Performance Indicators for Coaxial Cables

Coaxial cables are widely used for transmitting RF signals. To understand the performance of coaxial cables, it is important to know the following characteristics.
·Characteristic impedance (Ω): Determined by the material and structure of the coaxial cable. Typical characteristic impedances for coaxial cables are 50Ω and 75Ω.
·Attenuation (dB/m): This represents the amount of signal attenuation per meter of cable length, expressed as a ratio of power. Attenuation (Insertion Loss) increases as frequency increases.
·VSWR: Voltage Standing Wave Ratio, this represents the ratio of the maximum voltage to the minimum voltage of a standing wave. It is an indicator of reflection (Return Loss) in coaxial cables.
·Maximum operating temperature: This indicates the highest temperature at which the cable can be used continuously. It depends on the heat resistance temperature (glass transition point) of the insulating material.
·Minimum bending radius: This is the smallest radius at which the cable can be repeatedly bent.
Understanding these characteristics will help you select the appropriate coaxial cable for your application.