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Cable Loss Calculator
Estimate the attenuation of an RF coaxial cable by type and frequency. Model A (dB/100m) = K1 x sqrt(f_MHz) + K2 x f_MHz.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does cable loss increase with frequency?
The skin effect causes the AC resistance of a conductor to increase with frequency (proportional to sqrt(f)). Additionally, dielectric losses increase linearly with frequency. Overall, the attenuation of a coaxial cable approximately follows A (dB) = K1 x sqrt(f) + K2 x f. This is why an LMR-400 cable shows ~7 dB/100 m at 900 MHz and ~15 dB/100 m at 5800 MHz.
Which cables are typically used for cell sites?
Macro sites use rigid coaxial cables such as Andrew Heliax (LDF4 1/2 inch, LDF5 7/8 inch, LDF7 1-5/8 inch) for feeders over several meters. Short jumpers between RRU and antenna are often LMR-400 or LMR-600. For 5G massive MIMO, fiber optics (CPRI / eCPRI) with remote RRH are used, which eliminates the RF cable loss problem entirely.
What is the acceptable loss for an RF chain?
On a cell site, the total loss (cable + connectors + PIM) should stay under 2-3 dB to avoid significantly degrading the link budget. Beyond that, tower-mounted RRUs (TMA, Tower Mounted Amplifier) or fiber-connected remote RRHs are used to eliminate losses.
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