What advantages does Radio Frequency over Fiber (RFoF) offer beyond traditional RF connectivity?

In the world of modern communication technologies, radio frequency (RF) coaxial connectivity plays an important role in transmitting high-frequency signals. HUBER+SUHNER is a leading manufacturer of high-performance RF and microwave cable connectivity. In addition, the company leverages its advanced innovations in RF-over-Fiber technology that provides additional benefits beyond that of conventional connectivity solutions.

Coaxial cables consist of a central inner conductor surrounded by a dielectric insulator and a concentric outer conductor. The electromagnetic field is propagated in the dielectric between the inner and outer conductors in a well-defined manner, providing excellent shielding between the electric fields inside and outside the coaxial cable.

Advantages of Coaxial Cables:

• Simplicity and Availability: Coaxial cables are widely used and easy to install.
• Cost: Generally less expensive than optical systems.
• Robustness: Physically robust and resistant to mechanical stress.
• Minimised signal distortion: No saturation effects due to lack of active components leading to high dynamic range. 

While coaxial cables continue to be used in many applications due to their simplicity and cost, RFoF offers significant advantages in terms of cable length, signal quality, bandwidth, and interference resistance. The choice between these technologies depends on the specific requirements of the application.