Feedline Data
last updated 5 August 2023.
This table provides data on a number of common ham feedlines, although there are many more types available.
I have collected these from several sources: data sheets, internet calculators and lists, and some of my own measurements. The numbers may not be entirely consistent: there can be significant variation among products with the same type number, but different construction. And sometimes the manufacturers’ data sheets are not consistent, either.
The notes after the table explain some of the expected variations.
COAXIAL CABLE DATA TABLE
| type | Zo | outside diameter mm (inch) | center conductor mm (inch) | insulation | velocity factor | weight g / m ( lb / ft ) | dB loss 30m (100 ft) @ 40m | dB loss 30m (100 ft) @10m | comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RG-6 | 75 | 6.9 (0.332) | 1 (0.040) AWG #18 | PE | 0.82 | 41.7 (0.028) | 0.60 | 0.86 | BELDEN 9248 |
| RG-8X | 50 | 6.1 (0.242) | 1.5 (0.063) AWG #14 | PE foam | 0.82 | 55 (0.037) | 0.76 | 1.6 | BELDEN 9258 |
| RG-8 | 52 | 10.3 (0.405) | 2.26 (0.089) AWG #13 | PE | 0.66 | 156 (0.12) | 0.50 | 1.07 | BELDEN 9251 |
| RG-11 | 75 | 10.3 (0.405) | 1.2 (0.048) | PE | 0.66 | 141 (0.09) | 0.49 | 1.04 | BELDEN 8261 |
| RG-58 | 50 | 4.9 (0.195) | 0.89 (0.036) | PE | 0.66 | 37 (0.025) | 1.09 | 2.4 | BELDEN 8259 |
| RG-59 | 75 | 6.1 (0.242) | 0.58 (0.023) AWG #23 | PE | 0.66 | 54 (0.035) | 0.84 | 1.77 | BELDEN 8263 |
| RG-62 | 93 | 6.1 (0.242) | 0.635 (0.023) AWG #23 | PE foam | 0.84 | 51 (0.34) | 0.69 | 1.44 | BELDEN 9862 |
| RG-63 | 125 | 10.3 (0.405) | 0.635 (0.023) AWG #23 | PE foam | 0.84 | 126 (0.078) | 0.38 | 0.81 | BELDEN 9857 |
| RG-174 | 50 | 2.8 (0.102) | 0.48 (0.019) AWG #24 | PE | 0.66 | 12 (0.007) | 2.7 | 4.4 | BELDEN 8216 |
| RG-178 | 50 | 1.8 (0.075) | 0.3 (0.012) AWG #30 | PTFE | 0.69 | 7.5 (0.005) | 4.3 | 7.3 | BELDEN 83265 |
| RG-179 | 75 | 2.54 (0.100) | 0.3 (0.012) AWG #30 | PTFE | 0.69 | 15 (0.10) | 4.1 | 5.3 | BELDEN 83264 |
| RG-213 | 50 | 10.3 (0.405) | 2.26 (0.089) AWG #13 | PE | 0.66 | 155 (0.120) | 0.50 | 1.07 | BELDEN 8267 |
| RG-316 | 50 | 2.5 (0.102) | 0.51 (0.020) AWG #24 | PTFE | 0.69 | 15 (0.010) | 2.2 | 4.7 | BELDEN 83284 |
| UR-43 | 52 | 4.9 (0.195) | 0.81 (0.032) | PE | 0.66 | 1.1 | 2.6 | similar to RG-58 | |
| UR-57 | 75 | 10.3 (0.405) | 1.2 (0.044) | PE | 0.66 | 0.46 | 0.97 | similar to RG-11 | |
| UR-67 | 50 | 10.3 (0.405) | 2.26 (0.087) | PE | 0.66 | 0.49 | 1.04 | similar to RG-213 | |
| UR-70 | 75 | 5.8 (0.228) | |||||||
| UR-76 | 51 | 4.9 (0.195) | 0.84 (0.033) | PE | 0.66 | 1.4 | 3.2 | similar to RG-58 | |
| UR-90 | 75 | 6.1 (0.242) | 0.56 (0.022) | PE | 0.66 | 1.0 | 2.2 | similar to RG-59 | |
| UR-95 | 50 | 2.3 (0.09) | PE | similar to RG-174 | |||||
| LMR-195 | 50 | 4.9 (0.195) | 0.94 (0.037) | PE foam | 0.76 | 34 (0.027) | 0.93 | 1.94 | low loss RG-58 type |
| LMR-240 | 50 | 6.1 (0.242) | 1.42 (0.056) | PE foam | 0.84 | 50 (0.034) | 0.63 | 1.3 | low loss RG-8X type |
| LMR-400 | 50 | 10.3 (0.405) | 2.74 (0.108) | PE foam | 0.85 | 100 (0.068) | 0.32 | 0.67 | low loss RG-213 type |
| BELDEN 9221 | 75 | 2.46 (0.097) | 0.3 (0.012) | PE foam | 0.78 | 9 (0.006) | 1.9 | 4.4 | |
| BELDEN 89907 | 50 | 4.1 (0.160) | 0.94 (0.032) AWG #20 | FEP foam | 0.80 | 33 (0.022) | 1.1 | 2.6 | “Thin Ethernet” |
| BELDEN 735A1 | 75 | 3.3 (0.129) | 0.4 (0.016) AWG #26 | PE foam | 0.76 | 18 (0.012) | 1.5 | 3.0 |
PARALLEL CONDUCTOR FEEDLINE DATA TABLE
| type | Zo | width mm (inch) | conductor mm (inch) | insulation | velocity factor | weight g / m ( lb / ft ) | dB loss 30m (100 ft) @ 40m | dB loss 30m (100 ft) @10m | comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireman 551 | 400 | 23.6 (0.97) | 1.0 (0.040) AWG #18 | PE | 0.9 | 0.26 | 0.35 | window line | |
| Wireman 552 | 380 | 23.6 (0.97) | 1.29 (0.051) AWG #16 | PE | 0.92 | 0.36 | 0.41 | window line | |
| Wireman 553 | 395 | 23.6 (0.97) | 1.0 (0.040) AWG #18 | PE | 0.90 | 0.22 | 0.46 | window line | |
| Wireman 554 | 360 | 23.6 (0.97) | 1.62 (0.064) AWG #14 | PE | 0.93 | 0.18 | 0.31 | window line | |
| 300 Ohm twinlead (nominal) | 300 | PE | 0.8 | 0.25 | 0.54 | twinlead | |||
| Channel Master 9354 | 300 | 10.4 (0.41) | 0.81 (0.032) AWG #20 | PE foam | 0.81 | 30.5 (0.020) | 0.25 | 0.52 | twinlead |
| Archer 15-1175 | 300 | 10.4 (0.41) | 1.0 (0.040) AWG #18 | PE foam | 0.79 | 31.8 (0.021) | 0.28 | 0.60 | twinlead |
| flat – unmarked | 300 | 8 (0.315) | 0.81 (0.032) AWG #20 | PE | 0.81 | 17 (0.011) | 0.33 | 0.68 | twinlead |
| Archer 15-1153 | 300 | 8 (0.315) | 0.64 (0.025) AWG #22 | PE | 0.79 | 17.3 (0.012) | 0.36 | 0.80 | twinlead “indoor” |
| 450 ohm open wire line | 470 | 25 (1.0) | 1.0 (0.040) AWG #18 | air | 0.95 | 20 (0.013) | 0.12 | 0.25 | traditional “ladder line” |
| 600 ohm open wire line | 600 | 150 (6.0) | 2.0 (0.08) AWG #12 | air | 0.95 | 75 (0.050) | 0.05 | 0.11 | traditional “ladder line” |
| speaker cable #1 | 135 | 36 (0.142) | 0.8 (0.032) AWG #20 | PVC | 0.66 | 15 (0.010) | 1.9 | 6.0 | |
| speaker cable #2 | 130 | 0.51 (0.020) AWG #24 | PVC | 0.66 | 2.34 | 6.6 | |||
| “zip cord” | 105 | 5.75 (0.226) | 1.0 (0.040) AWG #18 | PVC | 0.66 | 30 (0.020) | 2.3 | 6.5 | AC power cord |
| CAT-5 pair | 100 | 2.0 (0.079) | 0.51 (0.020) AWG #24 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 3.6 | twisted pair from computer network cable BELDEN 1533 |
notes
RG– types are (or were) US military standards. Some of these have variations that I haven’t attempted to capture here. Vendors may describe a product like, “RG-58 type”, meaning it is somewhat similar to the standard (for example, the same outside diameter or impedance) but not meeting all details of the specification.
UR– numbers are British standard cables
LMR– numbers are low loss foam types made by Times Microwave. Other vendors make similar low-loss cables.
Wireman types may now be discontinued, but other vendors sell products using the same 3-digit numbers. Some of these use stranded copper-clad steel wire, which will have higher losses than solid copper wire of the same size, especially at lower frequencies.
BELDEN part numbers are given for many cable types: this is for those who want more detailed information from a datasheet. The last entries are Belden products that don’t have a corresponding RG number, but that may be useful in some situations.
Zo is the characteristic impedance of the line.
Loss values are Matched Line Loss.
Loss values in purple may be higher due to the use of copper-clad steel for the center conductor, especially if it is stranded. Generally this is more of an issue below 10 MHz or so, but with some cables the effect can be measurable throughout the HF range. (Most of these cables have been updated with actual data, but I’m leaving this option available.)
Cables with PVC insulation between the conductors are not designed for RF use, and the losses can vary a lot depending on the additives used in the plastic. Generally the losses increase quickly above 5 MHz or so. The effect can be clearly seen by comparing the losses for “speaker cable #2” with “CAT-5 pair”, both of which use the same size conductors.
PE = polyethylene