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Coax Cable is a type of wire that consists of a center wire surrounded by insulating materials and then a grounded shield of braided wire. Coax cable is a cable type used to carry radio signals, video signals, measurement signals and data signals. The shield minimizes electrical and radio frequency interference.

Coax cabling is the primary type of cabling used by the cable television industry and is also widely used for computer networks, such as Ethernet. It is more expensive than standard telephone wire; it is much less susceptible to interference and can carry much more data than a telephone wire.

A coax cable consists of two conductors that share a common axis. The inner conductor is typically a straight wire, either solid or stranded and the outer conductor is typically a shield that might be braided or a foil. Coax cables exist because we can't run open-wire line near metallic objects (such as ducting) or bury it. We trade signal loss for convenience and flexibility.

Coax cable consists of an insulated center conductor which is covered with a shield. The signal is carried between the cable shield and the center conductor. This arrangement give quite good shielding agains noise from outside cable, keeps the signal well inside the cable and keeps cable characteristics stable.

The cable is designed to carry a high-frequency or broadband signal, as a high-frequency transmission line. Sometimes DC power (called bias) is added to the signal to supply the equipment at the other end, as in direct broadcast satellite receivers. Because the electromagnetic field carrying the signal exists (ideally) only in the space between the inner and outer conductors, it cannot interfere with or suffer interference from external electromagnetic fields.

Coax cables may be rigid or flexible. Rigid types have a solid sheath, while flexible types have a braided sheath, both usually of thin copper wire. The inner insulator, also called the dielectric, has a significant effect on the cable's properties, such as its characteristic impedance and its attenuation. The dielectric may be solid or perforated with air spaces. Connections to the ends of coax cables are usually made with RF converter.

Type of coax cables used affects their use and longevity. Inferior quality cables can cause greater damage when used commercially on a distribution system. Hence it is important to select the right quality cables to ensure that you do not face any problems in future because of their faulty make. However it becomes really difficult to judge the quality of the cable just based on their manufacturing details as most of the times quantifiable data regarding their performance is not available.

To make things easier you can always rely on different types of cables available to make it easier for you to select the right type of cable based on your requirements. Whenever you need to buy new cable just go through the specifications and you should be able to buy the right type of it. Alphabetically coax cables are of 4 different types A, B, C and D.

Type A: More commonly known as semi-airspaced dielectric coax cables have longitudinal space running through it and so the popular name.

Type B: Though they look similar to type A coax cables, what differentiates them from type A cables is the foam used in their making. They are superior to type A as they last longer and are more robust. Previously manufactured type B cables easily soaked in moisture which ultimately affected their performance, however recent time cables come with a promise of better quality and higher level moisture resistance.

Type C: Popularly sold as “satellite downlead” Type C coax cables consists of low density copper braid and the screen is wrapped in very thin (not visible to the naked eye) silver colored material. Distinct quality of these coax cables is that the dielectric slides easily inside the screen, hence one has to be cautious when installing them.

Type ‘D’: Also known as “low loss cables” to disparate them from other similar cables used in VHF. Though you can find them in white sheath, they basically have brown sheath.

Cables – they are everywhere we use them in one or other electrical appliances but what is special about Coax cables. An easy paradigm to understand them would be human body - just like arteries carry blood to different parts of our body cables are used to carry electricity needed to run different electric appliances. Coax cables are one among the many different types of cables available in the market. Though mainly used in computers they are also used in video and radio electronics. Its core objective is to transform electricity between the main power source and the disparate parts of the appliances.

How do you identify coax cables? Generally all cables consist of inner and outer layers, as you strip the outer layer in these cables you will notice that the inner layer consists of copper wire wrapped in white insulator which again has a copper screen layered over it. Number of copper wires in the inner layer can vary depending on its capacity; more wires would mean that the cable will be able to carry more electricity at a much faster speed.

White insulator is generally made of solid polyethylene mainly because it is less expensive and easily available. Copper screen consisting of braided copper wires is layered over the insulator for added flexibility. The outer layer consists of black plastic; it is an essential element of a cable as it traps the electricity inside the cable, so you do not get a shock when you touch the cable.

Though they have been traditionally used to carry electricity they are also made to carry radio signals as the inner copper wiring and the copper screen run on the same geometrical axis. It would be worth noting that it is because of this particular feature that these cables are called coaxial (having a common axis) cables. Outside magnetic forces can easily interrupt or terminate radio signals. However the coaxial nature of coax cables and the plastic cables which create a perfect vacuum inside do not allow the signals to escape and hence they are used for transmitting radio signals.