Learning the coaxial cable and wire basics helps supply your company's coaxial needs in the most efficient way. Coaxial cable is commonly used for audio and video cable, however "coax" is also used for measurement electronics and computer networks. Measurement electronics are often used in nuclear instrumentation and nuclear physics. Coaxial cable is available in a variety of frequencies to match different types of information transfer. Any company that deals with coax cables will benefit from learning the coaxial wire and cable basics.

When purchasing coaxial cable in bulk, the cable does not come with adapters or connectors, but you are able to choose your own cable length. When you buy coaxial cable and wires in small volumes, the connectors are included, but the length of the wire is set. You also need wire strippers, connectors and adapters to create a specific coaxial size.

1. Find coaxial cable in bulk supplies.

2. Purchase small volumes of coaxial cable.

3. Buy coaxial cable connectors and accessories.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy coaxial cable in bulk

Bulk coaxial cable is sold on spools with no connectors. This is often a great option for companies who need to select a specific or odd length of cable. Bulk cable starts at lengths of 100 feet and goes up to lengths of more than 2,000 feet.

I recommend: Find rolls of bulk audio, video and digital coax cable at L-com. Cables To Go supplies bulk coaxial cable and wire in lengths of 100 feet or more. Ramcorp Technologies sells coaxial cable with a minimum length of 500 feet.

Purchase small amounts of coax wire

Companies that only use small lengths of wire benefit from buying standardized, smaller lengths of cable. These wires are sold in lengths up to 100 feet and are equipped with connectors, which means the wire is ready for use and no other tools are required.

I recommend: Visit Stonewall Cable, one of the leading coaxial cable manufacturers, small lengths of coax cable. Allied Electronics provides small spools of coaxial audio cable and digital coaxial cable. Koninklijke Philips Electronics carries small volumes of coaxial wire.

Locate coax cable connectors and accessories

Coaxial cable and accessories are items that allow you to use the cable. These products include items such as connectors, applicators and wire strippers. Every type of coax cable fits any of these accessories.

I recommend: Find coaxial cable connectors and accessories at HomeTech Solutions. FireFold.com supplies a full line of coaxial cable connectors, strippers and other accessories. Browse through the online catalog of connectors and accessories at Powell Electronics.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Audio coax cable is not the same as digital or video coax cable. Double-check the type of cable you need before purchase.

Coaxial cable and wire consist of a conductor shielded by an outside insulator to reduce the loss of energy in transmission. They are generally used to carry high-frequency or broadband signals, but may also be used for audio frequencies as well. When purchasing from coaxial cable manufacturers, be sure you're buying cable that meets your needs, whether you're installing for standard television and cable or you need a line appropriate for HDTV.

You can find plenty of coax cable distributors online. When searching for coaxial wire, know the options available to help you find the best deal:

1. Look for high performance coaxial wires for projects such as high definition television that require high frequency transmission.
2. Buy coax wire from bulk distributors for large amounts of cable at a lower price.
3. To easily find and order the coax wire you need, find vendors with handy online search tools or catalogs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy bulk coax cable

Buying coaxial wire in bulk is a good idea if you've got a large project to complete and know you'll need multiple reels of it, or if you want to have extra wire handy for future installations. Find a bulk wire distributor for deals on products from multiple coaxial cable manufacturers.

I recommend: Buy multiple varieties of coaxial cable and wire from HyperLink Technologies. Find cables in bulk at any performance level. For another cheap source of coaxial cable see DeepSurplus, a provider of surplus, closeout and overstocked cabling supplies.

Buy high performance digital coaxial cable

For projects that require high bandwidth installations, look for premium low loss cable. Find broadband or digital coax cable from online vendors.

I recommend: Buy coaxial cable from EBK Connect for products that range across the spectrum of performance needs. For HDTV, cable, and satellite applications, purchase RG6 coaxial cable from BroadbandUtopia. Use the recommendations on their website to find the coaxial cable that will best suit your needs.

Utilize online catalogs and search tools to find the perfect coaxial wire

Navigating through some coaxial cable manufacturers' websites can be frustrating if you can't seem to find what you want, or aren't sure exactly what the name of the product is. Find a vendor that offers a simple catalog or search tool to find exactly what you need without spending any unnecessary time browsing the Internet.

I recommend: Stonewall Cables manufactures and sells a full line of coaxial cable. Use their handy search wizard tool to find the exact cable you need. Fill out the specifications for coax type and connectors needed and find all the products that fit your bill. Shop at CableWholesale.com and find what you need by following their descriptions of the different types of coaxial cable offered.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If a coaxial wire manufacturer does not sell a wire that meets the specifications you need, contact them with your needs. Many coaxial cable manufacturers will gladly produce cable with custom length, type and connectors.

Many people believe that only TV and satellite installation employees need coaxial cable and wire education and training. While these professionals do use this information regularly, other companies can also benefit from this training in order to repair, move or add coaxial cable and wires. Training for coaxial wires can be found online and free of charge.

When receiving coaxial cable and wire education and training there are three basic areas that are vital to working with the wire. Learn installation techniques and tricks to make installing the coaxial cable quick and easy. Cut down on wasted time and excess waste cable and study how to use coaxial cable connectors so the cables work properly. Train how to terminate and strip coaxial cable and wire to minimize cable waste.

1. Train how to properly install coaxial cable and wire.

2. Learn to use a coaxial cable connector.

3. Receive training about how to terminate or strip coaxial cable and wire.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn to install coaxial wires

Installing coaxial cable in a business or home is difficult without proper training. These guides provide you with the details and information needed to safely install coaxial wire anywhere you need it.

I recommend: Find instructions and diagrams that teach how to install coaxial wire at HomebuyerFunds.com. Visit HiP Media for photos and detailed instructions that teach how to install coaxial cable and wire.

Understand the ins and outs of using a coaxial cable connector

Coaxial cable connectors are used to connect electronic devices to coaxial cable. If these connectors are not attached properly, the coaxial cable becomes damaged and is rendered useless.

I recommend: Interstate Electronics, Inc. provides a detailed guide about how coaxial cable connectors work and how to safely use the tool on digital coaxial cable. TV Antenna Source supplies how-to guides for installing connectors on "coax wire" from any of the leading coaxial cable manufacturers.

Train to terminate, or strip, coaxial cable and wire

Terminating, or striping, coaxial cable and wire requires a specific process and the correct tools. Without the correct tools the wire may be damaged and made unusable. Train employees how to terminate and strip coaxial wire to ensure you do not waste any cable or wire.

I recommend: Visit the Computer Cable Store for information about terminating bulk coax cable. Structured Wiring How To provides termination information as well as detailed how-to guides for working with coaxial audio cable.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When working with coaxial cable and wire, buy coaxial cable tools. The tools are specially made to work with coaxial cable. The wrong tools will ruin the job every time.

Coaxial cables have become a staple of the telecommunications and entertainment industries. From cable television to digital surround sound, all sorts of electronic media rely on coaxial cables for smooth, clear transmission of video, audio and radio broadcasts. Although they've been around since the 1920s and are undoubtedly popular, coaxial cables remain a viable option in the telecommunications industry. Coaxial cables use a number of different components. To understand how they work, you may want to learn coaxial cable and wire key terms.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Sweep testing

Sweep testing is the process of checking high-quality coaxial cables for efficiency and clarity. This advanced procedure allows manufacturers to make sure their cables produce clear signals across a wide range of frequencies.

I recommend: Earthcom explains the basics of sweep testing. To see examples of sweep-tested cables, visit TigerDirect.

Dielectric

In simple terms, a dielectric is an insulator. In coaxial cables, dielectrics surround the conductive center wiring to keep the electrical signal from bleeding out to other surfaces.

I recommend: The Physics Hypertextbook has a great explanation of dielectrics in its online database.

RF

Short for radio frequency, RF describes a range of signal frequencies from 3Hz to 300GHz. Coaxial cables often prove to be among the best cables for carrying RF transmissions, such as television broadcasts.

I recommend: To learn why coaxial cables work so well for RF transmissions, read the article from Electronic Design.

Connector

Coaxial cables come with different types of connectors. Depending on what kinds of signals manufacturers designed them to carry, the connectors may have different electrical resistances, frequency ranges and shapes.

I recommend: Get more information about coaxial connectors from ePanorama.net, which has developed an in-depth guide to the technology.

Impedance

As a signal flows through a cable, impedance slows it down. Impedance is a kind of electrical resistance, measured in ohms. Coaxial cables typically have impedances of either 50 or 75 ohms, but other ratings are possible.

I recommend: There's an explanation of impedance in layman's terms at eCoustics.com.

Shielding

The shielding is the second conductive element of a coaxial cable, along with the core. Manufactures use either foil or braided metal to make the shielding. The shield's main role is to act as a ground for the main signal, but it also protects against electromagnetic interference (EMI), which can degrade video and audio quality.

I recommend: Get a basic understanding of shielding by reading Pelco's guide to coaxial cable structure.