Are these a coaxial cables?

http://www.inmax.ca/images/rca-cable.gif

No. That is a Stereo RCA cable. Coax is RG-59/ RG-60 cable with "F" connectors.

Actually, I'd say there's a pretty good chance those cables are of coaxial construction.

I cut it in half. And stripped the outter plastic. What I found: 31 copper wires stranded in concentric formation around a small white tube, which enclosed 7 or 8 strands of copper itself. I imagine that when inside the outter black insulator, the 31 strands around the white tube make contact with eachother, in essence making a shield, albeit perhaps a poor one.

Actually, I'd say there's a pretty good chance those cables are of coaxial construction.

You can't call all shielded wire coax cable.

Coaxial cable should not be confused with other shielded cable used for carrying lower frequency signals such as audio signals. Shielded cable is similar in that it consists of a central wire or wires surrounded by a tubular shield conductor, but it is not constructed with the precise conductor spacing needed to function efficiently as a radio frequency transmission line.

This is the point I was getting at why that would not be considered coax cable.

Coaxial cable is used as a transmission line for radio frequency signals, in applications such as connecting radio transmitters and receivers with their antennas, computer network (Internet) connections, and distributing cable television signals. One advantage of coax over other types of transmission line is that in an ideal coaxial cable the electromagnetic field carrying the signal exists only in the space between the inner and outer conductors.

Coaxial cable (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaxial_cable)

"Coaxial cable" is a generic term, IMO, meaning only that the inner and outer conductors are concentric and share the same longitudinal axis.

I understand there are varying specifics that may or may not make any particular coaxial cable suitable for any given purpose. The example of shielded wire given by Wiki is actually similar to shielded twisted pair, which I agree isn't a coaxial cable.

This is my understanding too - although I usually only grace proper low loss RF type coaxial cable which has tightly wrapped braid with the term coaxial.

The cable in the illustration looks like 'screened cable' of (coaxial type) IMO.

Just my 3 ha'pence worth.

So although the construction may be the same (concentric conductors), a "true" coaxial cable will be constructed in such a way as to make the spacing between the conductors, and thus the thickness of the dialectic, very precise. This allows the cable to carry high frequency (RF) signals reliably.

This is what I got from the Wikipedia quotes.

So although the construction may be the same (concentric conductors), a "true" coaxial cable will be constructed in such a way as to make the spacing between the conductors, and thus the thickness of the dialectic, very precise. This allows the cable to carry high frequency (RF) signals reliably.

This is what I got from the Wikipedia quotes.

So you are saying the cable you dissected is a coaxial cable, just that it may not be the type of coaxial cable suitable for RF application?

I guess my point is that "coaxial" is a term/name for a general type of cable construction. It isn't intended to categorize the application/use of the cable, IMO.

So you are saying the cable you dissected is a coaxial cable, just that it may not be the type of coaxial cable suitable for RF application?

I guess my point is that "coaxial" is a term/name for a general type of cable construction. It isn't intended to categorize the application/use of the cable, IMO.

This is my understanding as well. :yes:

Coaxial cable is what your cable vision comes in on.
And there are NO "stupid" questions.

Coaxial cable is what your cable vision comes in on.


Yup, that is one type of coaxial cable.

I cut it in half. And stripped the outter plastic. What I found: 31 copper wires stranded in concentric formation around a small white tube, which enclosed 7 or 8 strands of copper itself. I imagine that when inside the outter black insulator, the 31 strands around the white tube make contact with eachother, in essence making a shield, albeit perhaps a poor one.

you actually counted the strands?

Why is the original question being asked? Are you wanting to use that wire in an application that called for coax vs something else. If so those are probably not what you want.

Based on my understanding I'm with Dennydog so my 2 cents is the pictured RCA cables are shielded cables. They *may* be coaxial depending on design properties of the insulation and the shielding... but they probably aren't.

I was asking for two reasons.

1) Intellectual curiousity.
2) To find out if indeed there was a difference between shielded and coaxial cables.

I appreciate the responses.

2) To find out if indeed there was a difference between shielded and coaxial cables.



What's your conclusion?

Based on my understanding I'm with Dennydog so my 2 cents is the pictured RCA cables are shielded cables. They *may* be coaxial depending on design properties of the insulation and the shielding... but they probably aren't.

Did you actually follow the link in that Wiki article for "shielded" audio cable and note the difference they eluded to?

Here's the example of shielded wire:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shielded_wire_4F.jpg

Here's the example of coaxial:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RG-59.jpg


What the OP described sure seems to be more representative of coaxial-type cable than of shielded cable, using Wiki's own examples.

you had to ask , didnt ya? (What's your conclusion?)

Of course. I like to bottom things out.

Did you actually follow the link in that Wiki article for "shielded" audio cable and note the difference they eluded to?

Here's the example of shielded wire:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shielded_wire_4F.jpg

Here's the example of coaxial:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RG-59.jpg


What the OP described sure seems to be more representative of coaxial-type cable than of shielded cable, using Wiki's own examples.

Yes I did actually before reading DennyDog's post. And the text on the wiki pages that you pulled the jpegs from are partially why I made the statement. Coax is by nature of its construction a shielded cable. But according to the the text on those wiki pages not all shielded cable is defined as coax. And to restate not all shielded cable, even though it has has the construction of a single inner conductor radially surrounded by a second braided (or wrapped) conductor, can be defined as coax.

I have no dispute that not all shielded cable is coaxial-type cable.

My point is that I disagree "coaxial" defines the use and technical properties, as it seems to be stated/implied. IMO, it only refers to the generic property of concentric geometric construction of the cable. A specific type of coaxial cable, such as RG-6, guides the general use and technical properties.

Here's a closeup of a "cheapie" audio cable like what was described early in the thread; actual O.D. is about 3mm. It certainly seems to align quite well with coaxial-type design characteristics, although the mashed end from my dull snips has somewhat distorted the shape. Granted, it's unlikely to be suited for RF use, but it still has all the coaxial geometry, and therefore in its basic form is a coaxial-type cable.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=143&pictureid=3782

Had the question been, "Will this cable work for digital audio connection or a video connection?". My response would have been different. Yes, it may work, but I doubt it is the proper type of cable. A 75 ohm cable like RG-59 or RG-6 should be used for that, although there are miniature coax cables, about the same size as the one pictured, that do have the correct impedance properties.