The cable TV companies around the world have been long using coaxial cables to link their satellite antennae stations for delivering sound and images onto television sets at different residential and business establishments. Telephone companies and internet service providers also used coaxial cable. Coaxial cables were also used for ethernet but due to speed limitation, they were replaced by twisted pair cabling. However coaxial cables are still extensively used in cable broadband networks.
Design of Coaxial Cable
The benefits of the coaxial cable directly come from its design. Making alterations in its structure can greatly alter its applications and benefits
- The Center conductor is copper-clad steel that carried the signals. A clean stripping polymer is utilized to block moisture migration. It is referred to as the center conductor bond.
- For shielding the signals from external interference a dielectric polyethylene layer is placed around the conductor to provide mechanical stability in enclosed cell foam with high VP.
- Corrosion-resistant protectant is a non-drip material designed to eliminate moisture migration into the cable construction for indoor and aerial use.
- Integral messenger is a galvanized, carbon steel wire that functions to support members attached to the cable by a separable web.
- A UV stable outer jacket of either polyethylene (PE) or flame retardant polyvinyl chloride (PVC) protects the core during installation and for the installed life of the cable.
Underground is a dense liquid compound use to seal small jacket ruptures.
Application in Broadband Network
Coaxial cable is popular in the broadband network due to several benefits it offers over other types of networking cable. These applications are discussed below.
Strong Shielding from External Interference
Electromagnetic signals from the external environment can seep into cables and interfere with electrical signals transmitted through the cable. This can compromise the quality of signals to a great extent. Coaxial cables are designed specifically to serve the purpose. The inner conductor is wrapped by a shield that prevents Electro-Magnetic Interference EMI from outside. This enables the rapid transfer of data without compromising the quality of signals. This means environmental factors like bad weather, electrical noise, and EMI have less impact on the quality of signals in comparison to other networking cables.
RF data transfer
RF coaxial cable can transmit radio frequency signals efficiently. The physical uniformity of the cable and the arrangement and dimensions of the conductors enables coaxial cables to transport radiofrequency energy rather than diffuse high-frequency signals. The coaxial cable design and shielding enable effective transmission of radio frequencies, unlike other networking cables which are not suitable for RF transmission. But disturbing the physical structure of coaxial cable can impair the medium of RF transmission.
Greater Bandwidth and Faster Internet Speed
Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be carried or transmitted during a certain time period. Coaxial cable can allow a greater bandwidth than regular telephone lines. This supports systems designed to deal with havier data workload. Since more data is transmitted in the same amount of time it translates into higher communication speed. This is very suitable for businesses that have a high demand for speed in uploading, downloading, and transmitting data. Cables with heavier gauges and has insulation and shielding like RG6 cable are better suited for tuned for high-bandwidth, high-frequency applications such as the Internet, Cable TV, and Satellite TV signals. Thinner cables like RG59 cable is thinner and are recommended in low bandwidth and lower frequency applications such as analog video and CCTV installations.
Less costly than Fiber Optics
While fiber optic cables can definitely carry more data, higher bandwidth but they are also a lot of more expensive, difficult to install, and are difficult to maintain. In comparison, coaxial cables are more suited to residential use and small to medium-sized businesses. It is easy to install, more durable, and less costly.
