PE 30.8 0.420 6.1 5,000 Braid RG-10 52.0 PE 29.6 0.463 6.0 4,000 Braid RG-10A 52.0 PE 29.6 0.463 6.0 5,000 Braid RG-11 /6-RG11 75.0 PE 20.6 0.405 5.7 4,000 Braid RG-11A /6-RG11 75.0 PE 20.6 0.405 5.2 5,000 Braid RG-12 /6-RG12 75.0 PE 20.6 0.463 5.7 4,000 Braid RG-12A /6-RG12 75.0 PE 20.6 0.463 5.2 5,000 Braid RG-17A 52.0 PE 29.6 0.870 2.8 11,000 Braid RG-22 /15-RG22 95.0 PE 16.3 0.405 10.5 1,000 Braid RG-22A/B /15-RG22 95.0 PE 16.3 0.420 10.5 1,000 Braid RG-23/A /16-RG23 125.0 PE 12.0 0.650 5.2 3,000 Braid RG-24/A /16-RG24 125.0 PE 12.0 0.708 5.2 3,000 Braid RG-34 /24-RG34 71.0 PE 21.7 0.625 5.3 5,200 Braid RG-34A /24-RG34 75.0 PE 20.6 0.630 5.3 6,500 Braid RG-35 /64-RG35 71.0 PE 21.7 0.928 2.8 10,000 Braid RG-35A/B /64-RG35 75.0 PE 20.6 0.928 2.8 10,000 Braid RG-55B 53.5 PE 28.8 0.200 11.7 1,900 Braid RG-58 /28-RG58 53.5 PE 28.8 0.195 11.7 1,900 Braid RG-58A /28-RG58 52.0 PE 29.6 0.195 13.2 1,900 Braid RG-58B 53.5 PE 28.8 0.195 14.0 1,900 Braid RG-58C /28-RG58 50.0 PE 30.8 0.195 14.0 1,900 Braid RG-59/A /29-RG59 73.0 PE 21.1 0.242 10.5 2,300 Braid RG-59B /29-RG59 75.0 PE 20.6 0.242 9.0 2,300 Braid RG-62/A/B /30-RG62 93.0 ASP 13.5 0.242 8.0 750 Braid RG-63/A/B /31-RG63 125.0 ASP 10.0 0.405 5.5 1,000 Braid RG-65/A /34-RG65 950.0 ASP 44.0 0.405 16 @5MHz 1,000 Braid RG-71/A/B /90-RG71 93.0 ASP 13.5 0.245 8.0 750 Braid RG-79/A/B /31-RG79 125.0 ASP 10.0 0.436 5.5 1,000 Braid RG-83 35.0 PE 44.0 0.405 9.0 2,000 Braid RG-88 48.0 50.0 0.515 0.7 @1MHz 10,000 Braid RG-108/A /45-RG108 78.0 PE 19.7 0.235 2.8 @10MHz 1,000 Braid RG-111/A /15-RG111 95.0 PE 16.3 0.478 10.5 1,000 Braid RG-114/A /47-RG114 185.0 ASP 6.5 0.405 8.5 1,000 Braid RG-119 /52-RG119 50.0 ST 29.4 0.465 3.8 6,000 Braid RG-120 /52-RG120 50.0 ST 29.4 0.523 3.8 6,000 Braid RG-122 /54-RG122 50.0 PE 30.8 0.160 18.0 1,900 Braid RG-130 /56-RG130 95.0 PE 17.0 0.625 8.8 3,000 Braid RG-131 /56-RG131 95.0 PE 17.0 0.683 8.8 3,000 Braid RG-133/A /100-RG133 95.0 PE 16.3 0.405 5.7 4,000 Braid RG-141/A 50.0 ST 29.4 0.190 9.0 1,900 Braid RG-142/A/B /60-RG142 50.0 ST 29.4 0.195 9.0 1,900 Braid RG-144 /62-RG144 75.0 ST 19.5 0.410 4.5 5,000 Braid RG-164 /64-RG164 75.0 PE 20.6 0.870 2.8 10,000 Braid RG-165 /65-RG165 50.0 ST 29.4 0.410 5.0 5,000 Braid RG-166 /65-RG166 50.0 ST 29.4 0.460 5.0 5,000 Braid RG-174 50.0 30.5 0.110 14.7 Braid RG-177 /67-RG177 50.0 PE 30.8 0.895 2.8 11,000 Braid RG-178/A/B /93-RG178 50.0 ST 29.4 0.072 29.0 1,000 Braid RG-179 /94-RG179 70.0 ST 20.9 0.100 21.0 1,200 Braid RG-179A/B /94-RG179 75.0 ST 19.5 0.100 21.0 1,200 Braid RG-180 /95-RG180 93.0 ST 15.4 0.140 17.0 1,500 Braid RG-180A/B /95-RG180 95.0 ST 15.4 0.140 17.0 1,500 Braid RG-210 /97-RG210 93.0 ASP 13.5 0.242 8.0 750 Braid RG-211/A /72-RG211 50.0 ST 29.4 0.730 2.3 7,000 Braid RG-212 /73-RG212 50.0 PE 29.4 0.332 6.5 3,000 Braid RG-213 /74-RG213 50.0 PE 30.8 0.405 5.5 5,000 Braid RG-214 /75-RG214 50.0 PE 30.8 0.425 5.5 5,000 Dbl Braid RG-215 /74-RG215 50.0 PE 30.8 0.463 5.5 5,000 Braid RG-216 /77-RG216 75.0 PE 20.6 0.425 5.2 5,000 Braid RG-217 /78-RG217 50.0 PE 30.8 0.545 4.3 7,000 Braid RG-218 /79-RG218 50.0 PE 30.8 0.870 2.5 11,000 Braid RG-219 /79-RG219 50.0 PE 30.8 0.928 2.5 11,000 Braid RG-223 /84-RG223 50.0 PE 19.8 0.211 8.8 1,900 Dbl Braid RG-302 /110-RG302 75.0 ST 19.5 0.201 8.0 2,300 Braid RG-303 /111-RG303 50.0 ST 29.4 0.170 9.0 1,900 Braid RG-304 /112-RG304 50.0 ST 29.4 0.280 6.0 3,000 Braid RG-307/A /116-RG307 75.0 80 16.9 0.270 7.5 1,000 Braid RG-316 /113-RG316 50.0 ST 29.4 0.102 20.0 1,200 Braid RG-391 /126-RG391 72.0 23.0 0.405 15.0 5,000 Braid RG-392 /126-RG392 72.0 23.0 0.475 15.0 5,000 Braid RG-393 /127-RG393 50.0 ST 29.4 0.390 5.0 5,000 Braid RG-400 /128-RG400 50.0 ST 29.4 0.195 9.6 1,900 Braid RG-401 /129-RG401 50.0 ST 29.4 0.250 4.6 3,000 Cu. S-R RG-402 /130-RG402 50.0 ST 29.4 0.141 7.2 2,500 Cu. S-R RG-403 /131-RG403 50.0 ST 29.4 0.116 29.0 2,500 Braid RG-405 /133-RG405 50.0 ST 29.4 0.086 13.0 1,500 Cu. S-R 9914 (Belden) 50.0 26.0 0.405 10.0 ------ Dielectric Type Time Delay

(ns/ft) Propagation Velocity

(% of c) Solid Polyethylene (PE) 1.54 65.9 Foam Polyethylene (FE) 1.27 80.0 Foam Polystyrene (FS) 1.12 91.0 Air Space Polyethylene (ASP) 1.15-1.21 84-88 Solid Teflon (ST) 1.46 69.4 Air Space Teflon (AST) 1.13-1.20 85-90 * Reference material collected from RF Café website Annexure B Source: www.mmtmachrone.com Key Words : Low loss communication cable , CFD cable , HDF cable , BT3002 co-axial cable , LMR cable , cable numbering , cable selection No comments for this page. Feel free to be the first

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