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RF cable is a form of coaxial cable (coax), referring to the design of the cable itself. Two conductors carry the signal on Radio Frequency cables. The center conductor is typically a solid copper wire. A dielectric (insulator) material is wrapped around the center conductor, and then a shield (second conductor) is wrapped in a stranded fashion around the dielectric. Finally, a plastic or rubber outer layer is added for strength, insulation, and flexibility. Different sizes of Coax exist, as each type of coaxial cable is chosen based upon its RF characteristics. The most common type is RG-59, found in most department and electronics stores. Different qualities exist too! For the most part, cheaper cable uses less braiding on the shield layer, and thinner or more brittle material (like plastic) on the outer insulation layer.   Coax cable uses solder-on or crimp-on connectors in a variety of sizes. Typical CATV applications use an F-style connector. Different quality exists on the connectors as well. Avoid the "screw-on" type, and opt for the crimp-type connectors. A suitable coaxial cable crimper is needed to perform this without fail. What is RF? RF is a widely accepted acronym for Radio Frequency. RF refers to the communications capability of modulating a signal over common airwaves. Radio Frequencies are those that are located in the band above 20Khz (human ear can receive 20hz-20Khz), thus requiring some form of receiver (other than the human ear) to translate the signal into something usable. For a frequency to be considered RF, it is said to be at least beyond the frequency range of the human hear. |
RF Cable
