29th April 2008

A life without Coaxial Cable, is a life without entertainment. Why, you ask? Well, for many of us, it’s the reason we can watch the latest football match or simply relax with the latest episode of Lost or with the sound of Wentworth Miller planning another prison break. It’s the reason the unmissable is now unmissable – with You Tube and internet playback channels. And it’s also the reason why, wherever we are, we always seem to have some way to communicate.

Whether it’s through radio, telecoms or TV, if you are looking to transmit even high-frequency data, a Coaxial Cable is the way to do it. In simple terms, the cable consists of an inner conductor (solid wire or stranded), an insulating layer, a grounded shield (usually of braided wire) and a protective outer layer, often PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). The conductor and the shield share the same axis (hence the name Coaxial) and the signal is usually carried between them. The shield is important in minimising the energy released from the signal and helping prevent interference from other electromagnetic fields.

No two Coaxial Cables are the same so it is vital to note the differences. Choice of conductor, the size of the conductor, the type of insulation and shielding materials can all affect the performance of the cable (such as loss of data and signal strength). And certain types are better for some jobs than others. There is also a variation in price, so research in the early stages can make all the difference to overall project costs.

We, at Eland Cables, supply three ranges to help you make the right decision. RG, URM, and Composite Cables use a variety of conductors – from TCW (Tinned Copper Wire) in the RG11, to CCS (Copper Clad Steel) in the RG59 cables. They have an impedance of between 50 and 75ohms and a capacitance of up to 100pF/m, and are useful for low loss video and video signal connections.

BT3002 and RA7000 cables have been manufactured to BT specifications, and are suitable for the interconnecting of data and telecoms equipment. These white cables have a solid copper conductor (although in the case of the BT Cable a number of cores), PE (Polyethylene) insulation, two screens (or shields) of braided tinned copper wire (and bonded aluminium in the case of the RA7000) and PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) or LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) sheaths. With an impedance of 75ohms and a capacitance of between 57 and 70pF/m they can carry more data than standard telephone wire and are less likely to suffer from interference.

Finally, the CT range of Coaxial Cable (read more about CT type Coaxial Cable here) has been designed with professional TV and CCTV systems in mind. It uses a solid copper conductor and foam or Cell Polyethylene insulation, and is wrapped in two shields of copper (one braided and one with overlapping copper tape) before being covered in a range of different materials – from PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) to PE (Polyethylene) and LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen). This type of cable has a capacitance of between 52 and 58pF/m and an impedance of 75ohms.

With so much to choose from, Eland is here to help you get it right.
To find out more about the individual cables and what they can do for your communications visit: www.eland.co.uk/electrical-cables/coaxial