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60 Coaxial > Selecting the Right Cable

How do you select the right coaxial cable for your application?
There are a number of commonly used coaxial cable sizes in use today.Most are "RG" style cables originally designed for military applications but now extensively used in
commercial situations.The following coaxial cable selection guide is intended as a general guide to assist you in selecting the right cable for your particular application.

Cable Type Impedance Typical Application Best feature Trade Off

RG174/U 50 Ohm Transmission of data signals in applications Small diameter, flexible. Higher signal loss than larger
such as LAN/WAN or GPS diameter cable such as RG58

RG188A/U 50 Ohm Transmission of data signals in applications Small diameter, flexible. Higher signal loss than larger diameter
such as LAN/WAN or GPS in situations where high High temperature rating of cable such as RG58 and higher cost
temperature performance is needed taped TFE outer jacket than standard RG174

RG316/U 50 Ohm Transmission of data signals in applications Small diameter, flexible. Higher signal loss than larger diameter
such as LAN/WAN or GPS in situations where high High temperature rating of cable such as RG58 and higher cost
temperature performance is needed extruded FEP outer jacket than standard RG174

RG58C/U 50 Ohm Transmission of data signals in applications Lower signal loss than smaller Less flexible than smaller diameter
such as antenna feed cables or Ethernet backbones diameter cable such as RG174 cable such as RG174

RG142B/U 50 Ohm Transmission of data signals in applications Lower signal loss than smaller Less flexible than smaller diameter
such as antenna feed cables or Ethernet diameter cable such as RG174. cable such as RG174 and higher cost
backbones in situations where high temperature High temperature rating of than RG58C cable.
performance is needed extruded FEP jacket

RG59A/U 75 Ohm Transmission of a video or audio signal in Lower signal loss than smaller Higher signal loss than solid center
applications such as security systems or CATV diameter cable such as RG179. conductor RG59B/U cable
Flexibility of stranded center
conductor cable

RG59B/U 75 Ohm Transmission of a video or audio signal in Lower signal loss than smaller Less flexible than smaller diameter
applications such as security systems or CATV diameter cable such as RG179 cable such as RG179 or stranded
and RG59A/U stranded center center conductor RG59A/U
conductor cable

RG6/U 75 Ohm Transmission of a video or audio signal in Lower signal loss than smaller Less flexible than smaller diameter
applications such as security systems or CATV diameter cable such as RG179 cable such as RG179 and both
and both RG59A/U or RG59B/U RG59A/U or RG59B/U cable
cable

RG223/U 50 Ohm Transmission of data signals in applications such Lower signal loss and better Less flexible than smaller diameter
as LAN/WAN or GPS in situations where low signal loss shielding than smaller diameter cable such as RG174 and higher cost
and high shielding performance is needed cable such as RG174 or than single shielded RG58C cable
RG58C/U cables

RG213/U 50 Ohm Transmission of data signals in applications such Lower signal loss and higher Larger diameter and less flexible
as antenna feed cables in situations where low signal loss operating voltage than than RG58C/U cable
and high operating voltage performance is needed RG58C/U cable

RG179B/U 75 Ohm Transmission of a video signal in applications such Small diameter, flexible. High Higher signal loss and cost than
as security systems where high temperature temperature rating of extruded larger diameter cable such as
performance is needed FEP outer jacket RG59

RG187A/U 75 Ohm Transmission of a video signal in applications such Small diameter, flexible. High Higher signal loss and cost than
as security systems where high temperature temperature rating of TFE larger diameter cable such as
performance is needed taped outer jacket RG59

Common Coaxial Cables

RG58C/U RG59B/U RG213/U
RG174/U

50 Ohm Impedance
50 Ohm Impedance
75 Ohm Impedance
RG142B/U RG6/U 50 Ohm Impedance
RG188A/U
RG179B/U
50 Ohm Impedance
50 Ohm Impedance
75 Ohm Impedance 75 Ohm Impedance
RG59A/U
RG223/U
RG316/U
RG187A/U

50 Ohm Impedance
75 Ohm Impedance 50 Ohm Impedance 75 Ohm Impedance

2008 Master Catalog 1.0

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