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Impact of Frequency on Coaxial Cable Signal Loss

What happens as the frequency of a signal in coaxial cable is increased?

The characteristic impedance decreases

This answer is not correct because the characteristic impedance of a coaxial cable is designed to remain constant and does not decrease with increasing frequency.

The loss decreases

This answer is not correct because, in reality, the loss actually increases with higher frequencies, not decreases.

The characteristic impedance increases

This answer is not correct because the characteristic impedance of a coaxial cable does not increase with frequency; it is typically designed to be a fixed value.

The loss increases

This answer is correct because as the frequency increases, the loss in the coaxial cable increases due to higher dielectric and conductor losses.

Explanation

As the frequency of a signal in coaxial cable increases, the loss associated with the transmission also increases. This phenomenon is crucial for amateur radio operators to understand because it affects how far and how clearly signals can be transmitted. Coaxial cables are commonly used for carrying RF (radio frequency) signals, and at higher frequencies, the inherent properties of the cable, such as dielectric losses and resistance, cause more significant signal degradation. Therefore, when planning a radio setup, especially for higher frequency operations, choosing the right type of coaxial cable and considering its loss characteristics at those frequencies is essential to ensure efficient signal transmission.

T9B05 2022-2026

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