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Coaxial cable was designed in the 1880s, but its unique construction has helped its longevity into the modern era. The cable consists of an inner copper core conductor surrounded by an insulating layer (the dielectric), which is then surrounded by a tubular conducting shield (the outer conductor or braid), with an insulating outer jacket on top. This concentric construction provides excellent electromagnetic shielding: the outer conductor surrounds the inner conductor, so external interference is blocked and internal signals do not radiate out.
Coaxial cable is used for cable TV signals, computer network connections, radio frequency signals, and many AV applications. It is found pre-wired in many homes today for cable TV and broadband internet. In commercial AV, coaxial cable carries CCTV camera signals, satellite TV distribution, SDI video in broadcast, RF signals for wireless microphones and intercom systems, and many specialty signals. Its noise immunity makes it ideal for runs that pass near electrical equipment, gutters, metal HVAC ducts, and other potential sources of interference.
Coaxial cables come in different impedances and constructions for different applications. 75-ohm cable (RG-6, RG-59, RG-11) is the standard for video and TV applications: cable TV, satellite, CCTV, composite video, component video, and SDI. 50-ohm cable (RG-58, LMR-400, others) is the standard for RF and radio applications: wireless microphones, intercoms, radio communications, and test equipment. Using the wrong impedance causes signal reflections and degradation; always match the cable to the application.
The "RG" designation (originally "Radio Guide", a US military standard) describes specific cable constructions. RG-6 has a thicker center conductor and is the standard for residential and commercial TV/CCTV cable up to about 100 feet. RG-59 is thinner and is older standard for shorter cable TV and analog CCTV runs. RG-11 is even thicker than RG-6 and is used for long runs (over 100 feet) where lower loss matters. Each RG type has standard 75-ohm impedance but different physical specifications.
Quality coaxial cable uses solid copper for the center conductor (better than copper-clad steel for signal quality), tight braid coverage on the shield (95 percent or higher coverage), and a dielectric that maintains consistent 75-ohm impedance throughout. Cheap coaxial cable can have poor shielding (which lets interference in), copper-clad-steel center conductor (which has higher resistance), or inconsistent impedance (which causes reflections). For permanent installations, always buy quality cable.
Coaxial cable signal loss increases with distance and frequency. At lower frequencies (analog TV, composite video), quality RG-6 carries clean signal 300 feet or more. At higher frequencies (HD satellite, SDI, broadband internet), the practical limit drops to 150 to 200 feet. For very long runs, use RG-11 (lower loss than RG-6) or add an amplifier in the middle. CCTV applications are unusual in that composite video is electrically robust enough to run 1000 feet or more on quality cable.
Bulk coaxial cable is used in cable TV and satellite distribution (whole-home and hospitality), broadband internet (cable modems), CCTV security camera installations (analog cameras to recorders and monitor walls), broadcast SDI distribution, radio and wireless RF systems, and any installation where the cable needs to carry signals over long distances with low noise pickup. Bulk cable is sold in spools (typically 100, 500, or 1000 feet) for installers to cut and terminate to exact lengths on site.
Coaxial cable has a four-layer concentric construction: an inner copper core conductor (the center wire), an insulating dielectric layer surrounding the inner conductor, a tubular conducting shield (the outer conductor, made of braided wire or foil or both), and an insulating outer jacket on top. This concentric construction provides excellent electromagnetic shielding because the outer conductor surrounds the inner conductor completely, blocking external interference from reaching the signal and preventing internal signals from radiating out. This is why coaxial cable can run near electrical equipment, gutters, and other metal objects while still providing a clean signal.
All three are 75-ohm coaxial cables for video and TV applications, but with different physical specifications. RG-6 has a thicker center conductor (typically 18 AWG) and is the modern standard for residential and commercial cable TV and CCTV. It is reliable to about 100 to 150 feet for HD signals. RG-59 is thinner (20 to 22 AWG) and is older, used historically for analog cable TV and CCTV; it is being phased out for new installations because of higher signal loss. RG-11 has a very thick center conductor (14 AWG) and is used for long runs (over 100 to 150 feet) where the lower signal loss of RG-11 matters more than the extra cost and stiffness.
The impedance is the cable's electrical characteristic that must match the equipment it connects. 75-ohm cable is the standard for video and TV applications: cable TV, satellite TV, CCTV, composite video, component video, and SDI. 50-ohm cable is the standard for RF and radio applications: wireless microphones, intercom systems, radio communications, two-way radio antennas, and most test equipment. Using the wrong impedance causes signal reflections and degradation, with effects ranging from mild signal loss to complete failure. Always match the cable impedance to the equipment.
The practical length depends on the cable type and the frequency being carried. RG-6 quality cable carries analog video (composite, low-frequency) 300 feet or more, HD signals (1080p video, SDI, cable broadband) 150 to 200 feet, and high-frequency satellite signals 100 to 150 feet. RG-11 extends these ranges by 50 to 100 percent. RG-59 is shorter. For very long runs, use an in-line coaxial amplifier (called a "booster" or "line amplifier") in the middle of the run, or use better cable (RG-11 instead of RG-6). CCTV installations sometimes run composite video over 1000 feet because composite is electrically robust at low frequencies.
Coaxial cable is the right choice when you need excellent electromagnetic shielding, when the signal is RF-based (cable TV, satellite, radio, SDI), or when you have an existing coaxial infrastructure. Twisted pair (CAT5e, CAT6) is the right choice for modern networked AV (Ethernet, AV-over-IP, HDBaseT, PoE), where the cable carries digital signals over twisted-pair wiring. Modern installations increasingly use twisted pair and fiber instead of coaxial for new infrastructure, except in specialty applications (cable TV, CCTV with analog cameras, broadcast SDI, RF systems) where coaxial remains the standard.
Cable TV and satellite distribution (residential and hospitality whole-home wiring), broadband internet (the cable modem connection from the wall jack to the modem), CCTV security camera installations (analog cameras to recorders and monitor walls, sometimes over 1000 feet on quality cable), broadcast SDI distribution (within studios and OB vans), radio and wireless RF systems (wireless microphone antennas, two-way radio installations, intercom systems), and any installation where the cable needs to carry signals over long distances with excellent noise immunity. Bulk cable is sold in spools so installers can cut to exact length and terminate on site with the appropriate connectors (F, BNC, or other).
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