There are a wide number of RF cable types that you might run into in industry or even CSE 4340 (Fundamentals of Wireless Networks) or CSE 4377 (Wireless Communication Systems). Here in the SD labs, you will only see a few of them.
Cable Types
There are two most common type of coaxial cable used in modern environments – “RG” and “LMR”.
Most Coaxial cable uses a foam dielectric, so care must be taken (especially for outdoor cables) when crimping/soldering connectors to use an adhesive-type heatshrink. Otherwise, moisture can wick down through the outer braid into the foam, disrupt the impedance to the cable, and eventually cause a moisture-short between the center conductor and the outer braid.
RG
RG is an old military cable title, “Radio Guide”. It is an ambiguous specification for which cable is made by multiple manufacturers.
RG-174 – 0.110″ Jacket, 0.019″ Center Conductor. Datasheet: https://www.pasternack.com/images/ProductPDF/RG174A-U.pdf
RG-58 – 0.195″ Jacket, 0.036″ Center Conductor. Datasheet: https://www.pasternack.com/images/ProductPDF/RG58C-U.pdf
RG-59 – 0.242″ Jacket, 0.022″ Center Conductor. 75 Ohm Impedance. Datasheet: https://www.pasternack.com/images/ProductPDF/RG59B-U.pdf
RG-6 – 0.332″ Jacket, 0.029″ Center Conductor. 75 Ohm Impedance. Datasheet: https://www.pasternack.com/images/ProductPDF/RG6A-U.pdf
RG-11 – 0.405″ Jacket, 0.048″ Center Conductor. 75 Ohm Impedance. Datasheet: https://www.pasternack.com/images/ProductPDF/RG11A-U.pdf
RG-8 – 0.405″ Jacket, 0.085″ Center Conductor. Datasheet: https://www.pasternack.com/images/ProductPDF/RG8A-U.pdf
RG-213 – 0.405″ Jacket, 0.090″ Center Conductor. Datasheet: https://www.pasternack.com/images/ProductPDF/RG213-U.pdf
LMR
LMR is made by Times Microwave and is generally labeled as “LMR” plus the nearest tenth of an inch of cable diameter. All LMR cables are nominal 50 ohm impedance.
LMR 195 – 0.195″ Jacket, 0.037″ Center Conductor. Datasheet: https://timesmicrowave.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/lmr-195-datasheet.pdf
LMR 240 – 0.240″ Jacket, 0.056″ Center Conductor. Datasheet: https://timesmicrowave.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/lmr-240-datasheet.pdf
LMR 400 – 0.405″ Jacket, 0.108″ Center Conductor. Datasheet: https://timesmicrowave.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/lmr-400-datasheet.pdf
LMR 600 – 0.590″ Jacket, 0.176″ Center Conductor. Datasheet: https://timesmicrowave.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/lmr-600-coax-cables-datasheet.pdf
Video
The videos below are courtesy of the Electrical Engineering Department. They demonstrates the installation of various connector onto various coaxial cable.