Common Coaxial Cable Specifications

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HTML'd and Maintained by Mike Morris WA6ILQ

This web page was developed in December 2004 from one originally by Robert Casey WA2ISE. Mike Morris WA6ILQ found Robert's table on a now-defunct web site and happened to save a local copy. Except for the editor's notes the data on this web page above the dividing line is 100% Robert's work, and presented with his permission. His layout was reformatted to match repeater-builder's style.
Questions about the information in his table should go to WA2ISE at the email address listed at http://www.qrz.com/.

Note that some reference manuals refer to "RG-" numbers, other to "RG" numbers (i.e. without the dash/hyphen). For consistency on this page we have dropped the hyphen.

Common Coaxial Cables

Common
Name Impedance
in Ohms Loss in dB per 100 feet Velocity Max voltage
in RMS KV

at 50MHz at 1GHz

RG6U 75 1.5 11 dB .78 (foam) 0.6kv

RG8U 52 1.2 9 .66 (poly) 5kv

RG8U 50 1.1 .78 (foam) 0.6

RG8X 50 13.5 .84 2.5

RG9U,
RG9AU,
RG9BU
See Note 51 1.6 .66 5

RG11U 75 1.3 9 .66 (poly) 5

RG11U 75 1.0 .78 (foam) 0.6

22B/U 95 2.1 66 (poly) ?

RG55B/U 53.5 16.5 1.9kv

RG58U 53 3.1 20 .66 (poly) 1.9kv

RG58U 50 3.2 .78 (foam) 0.2kv

RG59U 73 2.4 11.5 .66 (poly) 2.3

RG59U 75 2.1 .78 (foam) 0.3kv

RG62U 93 1.9 8.5 .84 (air & poly) 0.7kv

RG71U 93 1.9 8.5 .84 (air & poly) 0.7

RG108A/U 78 26.2 1.0

RG122U 50 4.5 29.2 .66 (poly) 1.9

RG140U 75 13 2.3

RG141U 50 2.1 13 .69 (Teflon) 1.9

RG142U 50 2.7 13 .69 (Teflon) 1.9

RG174U 50 6.6 31 .66 (poly) 1.5

RG178U 50 10.5 45 .69 (Teflon) 1.0

RG179U 75 8.5 25 .69 (Teflon) 1.2

RG180U 95 4.6 16.5 .69 (Teflon) 1.5

RG187U 75 8.5 25 .69 (Teflon) 1.2

RG188U 50 9.6 30 .69 (Teflon) 1.2

RG196U 50 10.5 45 .69 (Teflon) 1.2

RG210U 93 3.1 0.75

RG213U 50 1.6 9 .66 (poly) 5

RG214U
See Note 50 1.6 9 .66 (poly) 5

RG217U 50 5.8 .66 (poly) 7

RG218U 50 3.8 .66 (poly) 11Kv

RG219U 50 3.8 11

RG223U 50 3.1 16.5 .66 1.9

RG225U 50 7.5 5

RG303U 50 2.1 13 .69 (Teflon) 1.9

RG302U 75 13 2.3

RG316U 50 9.4 30 .69 (Teflon) 1.2

RG393U 50 7.5 5

RG400U 50 13 .69 (Teflon) 1.9

RG401U 50 7.5 (semi-rigid) 3

RG402U 50 13 (semi-rigid) 2.5

RG405U 50 22 (semi-rigid) 2

8218 75 20 0.6

8281 75 9.2 2.9

9913 50 4.5 0.6

9914 50 6 0.6

Editors notes:
RG-9 is double shielded: the inner copper shield is silver plated, the outer copper shield is unplated. RG-9A had both copper shields silver plated. RG9B cable has two silver-plated copper shields and a silver-plated stranded copper center conductor. Both RG9A and RG9B were used in duplexer harnesses.
RG214 is the current name for RG9B however with a modern non-contaminating jacket.

If you don't see what you are looking for, then look in the table further down this page.

Common Coaxial Cables
Common Name	Impedance in Ohms	Loss in dB per 100 feet	Velocity	Max voltage in RMS KV
at 50MHz	at 1GHz
RG6U	75	1.5	11 dB	.78 (foam)	0.6kv
RG8U	52	1.2	9	.66 (poly)	5kv
RG8U	50	1.1		.78 (foam)	0.6
RG8X	50		13.5	.84	2.5
RG9U, RG9AU, RG9BU See Note	51	1.6		.66	5
RG11U	75	1.3	9	.66 (poly)	5
RG11U	75	1.0		.78 (foam)	0.6
22B/U	95		2.1	66 (poly)	?
RG55B/U	53.5		16.5		1.9kv
RG58U	53	3.1	20	.66 (poly)	1.9kv
RG58U	50	3.2		.78 (foam)	0.2kv
RG59U	73	2.4	11.5	.66 (poly)	2.3
RG59U	75	2.1		.78 (foam)	0.3kv
RG62U	93	1.9	8.5	.84 (air & poly)	0.7kv
RG71U	93	1.9	8.5	.84 (air & poly)	0.7
RG108A/U	78		26.2		1.0
RG122U	50	4.5	29.2	.66 (poly)	1.9
RG140U	75		13		2.3
RG141U	50	2.1	13	.69 (Teflon)	1.9
RG142U	50	2.7	13	.69 (Teflon)	1.9
RG174U	50	6.6	31	.66 (poly)	1.5
RG178U	50	10.5	45	.69 (Teflon)	1.0
RG179U	75	8.5	25	.69 (Teflon)	1.2
RG180U	95	4.6	16.5	.69 (Teflon)	1.5
RG187U	75	8.5	25	.69 (Teflon)	1.2
RG188U	50	9.6	30	.69 (Teflon)	1.2
RG196U	50	10.5	45	.69 (Teflon)	1.2
RG210U	93		3.1		0.75
RG213U	50	1.6	9	.66 (poly)	5
RG214U See Note	50	1.6	9	.66 (poly)	5
RG217U	50		5.8	.66 (poly)	7
RG218U	50		3.8	.66 (poly)	11Kv
RG219U	50		3.8		11
RG223U	50	3.1	16.5	.66	1.9
RG225U	50		7.5		5
RG303U	50	2.1	13	.69 (Teflon)	1.9
RG302U	75		13		2.3
RG316U	50	9.4	30	.69 (Teflon)	1.2
RG393U	50		7.5		5
RG400U	50		13	.69 (Teflon)	1.9
RG401U	50		7.5	(semi-rigid)	3
RG402U	50		13	(semi-rigid)	2.5
RG405U	50	22		(semi-rigid)	2
8218	75		20		0.6
8281	75		9.2		2.9
9913	50		4.5		0.6
9914	50		6		0.6

Common
Name Impedance
in Ohms Loss in dB
per 100 feet Velocity Max voltage
in RMS KV

at 50MHz at 1GHz

Thicknet
(old ethernet) 50 1.2 .78 (foam) 0.6

"Twin Lead" 300 0.8 and worse
when wet! .80 (poly) ?

Editors note: One manufacturer of Thicknet is (was?) Belden under the number of 9913. The original 9913 is not outdoor rated.

Common Name	Impedance in Ohms	Loss in dB per 100 feet	Max voltage in RMS KV
at 50MHz	at 1GHz
Thicknet (old ethernet)	50	1.2	.78 (foam)	0.6
"Twin Lead"	300	0.8 and worse when wet!	.80 (poly)	?

The attenuation curves generally follow a straight line when drawn on log-log graph paper. The slope is such that a coax with 2 dB at 50 MHz will be 0.8 at 10 MHz. Most coaxes have about the same slope. What causes this attenuation is mostly the "skin effect" on the center conductor. So, one need only look at the same freq when comparing attenuations when selecting which coax you're planning to use from under the shack table (not strictly true, but close enough for "goverment" work! :-) ). Voltage ratings: note that foam dielectric cannot take as much voltage as solid dielectric.

73 de WA2ISE

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The information below was collected by WA6ILQ:
See the note at the bottom regarding Heliax velocity.
Cables are 50 ohms unless noted otherwise.

Coax Style dB Loss per 100 feet
Frequency in MHz Velocity O.D. Shield Notes

150 450 900

Andrews FSJ1-50 2.25 4 6.18 n/a 100% solid copper jacket 1/4 inch Superflex

Andrews FSJ4-50B 1.275 2.4 3.37 n/a 100% solid copper jacket 1/2 inch Superflex

Andrews LDF2-50 1.275 2.3 3.31 .88 n/a 100% solid copper jacket 3/8 inch Heliax

Andrews LDF4-50A 0.83 1.5 2.2 .88 n/a 100% solid copper jacket 1/2 inch Heliax

Andrews LDF5-50A 0.455 0.83 1.23 .88 n/a 100% solid copper jacket 7/8 inch Heliax

Andrews LDF6-50 0.34 0.615 0.91 .88 n/a 100% solid copper jacket 1-1/4 inch Heliax

Andrews LDF7-50 0.25 0.46 0.72 .88 1.98 100% solid copper jacket 1-5/8 inch Heliax

Times Microwave LMR-200 4 7 10 0.195 100% None of the LMR cables are recommended for duplex use due to the dissimilar metals issue
(copper braid over aluminum foil shield)

Times Microwave LMR-400 1.5 2.7 3.9 .85 0.425 100% See note above

Times Microwave LMR-600 1 1.7 2.5 .85 0.59 100% See note above

Times Microwave LMR-900 0.7 1.2 1.7 0.875 100% See note above

Times Microwave LMR-1200 0.5 0.9 11.3 1.25 100% See note above

Belden 8214 (RG8/U type) 2.25 4.5 6.7 0.403 97% n/a

Belden 8216 (RG174/U type) 10.5 20.5 31 0.101 90% n/a

Belden 8240 (RG58/U type) 5.65 10.7 16 0.193 95% n/a

Belden 8254 (MIL-C-17G, RG62) 3.25 4.1 8.2 0.242 95% This is 93 Ohm cable that today is used for antenna matching harnesses
This cable has a copper-clad steel center conductor. It is NOT outdoor rated. It is fragile compared to RG58 or RG59 because it's semi-hollow and can easily be crushed or collapsed if you are rough with it or happen to step on it.
This coax or an equivalent cable was used by IBM as the cable between the 3270 CRT terminals and the IBM Mainframes. Thousands of miles of this cable were installed around the world over a 40 year period - and as many miles were scrapped as these data centers were converted to Token-Ring, Ethernet or fiber optic network topologies.

Belden 8259 (RG58A/U type) 6.1 12.5 20 0.193 95% n/a

Belden 8267 (RG213/U type) 2.35 4.6 7.6 0.405 97% n/a

Belden 8268 (RG214/U type) 2.35 5.1 7.7 0.425 97% double silver shield

Belden 9258 (RG8/X type) 4.55 8.5 12.8 0.242 95% n/a

Belden 9273 (RG223/U type) 5 9.4 13.8 0.212 95% double silver shield

Belden 9857 (MIL-C-17G, RG63) 1.9 3.6 5.1 0.405 97% This is 125 Ohm cable that is used for antenna matching harnesses

Belden 9913 (RG8 size) 1.55 2.9 4.2 0.405 100% Not recommended for duplex use, see note above
Old "Thicknet", not rated for sunlight

Belden 9914 (RG8/U type) 2 3 5.7 0.403 100% Not recommended for duplex use, see note above

Belden 84142 (RG142 type) 4.75 8.8 12.5 0.195 98% brown FEP jacket - double silver shield

The table above gives 0.88 as the velocity for all LDF series cables. I have seen one book that mentions only 1/2 inch and 7/8 inch and gives 0.81 for a velocity factor. Not havaing the equipment to measure it myself I have no idea as to which is correct.

Coax Style	dB Loss per 100 feet Frequency in MHz	Velocity	O.D.	Shield	Notes
150	450	900
Andrews FSJ1-50	2.25	4	6.18		n/a	100%	solid copper jacket 1/4 inch Superflex
Andrews FSJ4-50B	1.275	2.4	3.37		n/a	100%	solid copper jacket 1/2 inch Superflex
Andrews LDF2-50	1.275	2.3	3.31	.88	n/a	100%	solid copper jacket 3/8 inch Heliax
Andrews LDF4-50A	0.83	1.5	2.2	.88	n/a	100%	solid copper jacket 1/2 inch Heliax
Andrews LDF5-50A	0.455	0.83	1.23	.88	n/a	100%	solid copper jacket 7/8 inch Heliax
Andrews LDF6-50	0.34	0.615	0.91	.88	n/a	100%	solid copper jacket 1-1/4 inch Heliax
Andrews LDF7-50	0.25	0.46	0.72	.88	1.98	100%	solid copper jacket 1-5/8 inch Heliax
Times Microwave LMR-200	4	7	10		0.195	100%	None of the LMR cables are recommended for duplex use due to the dissimilar metals issue (copper braid over aluminum foil shield)
Times Microwave LMR-400	1.5	2.7	3.9	.85	0.425	100%	See note above
Times Microwave LMR-600	1	1.7	2.5	.85	0.59	100%	See note above
Times Microwave LMR-900	0.7	1.2	1.7		0.875	100%	See note above
Times Microwave LMR-1200	0.5	0.9	11.3		1.25	100%	See note above
Belden 8214 (RG8/U type)	2.25	4.5	6.7		0.403	97%	n/a
Belden 8216 (RG174/U type)	10.5	20.5	31		0.101	90%	n/a
Belden 8240 (RG58/U type)	5.65	10.7	16		0.193	95%	n/a
Belden 8254 (MIL-C-17G, RG62)	3.25	4.1	8.2		0.242	95%	This is 93 Ohm cable that today is used for antenna matching harnesses This cable has a copper-clad steel center conductor. It is NOT outdoor rated. It is fragile compared to RG58 or RG59 because it's semi-hollow and can easily be crushed or collapsed if you are rough with it or happen to step on it. This coax or an equivalent cable was used by IBM as the cable between the 3270 CRT terminals and the IBM Mainframes. Thousands of miles of this cable were installed around the world over a 40 year period - and as many miles were scrapped as these data centers were converted to Token-Ring, Ethernet or fiber optic network topologies.
Belden 8259 (RG58A/U type)	6.1	12.5	20		0.193	95%	n/a
Belden 8267 (RG213/U type)	2.35	4.6	7.6		0.405	97%	n/a
Belden 8268 (RG214/U type)	2.35	5.1	7.7		0.425	97%	double silver shield
Belden 9258 (RG8/X type)	4.55	8.5	12.8		0.242	95%	n/a
Belden 9273 (RG223/U type)	5	9.4	13.8		0.212	95%	double silver shield
Belden 9857 (MIL-C-17G, RG63)	1.9	3.6	5.1		0.405	97%	This is 125 Ohm cable that is used for antenna matching harnesses
Belden 9913 (RG8 size)	1.55	2.9	4.2		0.405	100%	Not recommended for duplex use, see note above Old "Thicknet", not rated for sunlight
Belden 9914 (RG8/U type)	2	3	5.7		0.403	100%	Not recommended for duplex use, see note above
Belden 84142 (RG142 type)	4.75	8.8	12.5		0.195	98%	brown FEP jacket - double silver shield

Most of us don't think of it, but the outer jacket of most feedline cabling is flammable, and this factor can influence how you run the cabling and what cable you chose to run - some types are available with a teflon outer jacket, many are not. Many cable jacket materials give off toxic fumes while burning.

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Hand-coded HTML © Copyright 2005 and date of last update by Mike Morris WA6ILQ
Original page created 01-Dec-2004 by WA6ILQ from WA2ISE's saved page layout.
Page updated - added the lower table 12-2006 by WA6ILQ

This web page, this web site, the information presented in and on its pages and in these modifications and conversions is © Copyrighted 1995 and (date of last update) by Kevin Custer W3KKC and multiple originating authors. All Rights Reserved, including that of paper and web publication elsewhere.