The following table shows coax type and the attenuation (measured in db) you can expect by frequency of use per 100 feet of cable.
Data gathered from:
From Barry McLarnon, VE3JF, Attenuation of Coaxial Transmission Lines in the VHF/UHF/Microwave Amateur and ISM Bands
LDF6-50 | 1.550" | 0.34 | - | 0.617 | 0.907 | 1.22 | 1.45 | 2.50 |
LMR-1700 | 1.670" | 0.347 | 0.427 | 0.427 | 0.632 | 1.267 | 1.50 | - |
Helliax LDF5 | 1.090" | 0.458 | - | 0.834 | 1.23 | 1.66 | 1.97 | - |
LMR-1200 | 1.200" | 0.481 | 0.589 | 0.864 | 1.26 | 1.69 | 1.99 | - |
LMR-900 | 0.870" | 0.619 | 0.755 | 1.10 | 1.60 | 2.12 | 2.49 | - |
LMR-600 | 0.590" | 0.964 | 1.18 | 1.72 | 2.50 | 3.31 | 3.90 | 7.3 |
HELIAX FSJ4 | 0.630" | 0.845 | - | 1.51 | 2.20 | 2.93 | 3.45 | - |
LMR-500 | 0.500" | 1.22 | 1.49 | 2.17 | 3.13 | 4.13 | 4.84 | - |
HELIAX FSJ4 | 0.520" | 1.29 | - | 2.32 | 3.38 | 4.50 | 5.31 | - |
LMR-400 | 0.405" | 1.5 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 3.9 | 5.1 | 6.0 | 10.8 |
Belden 9913 | 0.405" | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 4.2 | 5.6 | 6.7 | 13.8 |
Ultra-Link | 0.405" | 1.5 | - | 2.7 | 4.19 | - | 6.7 | - |
RG213/RG214 | 0.405" | 2.8 | 3.5 | 5.2 | 8.0 | 10.1 | 15.2 | 28.6 |
HELIAX FSJ1 | 0.300" | 2.23 | - | 3.93 | 5.687 | 7.47 | 8.73 | - |
LMR-240 | 0.240" | 3.0 | 3.7 | 5.3 | 7.6 | 9.9 | 11.5 | 20.4 |
ProFlex 800 | 0.242" | - | - | 7.8 | - | - | - | - |
Belden RG8X | 0.242" | 4.7 | 6.0 | 8.6 | 12.8 | 15.9 | 23.1 | 40.9 |
LMR-200 | 0.195" | 4.0 | 4.8 | 6.9 | 9.9 | 12.9 | 15.0 | - |
Ultra-Link | 0.195" | 5.1 | - | 9.5 | 14.0 | - | 36 | - |
RG-58 | 0.195" | 6.2 | 7.4 | 10.6 | 16.5 | 21.1 | 32.2 | 51.6 |
LMR-100 | 0.150" | 8.9 | 10.9 | 15.8 | 22.8 | 30.0 | 35.0 | - |
Data gathered from:
- Hutton Antenna Supply Catalog, 1997, p. 144
- Barry McLarnon, VE3JF, Attenuation of Coaxial Transmission Lines in the VHF/UHF/Microwave Amateur and ISM Bands
Other Info:
- The LMR series is manufactured by Times Microwave.
- 9913 is manufactured by Belden Corp.
- RG-series cables are manufactured by Belden and many others.
- The LDF series are foam dielectric, solid corrugated outer conductor cables, best known by the brand name HELIAX (®Andrew Corp.).
- Attenuation at any frequency = (K1 x SqRt(Fmhz) + K2 x Fmhz)