Coax (coaxial) cable is one of the oldest types of cables, having been in use for over 100 years. Like ethernet, coax cables come in both solid and stranded versions, although they are usually solid. Only a few types of coax, namely RG58 and RG8, are available as stranded.

Most coax cables fall into one of two categories, RG (Radio Guide) and LMR. No one is 100% sure what LMR actually stands for. It could stand for a term, someone’s name, or just be random letters. There are many rumors and theories for what LMR may mean but nobody really knows for sure.

RG cables are labeled “RG#” with the number formerly standing for the diameter of the cable. For example, RG59 cable originally had a diameter of .059”. While these measurements have changed over the years, the names of the cables have stuck. There are many types of RG cables and this article will only review the most common variants. Typically, RG cables have a 50 or 75 ohm impedance. Some off-shoot cables have different impedance, but all the standard RG cables covered here will be one of those two.

LMR cable is owned by the company Times Microwave. While the cables and name LMR are their property, other companies will frequently make equivalent cable, such as ShowMeCables EMR cables. These cables are labeled “LMR-#”, with the number being a rough estimate of the cable thickness. For example, LMR-400 has a 0.405” OD (outer diameter). LMR, like RG, has a few main types that this article will cover but off-shoot versions are also available.

LMR is all 50 ohm cable (with one exception, covered below under LMR-400). Except for LMR-100, all the LMR cables are also made in UltraFlex versions for situations where extra flexibility is needed. Being newer than RG cable, LMR is better overall and most types of LMR cable were designed to replace specific RG cables.

Types of common RG cable include:

  • RG58
  • RG59
  • RG6
  • RG11
  • RG8
  • RG174
  • RG178
  • RG316

Types of LMR cable include:

  • LMR-100
  • LMR-195
  • LMR-200
  • LMR-240
  • LMR-400
  • LMR-600

RG Cables

RG58

RG58 is a common cable used for 50 ohm applications, measuring 20 AWG. Today it is mostly used on devices that need only audio or video instead of both, like a HAM radio or security camera.

RG8

RG8 is a thicker 50 ohm cable, at 12 AWG, that can provide a stronger signal than RG58. It is mainly used for amateur radio. There is also a version called RG8X, which is thinner at 16 AWG but provides similar signal quality.

RG59

RG59 is the 75 ohm alternative to RG58, also measuring 20 AWG. It used to be used for cable television but has largely been replaced by newer, more effective coax cables.

RG6

RG6 is the successor to RG59, measuring at 18 AWG. Also a 75 ohm cable, RG6 is better shielded and carries HD signals for greater distances. Currently, this is the standard cable used for cable television, satellite television, and cable internet modems.

RG11

RG11 is another 75 ohm cable that is thicker than RG6 at 14 AWG. The thickness makes it less flexible but ideal for long runs. It is commonly used in place of RG6 when distance is an issue.

RG174

RG174 is a thinner variant of 50 ohm cable at 26 AWG. Its thinness provides extra flexibility but signal loss is higher compared to RG58. This cable is most commonly used for Wi-Fi pigtails.

RG178

RG178 is also 50 ohm and used for high-frequency signals, with a maximum attenuation of 42.7 @ 900 MHz (almost double the max attenuation of RG174). This cable is very thin at 30 AWG, making it best for short distance runs.

RG316

RG316 is an alternative to RG178. RG316 is twice the size of RG178 at 26 AWG, giving it half the attenuation but also cutting down on signal loss.

LMR Cables

LMR-100

LMR-100 is very thin, being designed to replace RG-174. It possesses more than double the shielding of RG-174, cutting down on signal loss significantly.

LMR-195

LMR-195 was made as a replacement for RG58. With superior shielding, signal loss is decreased anywhere from 20% to 33% depending on the distance of the cable.

LMR-200

LMR-200 also replaces RG58 and has the same 0.195” OD as LMR-195 cable. The difference is that LMR-200 has a slightly thicker center conductor, allowing it to cut down on signal loss a bit better than LMR-195.

LMR-240

LMR-240 was made to replace RG8X. Signal loss using LMR-240 is 35% to 64% less than RG8X, with fluctuations depending on the overall distance the signal travels.

LMR-400

LMR-400 is arguably the most common LMR cable, being a replacement for RG8. There is also a version called LMR-400-75, the only LMR cable capable of running at 75 ohm.

LMR-600

LMR-600 was not made to act as a replacement to RG coax like the other LMR cables. Instead, it was built to be a very thick and powerful cable for long distance runs. LMR-600 is primarily used for powerful satellite frequency transmissions, being able to run signals from 100 to 500 feet.