Coaxial Cables
Coaxial
A coaxial cable (coax) is a type of cable that uses a central copper conductor surrounded by insulation, shielding, and an outer jacket. The shielding protects the signal from interference.
Coaxial cables are commonly used for:
Cable TV
Internet service (cable modem)
CCTV/security cameras
Radio communications
Legacy Ethernet networks
Coaxial Cable Structure
Plain Text
Outer Jacket
│
Shielding (Braided Metal)
│
Insulator
│
Copper Core
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RG58
RG58 is a 50-ohm coaxial cable.
Uses
Legacy Ethernet (10BASE2)
Radio communications
Amateur (HAM) radio systems
Characteristics
50-ohm impedance
Flexible
Short-distance data transmission
Example:
Plain Text
Old Ethernet Network
PC ───────── PC ───────── PC
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Network+ Tip: RG58 is associated with older 10BASE2 (Thinnet) Ethernet networks.
RG59
RG59 is a 75-ohm coaxial cable.
Uses
CCTV cameras
Analog video systems
Older surveillance installations
Characteristics
75-ohm impedance
Better for video than data
Lower cost
Example:
Plain Text
Security Camera ───── DVR
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RG6
RG6 is the most common modern coaxial cable.
Uses
Cable TV
Cable Internet
Satellite television
Characteristics
75-ohm impedance
Better shielding than RG59
Supports higher frequencies
Example:
Plain Text
Cable Company
│
RG6
│
Cable Modem
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Most homes today use RG6 for television and Internet service.
Comparison of RG58, RG59, and RG6
Cable Impedance Common UseRG58 50 Ohms Legacy Ethernet, Radio
RG59 75 Ohms CCTV, Video
RG6 75 Ohms Cable TV, Internet
BNC Connector
BNC = Bayonet Neill-Concelman
A coaxial connector that uses a twist-lock mechanism.
Characteristics
Quick connect/disconnect
Twist-lock design
Common in older networking and video systems
Uses
10BASE2 networks
CCTV cameras
Test equipment
Oscilloscopes
Example:
Plain Text
Cable ──(BNC)── Device
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Network+ Exam Tip
BNC connectors are associated with:
Coaxial cable
10BASE2 Ethernet
CCTV systems
F-Type Connector
The F-Type connector is the most common connector used with RG6 and RG59 cables.
Characteristics
Threaded screw-on design
Carries television and cable Internet signals
Inexpensive and reliable
Uses
Cable TV
Cable modem connections
Satellite receivers
Example:
Plain Text
Wall Jack
│
F-Connector
│
Cable Modem
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BNC vs F-Type
Feature BNC F-TypeLocking Method Twist-lock Screw-on
Common Use CCTV, Legacy Ethernet Cable TV, Internet
Cable Types RG58, RG59 RG6, RG59
Network+ Relevance Legacy Networking Modern Cable Services
Network+ Exam Memory Chart
Item RememberRG58 50-ohm, 10BASE2 Ethernet
RG59 75-ohm, CCTV
RG6 75-ohm, Cable TV & Internet
BNC Bayonet connector, legacy Ethernet
F-Type Screw-on connector for cable TV/Internet
Quick Memory Trick
Plain Text
RG58 = Old Ethernet
RG59 = Video/CCTV
RG6 = Home Internet
BNC = Bayonet Twist
F = Fiber? No!
F-Type = Cable TV/Modem
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Exam Questions You May See
What cable is commonly used for cable Internet? ✅ RG6
What connector is used on a cable modem? ✅ F-Type
What connector is associated with 10BASE2 Ethernet? ✅ BNC
What coax cable is used for CCTV systems? ✅ RG59
Simple definition: Coaxial cables use a shielded copper core to carry data, video, and radio signals. RG58 is associated with legacy Ethernet, RG59 with CCTV, and RG6 with modern cable TV and Internet services, while BNC and F-Type are common coaxial connectors.
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