Coaxial cable is a type of copper cable. It was designed to transmit signals over the long ranges. Coaxial cable mainly used for cable TV and computer network to transmit data and signal. Especially in the 1970s and 1980s coaxial cable was popular for the TV broadcasting and computer networks, but with the development of the fiber cable, it started to lose popularity.
Coaxial cable was invented in 1800 by an Engineer and Mathematician Oliver Heaviside and patented this invention. The first intercontinental coaxial cable transmission is completed in 1940.
Parts Of Coaxial Cables
Coaxial cable consists of 4 main parts in general. But these parts may change according to the type of coaxial cable. Here are the parts of the coaxial cable.
Outside Insulationinsulates the coaxial cable from outside effects and covers the coaxial cable completely. It is made from plastic generally.Copper Meshis used to protect the cable and copper wire from the electric or magnetic effects. Copper Mesh is very important where copper wire performance like speed, bandwidth, frequency quality mainly depends on it.Insulationis used to make apart Cooper Mesh and Copper wire. It is mainly used to cut and prevent the connection between Copper mesh and Copper wire.Cıpper wireis the most important part where the electrical signal is transmitted. As its name suggest its made of copper.
Types Of Coaxial Cables
Coaxial cables can be different in type and use cases. According to their impedance, there are two types of coaxial cables which are 75 Ohm and 50 Ohm. Generally, 75 Ohm cables are used to transmit video signals where 50 Ohm cables are used to transmit data like a computer network. Higher Ohm values will transmit signals shorter ranges but the signal quality stays better. Lesser Ohm values will transmit signals to the longer ranges. Mainly there are following Coaxial cables exist which are explained in detail.
- RF Coaxial Cable
- RG-6 Coaxial Cable
- RG-11 Coaxial Cable
- RG-59 Coaxial Cable
RF Coaxial Cable
RF type coaxial cable is mainly used to carry radio frequency signals. This type of cable was used long before in order to carry radio stations to the subscribers where RF coaxial cable is input into radio or TV device.
RG-6 Coaxial Cable
RG-6 type coaxial cable has larger conductors where they can provide better signal quality. They have thicker insulation which allows handling GHz level signals more efficiently. Generally used for TV antennas for the walls and ceilings.
RG-11 Coaxial Cable
RG-11 is a cable which is thicker than most of the other type of coaxial cables which makes it difficult to work with. But this type of struct makes it able to carry the signal to the loner distances according to RG-6 and R-59.
RG-59 Coaxial Cable
RG-56 is a very common coaxial type where it can be used for domestic usage which is similar to the RG-6. Its connector is thinner than RG-6 where it makes it a good choice for short runs and low-frequency transmission.
Advantages Of Coaxial Cables
Coaxial cables are generally preferred in the 1990s because of its advantages. Here are some of them.
- Inexpensive to use
- Easy To Wire and Install in different conditions
- Easy To Expand for new buildings and infrastructures
- Provides good resistance to the Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI)
- High transfer speed like 10Mbps
- Durable for different hazardous conditions