Use of coaxial cables and connectors in WLAN systems

Original Polish version by Lukasz Sawicki

The range of wireless network depends on many factors. The user has influence on some of them, others cannot be changed in a specific environment. The main factors are:

factors connected with the features of the devices used:

output power
attenuation of cables
gain of antennas
sensitivity

external conditions:

attenuation between antennas (it can be assessed using FSL model)
interferences coming from other systems/devices (they cannot be assessed - it is only possible to reserve some power margin to overwhelm them)
existing physical obstacles (walls, ceilings, trees etc.)

The loss of power in the cable can be reduced by using coaxial cables working up to 6 GHz. Their attenuation at 2.4 GHz is considerably lower than that of typical cables used in this band.In 2006, DIPOL launched modern Tri-Lan cable family.Main features of Tri-Lan cables:

low attenuation (so much as 20% lower than in the case of H-155, or H-1000)
perfect impedance matching
high screening efficiency (90dB at 2.4GHz)
PE sheath resistant to UV radiation (Borealis LE 8707 - plastic from renown producer), which allows to use the cables outdoors.


The details of Tri-Lan 240 cable	The details of Tri-Lan 400 cable

Copper core
Diameter	1.4 mm
Mechanically foamed dielectric
Outer diameter	3.8 mm
Shielding
Al foil/Polyester/Al foil:	12/15/12 um
Covering factor	100 %
CuSn braid	16x7x0.12
Covering factor	80 %
Outer diameter	4.45 mm
Sheath
Material	PE
Outer diameter	6.10 mm
Color	black
Electrical parameters
Impedance	50 ohm
Capacitance	83 pF/m
Wave reduction factor	81 %
Screening efficiency	>90 dB
Resistance of the core	11.2 ohm/km
Resistance of the shielding	12.4 ohm/km
Other parameters
Minimum bending radius	30/60 mm
Weight	47 kg/km
Operating temperature	-40 to +70 deg C

Copper core
Diameter	2.7 mm
Mechanically foamed dielectric
Outer diameter	7.2 mm
Shielding
Al foil/Polyester/Al foil:	25/12 um
Covering factor	100 %
CuSn braid	24 x 7 x 0.15
Covering factor	83 %
Outer diameter	7.95 mm
Sheath
Material	PE
Outer diameter	10.3 mm
Color	black
Electrical parameters
Impedance	50 ohm
Capacitance	80 pF/m
Wave reduction factor	83 %
Screening efficiency	>90 dB
Resistance of the core	3.1 ohm/km
Resistance of the shielding	5.8 ohm/km
Other parameters
Minimum bending radius	50/100 mm
Weight	149.2 kg/km
Operating temperature	-40 to +70 deg C

In the 2.4 GHz band there can effectively operate (in the specific location) only 3 wireless networks. Popularity of WLAN technology is the reason that the needs are higher. The only solution for coexisting a larger number of WLANs is migration to 5 GHz band. The currently used coaxial cables Belden H-155 or H-1000 are not suitable for this change, especially H-155 - with stranded inner conductor. Its good equivalent allowing migration to 5 GHz band is Tri-Lan 240 E1171_100, with solid copper wire. It is very important difference strongly influencing parameters in the 5 GHz band. Below we show table comparing the two cables.

Comparison of Tri-Lan 240 and H155 cables

Data compared		Type of cable
Name		Tri-Lan 240	Belden H-155
Inner conductor		1.4 mm/solid wire (Cu)	1.35mm (19x0.28mm)/stranded conductor (Cu)
Capacitance [pF/m]		83	82
Screening efficiency [dB]		>90	>81
Inner conductor resistance [ohm/km]		11.2	15
Outer conductor resistance [ohm/km]		12.4	32
Attenuation [dB/100m]	1000 MHz	24.6	30.9
	2400 MHz	39.8	49.6
	5500 MHz	63.5	---

More technical details of Tri-Lan cables can be found on the catalog pages

Tri-Lan 240 E1171_100 and Tri-Lan 400 E1173_100

The important elements in the design and construction of WLAN installations are connectors for coaxial cables. When selecting the connectors, the key factors should be the frequency range, insertion and return loss.

DIPOL has introduced high quality connectors that can be used up to 6 GHz, designed for Tri-Lan 240 and Belden H-155 cables.

Below we present DIPOL connectors compared to other brands.


Cheap no-name connectors	DIPOL connectors	Expensive top-brand connectors

The most popular applications of the connectors:

	SMA/RP female connector is most commonly used in devices operating at 2.4 GHz to connect an external antenna.
SMA/RP female connector for Tri-Lan 240/H-155 cable (6 GHz) E84155
	SMA/RP male connector is most commonly used in devices operating at 2.4 GHz to connect an external antenna.
SMA/RP male connector for Tri-Lan 240/H-155 cable (6 GHz) E84150
	N-socket is most commonly used in devices (usually antennas) operating in 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. The sockets are also used is active devices like GSM, DCS , 3G amplifiers/repeaters.
N-socket for Tri-Lan 240/H-155 cable (6 GHz) E84135
	N-plugs are used to connect antennas to active devices.
N-plug for Tri-Lan 240/H-155 cable (6 GHz) E84130

Specifications:

Name		SMA/RP female	SMA/RP male	N-female	N-male
Code		E84155	E84150	E84135	E84130
Impedance [Ω]		50	50	50	50
Application		Tri-Lan 240, H-155
Frequency range [GHz]		0...18	0...18	0...11	0...11
VSWR		<1.3	<1.3	<1.3	<1.3
Contact resistance [mΩ]	Pin	6	6	3	3
Contact resistance [mΩ]	Outer contact	2	2	2	2
Insulation resistance [MΩ]		min. 5	min. 5	min. 5	min. 5

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