Coax selection considerations - distance – CommScope Drop Cable User Manual

Page 10

Coax Selection Considerations - Distance

Coax cable can be engineered for several levels of performance and cost-efficiency. For instance, a larger cable

will carry a signal over a longer distance; additional shields provide more protection from interference. Your first

consideration, however, is the overall distance of the drop. CommScope offers cables tailored for different dis-

tances:

320 - these

are our highest

performance coax

and are recom-

mended for MDU

usage (see section

12) or extremely

long runs with

their .071 in (1.80

mm) copper-clad aluminum center conductor.

F11 Series Cables - excellent-performing co-

axial cables with a 14 AWG (1.63 mm) copper-

clad steel center conductor. They are recom-

mended for use in runs of over 150 ft (45

meters).

F6 Series Cables - these are made for shorter

runs, with an 18 AWG (1.02 mm) copper-clad

steel center conductor. They are recommend-

ed for use in runs of 150ft (45 meters) or

less.

These cables are available in constructions for aerial and buried outdoor installations. They are also available for

residential and commercial indoor (general, riser and plenum) usage.

Ask yourself

three questions:

what’s the

distance,

what’s the

environment

and how

much shielding

is needed?

Maximum Attenuation @ 68°F

320

F11 Series

F6 Series

MHz

dB/100’ (dB/100m)

0.24 (0.79)

0.38 (1.25)

0.58 (1.90)

0.84 (2.76)

0.96 ( 3.15)

1.60 (5.25)

1.07 (3.51)

1.18 (3.87)

1.95 (6.40)

181

1.60 (5.25)

1.75 (5.74)

2.85 ( 9.35)

211

1.73 (5.68)

1.90 (6.23)

3.05 (10.00)

250

1.86 (6.10)

2.05 (6.72)

3.30 (10.82)

300

2.04 (6.69)

2.25 (7.38)

3.55 (11.64)

350

2.25 (7.38)

2.42 (7.94)

3.85 (12.63)

400

2.38 (7.81)

2.60 (8.53)

4.15 (13.61)

450

2.52 (8.27)

2.75 (9.02)

4.40 (14.43)

500

2.72 (8.92)

2.90 (9.51)

4.66 (15.29)

550

2.85 (9.35)

3.04 ( 9.97)

4.90 (16.08)

600

2.98 ( 9.78)

3.18 (10.43)

5.10 (16.73)

750

3.34 (10.96) 3.65 (11.97)

5.65 (18.54)

865

3.62 (11.88)

3.98 (13.05)

6.10 (20.01)

1000

3.89 (12.76)

4.35 (14.27)

6.55 (21.49)

lower numbers are better - plenum cables will have higher attenuation

(

F6 & F11

)

187

3.1 Cable Selection

Distance of the Drop