Cable type is very important to the overall performance of the RFID implementation. Ensuring you use the right cable cut to the right length and using the right ends can have a drastic impact on your readers ability to detect tags. Quality cable guarantees you'll get maximum distance and faster reads.
Low loss cable with high conductivity connectors reduce your potential signal noise, providing the reader with a clean, easy to interpret signal that results in a faster read rate.
SkyRFID supplies high quality LMR 240, LMR 400 and LMR 600 UV resistant polyethylene jacketed cable. We also stock LMR -DB which is watertight at very competitive prices.
All LMR cable is very flexible, low loss and provides better shielding than typical coax cable which typically results in 50 dB greater signal clarity. Higher LMR numbers are thicker cables with better attenutation. As an example;
LMR 240 has an attenuation of 24.8 dB per 100 meters (7.6 dB/100ft) at 900 MHz.
LMR 400 has an attenuation of 12.8 dB per 100 meters (3.9 dB/100 ft) at 900 MHz.
RG-58 Type - 17 AWG has an attenuation of 30.1 dB per 100 meters () at 900 MHz. Or 1/4 the signal strengh of the LMR 240 cable.
RG-58 Type - 19 AWG has an attenuation of 33.8 dB per 100 meters () ay 900 MHz. Or 1/8 the signal strengh the LMR 240 cabling would provide.
RG-58 Type cable not intented for RF signals performs even worse, with attentuations between 40 dB per 100 meters and 54.5 dB per 100 meters.
That signal is 32x to 1000x weaker
If you've purchased a top quality reader and high grade antenna, make sure they can perform by not using cables that severely limit them. You can read more about signal interferance and the importance of attenuation on our RFID Antenna Tutorial page. More details are available on our RFID Education pages.
125 kHz.
wavelength is
2,400 meters or 7,860 feet
13.56 MHz.
wavelength is
22 meters or 73 feet
433 MHz.
wavelength is
0.6924 meters or 2 feet 3.25 inches
900 MHz.
wavelength is
0.3323 meters or 1 foot 11.55 inches
NOTE: The 915 MHz. wavelength is 0.3246 meters ( 1 foot 9.5 inches). This measurable difference becomes more noticable the longer the cable gets. Whole wavelength cables provide the best signal strength.
The proper quality ends are just as important to the overall read rate. Depending on which type of cable you need and the LMR rating you'll need different connectors. Conectors are supplied as straight connectors or 90° dependant on installation requirements.
Some of the more common cable ends are: Male N end cable connector for Most Gen 2 Antennas, Male RP-TNC for many cable to Reader end connectors and RP-SMA Female for other cable to Reader connections. Make sure you know the cable end connections and the cable length before you order your cables.
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