Extremely Fine Coaxial Cable vs RF Coaxial Cable: Comprehensive Analysis of Differences, Features, and Applications

Under the background of continuously improving high-speed data transmission and the continuous trend of electronic devices towards thinness and lightness, various interconnect cables are also upgraded. The ultra-fine coaxial cable assembly (Micro Coaxial Cable Assembly) and the traditional射频同轴线 (RF Coaxial Cable) are the two most common types of coaxial structure wire materials at present. However, there are significant differences between them in terms of structural design, application fields, and transmission performance. In order to help engineers better understand the characteristics of the two, the following analysis will be made from multiple perspectives, including definition, structure, signal characteristics, and application scenarios.

 

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What is ultra-fine coaxial cable?

Micro coaxial cable is a type of coaxial cable with an ultra-small outer diameter, commonly with conductor sizes ranging from AWG 36 to 46, or even finer. The cable consists of a central conductor, an insulating layer, a metallic shielding layer, and an outer sheath, with the overall diameter typically less than 0.3mm. Due to its high flexibility, small size, and precise impedance control, extremely thin coaxial cables are particularly suitable for high-speed differential signal transmission. For example, this type of miniature cable is widely used in connections between smartphone camera modules and mainboards, laptop screen cables, and internal signal lines of VR/AR display modules.


 

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What is a traditional RF radio frequency coaxial cable?

Traditional RF coaxial cables are a type of coaxial cable with a long history of application. The typical diameter range varies from AWG 28 to AWG 10. They are mainly used in radio communication, broadcasting and television, radar, base stations, and laboratory instruments, with the design focus on low-loss transmission of continuous sine wave signals within the frequency range of MHz to tens of GHz. Common interfaces include SMA, N-type, and BNC, with high standardization and mature processing methods.


 

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Three, differences in structure
The major difference between the two types of coaxial cables lies in their size and design direction. Traditional射频 coaxial cables have a larger diameter, emphasizing shielding and long-distance transmission capabilities, and are suitable for use in antennas,射频 front-end devices, and test equipment. In contrast, extremely thin coaxial cables employ extremely small wire diameters (such as AWG 36~46), allowing multiple wire bundles to be densely arranged in a limited space, achieving high-density, high-precision high-speed interconnections, which are more suitable for wiring needs in the narrow spaces of smart devices.

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Difference in Signal Transmission Performance

Traditional RF coaxial cables are mainly used for the transmission of continuous waveform RF signals, emphasizing low loss, low reflection, and strong shielding capabilities. Extremely fine coaxial cable bundles focus on the integrity of high-speed digital signals (such as MIPI, PCIe, USB4, HDMI) under high frequencies. It is necessary to maintain extremely low insertion loss, strict impedance consistency, and excellent crosstalk suppression performance to ensure link stability and good eye diagram performance. Therefore, the design objectives of the two are different, and the optimization directions are also completely different.

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The difference in application scenarios

5.1 Traditional RF coaxial cables are suitable for RF communication links such as antennas, base stations, radars, broadcasting systems, and experimental instruments, mainly for transmitting continuous RF signals.

5.2 Extremely fine coaxial cables are widely used in consumer electronics, high-speed interconnections, and precision equipment, such as mobile phone camera modules, laptop screen display cables, in-vehicle high-definition display systems, AR/VR display modules, etc., transmitting high-speed digital data.


 

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Six, the difference between processing and assembly
The processing difficulty of extremely fine coaxial cable bundles is significantly higher than that of traditional射频 coaxial cables. Due to their extremely small diameter, processing requires high-precision stripping, crimping, welding, and assembly techniques, and it must be matched with special high-speed connectors for termination to ensure signal integrity. Meanwhile, traditional射频 coaxial cable interfaces have a high degree of standardization, such as SMA, BNC, N-type, etc., are mature in processing, and the assembly process is relatively easy to control.

The ultra-fine coaxial cable束 is not a substitute for traditional射频 coaxial cables, but rather they each play their respective advantages in different application scenarios. The ultra-fine coaxial cable is more suitable for internal interconnection of high-speed digital signals and miniaturized equipment, while traditional射频 coaxial cables have irreplaceable stability and low loss performance in the射频 communication field. Engineers should comprehensively evaluate the signal type, equipment structure, wiring space, and performance requirements when selecting cables to achieve the optimal system design.

I amSuzhou Huichengyuan Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.,Long-term focused on the design and customization of high-speed signal cable harnesses and ultra-fine coaxial cable harnesses, committed to providing stable and reliable high-speed interconnection solutions. If you have related needs or want to learn more, please contact:Manager Yin 18913280527 (WeChat same number)。