Everything about Coax for CB Radios (Part 1)

The cable connecting your radio to your antenna, or the coaxial cable, is one of the most critical parts to your set up. After all, it is the line that links everything you say and receive on your radio system. In this two-part article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about coax so you can find the right one for you!  

There are a few terms to become familiar with first, the center conductor is the wire at the center of the cable, insulator is the material surrounding the center conductor, the shield surrounds the insulator, and the jacket is the outer covering of the entire cable. When propagation velocity is discussed, it is referring to the travel speed of the signal in the cable.  

For mobile installations, we recommend utilizing a stranded center conductor because of its durability. These are normally found in RG-8X type coax. For insulation, the two most common types are foam and plastic types. Plastic is more durable; however, it isn’t as fast as foam. If you are working with low frequency communications, this loss of speed is negligible, and we would recommend plastic.  

Check out the Astatic RG-8X cable or browse our many other coax cable offerings!  

We hope you found this information informative on learning a little more about coax cables, linked below are a few to check out! At CB Radio Supply, we are dedicated to ensuring you get all the tools and help you need to run your radio system as smoothly as possible. Give us a call to speak with our expert staff today!