Shortly after venturing into the world of cables, you’ll probably realize that it’s a bit more complex than you might have thought. Fear not, though – we’ve compiled a glossary of some cable-related terms to aid in the search for your cable needs. As always, feel free to call us with any questions you may have.
MHz:
Megahertz (one million cycles per second). Formerly mc.
Mil:
A unit used in measuring diameter of a wire or thickness of insulation over a conductor. One one-thousandth of an inch (.001”).
Mutual Capacitance:
Capacitance between two conductors when all other conductors including ground are connected together and then regarded as an ignored ground.
OFHC:
Abbreviation for Oxygen-Free High Conductivity copper. It has no residual deoxidant, 99.95% minimum copper content and an average annealed conductivity of 101%
Ohm:
A unit of electrical resistance.
Oxygen Index:
Percentage of oxygen necessary to support combustion in a gas mixture.
Quad-shield:
Four layers of shielding
Peripheral Device:
An auxiliary device, such as a hard drive, printer or modem that works alongside a computer.
PS/2:
A connector that joins a keyboard or a mouse to PC compatible systems. They use color-coded connection ports (green for mouse, purple for keyboard).
Rated Temperature:
The maximum temperature at which an electric component can operate for extended periods without loss of its basic properties.
Rated Voltage:
The maximum voltage at which an electric component can operate for extended periods without undue degradation or safety hazard.
RF:
Abbreviation for radio frequency, a signal that does not require line of sight for transmission. In cables, RF cables (also known as “coaxial”) can operate under high bandwidths without RF interference.
RGB:
Abbreviation for the red, green and blue signal, which typically is found on digital video devices such as computer screens and digital cameras.
RG/U:
“RG” is the military designation for “Radio Guide” coaxial cable, and “U” stands for “general Utility”
SACD:
Abbreviation for Super Audio Compact Disc, a high-resolution audio disc format.
SATA:
Abbreviation for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment, a new standard computer bus evolved from the Parallel AT A physical storage interface. SAT A uses serial signaling technology to transfer data to and from a hard drive. SAT A cables are thinner than Parallel AT As and thus, can be connected to more devices while maintaining signal integrity.
SCSI:
Abbreviation for Small Computer System Interface, which offers high-speed access from a computer to internal and external peripheral devices such as DVD and CD-ROM drives.
Sheath:
The outer covering or jacket of a multi-conductor cable.
Shield:
In cables, a metallic layer placed around a conductor or group of conductors to prevent electrostatic or electromagnetic interference between the enclosed wires and external fields.
Strand:
A single uninsulated wire.
Subwoofer:
A speaker specifically designed to reproduce low-frequency sounds usually between the ranges of 20 to 120 Hz.
SVGA:
Super VGA, with a video graphics resolution of 800 x 600 pixels.
S-Video
Short for Super Video, a means of transmitting video signals over a cable by dividing the video information into two separate signals: color and brightness.
Tensile Strength:
The pull stress required to break a wire/cable.
Toslink:
A fiber optic cable standard used to carry a digital audio signal.
Triaxial Cable:
A cable construction having three coincident axes, such as a conductor, first shield and a second shield all insulated from one another.
UHF:
Abbreviation for Ultra High Frequency, 300 to 3,000 MHz.
UL:
Abbreviation for Underwriters Laboratories, a nonprofit independent organization, which operates a listing service for electrical and electronic materials and equipment.
VHF:
An Abbreviation for Very High Frequency, 30 to 300 MHz.
Volt:
A unit of electromotive force.
Voltage Rating:
The highest voltage that may be continuously applied to a wire in a conformance with standards or specifications.
Watt:
A unit of electric power.
Wave Length:
The distance measured in the direction of a propagation, of a repetitive electrical pulse or waveform between two successive points that are characterized by the same phase of vibration.
Wire:
A conductor, either bare or insulated.
XLR:
Abbreviation for eXternal Left Right connector, an audio plug and socket used in professional audio equipment. These connectors are twice the size of RCA plugs and sockets, and use a balanced connection.
