They have thicker dielectric insulation and are made with a different kind of shielding, allowing them to handle GHz level signals more effectively. RG-6 cables have larger conductors, so they provide better signal quality. They’re the standard input cable on TVs and feature a single pin which plugs into the RF input on a device. RF coaxial cables are used to carry radio frequency signals. In coaxial cables, Ohm refers to the impedance, which is the measure of resistance in the cable to the flow of electrical energy. There are two main types of coaxial cables – ones with an impedance of 75 Ohm (Ω) and ones with an impedance of 50 Ohm.Ĭables with 75 Ohm are mostly used for video signals, while 50 Ohm cables tend to be used for data and wireless communications. The different layers of a coaxial cable are shown in the image below:

The next layers, collectively referred to as the shield, keep electrical impulses and radio transmissions out.

The first layer, called the dielectric, provides distance between the core conductor and the outer layers, as well as some insulation.

Coaxial cable works by carrying data in the centre conductor, while the surrounding layers of shielding stop any signal loss (also called attenuation loss) and help reduce EMI.

The external layer is a plastic coating which protects the internal layers from damage.

A braided mesh made from copper then helps to shield the cable from electromagnetic interference (EMI).

Surrounding the copper wire is a dielectric plastic insulator.

A centre conductor which is usually a copper wire, which data and video travels through.

Coaxial cables are a popular choice because their shielded design allows the centre conductor to transmit data quickly while being protected from damage and interference.Ĭoaxial cables are mainly built up of these four different layers:

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