Cable Loss Guide

 

 
Coaxial Cable Loss (dB) 
per 100'  (30.5m)
   
VHF, UHF, SHF
 
 
 
Cable
Type		 144
MHz		 220
MHz		 450
MHz		 915
MHz		 1.2
GHz		 2.4
GHz		 5.8
GHz
RG-174 10.1 12.5 18.1 26.1 30.1 na na
RG-58 5.0 6.5 9.7 15.0 17.8 28.3 na
RG-8X 4.2 5.3 8.0 12.3 14.6 22.8 na
LMR-240 3.0 3.7 5.3 7.6 9.2 12.9 na
RG213/214 2.8 3.5 5.2 8.0 10.1 15.2 na
RG-8/U 2.4 3.0 4.5 6.7 7.9 12.1 na
9913 1.6 1.9 2.8 4.2 5.2 7.7 13.8
LMR-400 1.5 1.8 2.7 3.9 4.8 6.8 10.8
LDF2   3/8" 1.3 1.6 2.3 3.4 4.2 5.9 8.1
LMR-600 0.95 1.2 1.7 2.5 3.1 4.4 7.3
LDF4    1/2" 0.88 1.0 1.5 2.1 2.5 3.6 6.0
LDF5    7/8" 0.44 0.55 0.81 1.2 1.4 2.1 3.5
LDF6  1 1/4" 0.31 0.39 0.57 0.85 1.0 1.5 2.6
LDF7  1 5/8" 0.28 0.35 0.52 0.77 0.96 1.4 2.5
             
Doubling power increases your signal 3 decibels. 
3db of loss is equivalent to cutting your power in half.
6db of loss is equivalent to cutting your power in half again.

Example:
10W with 3db of loss =   5.0W
10W with 6db of loss =   2.5W
10W with 9db of loss = 1.25W

Cable loss impacts receive as well as transmit. 
Quality cable is a solid investment.
 

Fill in the Input info, hit the "Calculate Button..."
the accuracy of this calculator is probably ok, it gives you some good ideas about your feed line.
 

Input:

  
  Results:
   
Cable Type
   
Cable Length Feet Meters
   
Frequency  MHz
   
SWR Match  : 1
   
Input Power W
   
Matched Loss:  dB
   
SWR Loss:  dB
   
Total Loss:  dB
   
Power getting to the antenna:  W
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