RG 58 CU is the thin 50 ohm coaxial cable to MIL-C-17 with a copper inner conductor and copper braid: the standard for short RF links, antenna and measuring connections and patch leads with BNC or SMA connectors. Handy and flexible, but its attenuation rises quickly over long lengths and at high frequencies.
50 ohm RF coaxial cable, manufactured in compliance with MIL-C-17, for RF signal transmission in installation and industrial environments. Full construction and attenuation data is in the datasheet.
Also known as: coax cable · 50 ohm coax · antenna cable
Applications
- 50 ohm antenna and measuring connections: transmitters, receivers, test set-ups.
- Short RF links between equipment in cabinets and racks.
- Patch leads with BNC or SMA connectors.
What to look out for
- 50 ohm, not 75 ohm: do not confuse with RG59 or RG6 for video, CATV and satellite.
- Thin cable with high attenuation: above about 20 m or a few hundred MHz, choose a thicker coax such as RG 213.
- Use connectors in the RG 58 size and crimp with the matching die; a loose braid is the most common fault.
- Do not kink: a kink changes the impedance and causes reflections.
- Conductor
- Stranded tinned copper, 19 × 0.18 mm (nominal 0.9 mm, 20 AWG).
- Impedance
- 50 Ω.
- Standard
- MIL-C-17.
RG 58 or RG 213?
RG 58 CU
- about 5 mm thick
- higher loss at 100 MHz
RG 213
- about 10.3 mm thick
- lower loss at 100 MHz
RG 58 is about 5 mm thick and RG 213 about 10.3 mm. At 100 MHz, RG 58 loses more than twice as much per metre as RG 213. Choose RG 58 for short, flexible links in cabinets and test set-ups. For a fixed antenna or transmitter feeder over a longer distance, RG 213 is the choice.
View RG 213 TY-ZH →RG 58 or RG 223?
RG 58 CU
- single copper braid
- stranded inner conductor
RG 223
- two silver-plated copper braids
- solid inner conductor, 0.9 mm
They are roughly the same thickness, but the screening differs. RG 58 has a single copper braid and a stranded inner conductor, so it stays flexible. RG 223 has a solid inner conductor of 0.9 mm and two silver-plated copper braids. Those two braids give RG 223 far higher screening effectiveness. Choose RG 223 for fixed measurement and patch links that are sensitive to interference, and RG 58 for links that move more often.
View RG 223 U-ZH →
RG 213 TY-ZH
50 ohm RF coaxial cable to MIL-C-17, LSZH
Lead time: On request; the lead time is stated in the quote.
RG 214 TY-ZH
Double-screened 50 ohm RF coaxial cable to MIL-C-17, LSZH
Lead time: On request; the lead time is stated in the quote.
RG 223 U-ZH
Double-screened 50 ohm RF coaxial cable to MIL-C-17, LSZH
Lead time: On request; the lead time is stated in the quote.
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