Selected Coaxial Cable Data

Physical Properties

Cable Inner Conductor Dielectric Shield Jacket Overall Diameter
RG58C 0.90mm 19:TC PE 1:TC PVC 4.95mm
RG213 2.26mm 7:BC PE 1:BC PVC 10.3mm
RG214 2.26mm 1:SC PE 2:SC PVC 10.8mm
RG223 0.89mm 1:SC PE 2:SC PVC 5.36mm
RG402/UT141 0.91mm 1:SCCS PTFE 1:TCT none 3.58mm
Belden 9913 2.59mm 1:BC Semisolid PE 2:AF,TC PVC 10.4mm
Belden 9913F7 2.59mm 7:BC PE Foam 2:AF,TC Belflex PVC 10.3mm
LMR400 2.77mm 1:CCA PE Foam 2:AF,TC PE 10.3mm
LMR400UF 2.77mm n:BC PE Foam 2:AF,TC TE 10.3mm
FSJ4-50B 21:BC PE Foam 1:CCT PE 13.2mm
LDF4-50A 4.8mm 1:CCA PE Foam 1:CCT PE 16.3mm
LDF5-50A 9.1mm 1:BCT PE Foam 1:CCT PE 27.5mm

AF: Aluminium foil
BC: Bare Copper
BCT: Bare copper tube
CCA: Copper clad aluminium
CCT: Corrugated copper tube
PE: Polyethylene
PTFE: Teflon
PVC: Polyvinylchloride
SC: Silver coated copper
SCCS:Silver covered copper clad steel
TC: Tinned copper
TCT: Tinned copper tube
TE: Thermoplastic elastomer

Electrical Properties

The attenuation properties of coaxial cables are given at frequencies like 100MHz, 200MHz, 400MHz in various places such as manufacturers' catalogues, amateur radio handbooks, and personal web pages, and also in various units. It is not easy to reconcile all these values with each other, but the following table represents what I believe to be a reasonable approximation to the truth.
The velocity factors of PE Foam cables may vary slightly around the nominal value.

Cable Impedance Velocity Factor Attenuation 144MHz Attenuation 432MHz Attenuation 1296MHz
RG58C 50 ohm 0.659 19dB/100m 33dB/100m 63dB/100m
RG213 50 ohm 0.659 8.4dB/100m 15.6dB/100m 30dB/100m
RG214 50 ohm 0.659 8.4dB/100m 15.6dB/100m 30dB/100m
RG223 50 ohm 0.659 17dB/100m 29dB/100m 56dB/100m
RG402/UT141 50 ohm 0.694 14.4dB/100m 25dB/100m 43dB/100m
Belden 9913 50 ohm 0.84 5.1dB/100m 9.2dB/100m 17dB/100m
Belden 9913F7 50 ohm 0.83 5.7dB/100m 9.8dB/100m 18dB/100m
LMR400 50 ohm 0.85 4.8dB/100m 8.7dB/100m 15.5dB/100m
LMR400UF 50 ohm 0.85 5.5dB/100m 10.0dB/100m 18.6dB/100m
FSJ4-50B 50 ohm 0.80 4.2dB/100m 7.5dB/100m 13.5dB/100m
LDF4-50A 50 ohm 0.88 2.8dB/100m 5.0dB/100m 9.0dB/100m
LDF5-50A 50 ohm 0.89 1.5dB/100m 2.7dB/100m 5.0dB/100m

Power handling depends more on temperature rise due to cable loss than on insulation voltage.
Thus it varies with frequency in much the same way as cable loss, and of course depends also on the melting point of the insulation (usually polyethylene or teflon). The figures given relate to "flat" lines on which the SWR is 1.0. The presence of a standing wave will cause points where the current is higher than the average (and other points where it is lower). Power handling figures should therefore be derated when a significant standing wave is present, as in baluns.

Cable Power 144MHz Power 432MHz Power 1296MHz
RG58C 240W 100W 50W
RG213 800W 430W 200W
RG214 650W 340W 175W
RG223 400W 200W 100W
RG402/UT141 2000W 1000W 550W
Belden 9913 1065W 603W 342W
Belden 9913F7 935W 533W 304W
LMR400 1500W 830W 470W
LMR400UF 1000W 550W 310W
FSJ4-50B 2490W 1380W 770W
LDF4-50A 2750W 1530W 860W
LDF5-50A 6040W 3320W 1810W

VK2KU - 13 September 2002