What factors cause insertion loss or attenuation in cables?

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Multiple Choice

What factors cause insertion loss or attenuation in cables?

Insertion loss in cables rises mainly with temperature because copper’s resistance increases as it gets hotter. When the conductor warms, more of the signal energy is dissipated as heat rather than carried along the line, so attenuation grows. This temperature effect is significant enough that attenuation ratings are defined at a reference temperature (typically around 20°C), and higher ambient temperatures lead to higher attenuation. In addition, elevated temperatures can worsen dielectric losses and accelerate insulation aging, which can further increase loss over longer runs. Mechanical stress from bending or pulling can cause micro-bending losses that add to attenuation, but that’s an installation-related issue rather than the fundamental, temperature-driven change in conductor resistance. UV exposure predominantly degrades jacket material and comfort of the cable outdoors; it doesn’t directly raise the copper’s insertion loss unless jacket damage leads to moisture ingress or other problems. Humidity can affect moisture in the dielectric and potentially increase loss in some cases, but it’s not the primary driver of insertion loss under normal conditions.

Insertion loss in cables rises mainly with temperature because copper’s resistance increases as it gets hotter. When the conductor warms, more of the signal energy is dissipated as heat rather than carried along the line, so attenuation grows. This temperature effect is significant enough that attenuation ratings are defined at a reference temperature (typically around 20°C), and higher ambient temperatures lead to higher attenuation. In addition, elevated temperatures can worsen dielectric losses and accelerate insulation aging, which can further increase loss over longer runs.

Mechanical stress from bending or pulling can cause micro-bending losses that add to attenuation, but that’s an installation-related issue rather than the fundamental, temperature-driven change in conductor resistance. UV exposure predominantly degrades jacket material and comfort of the cable outdoors; it doesn’t directly raise the copper’s insertion loss unless jacket damage leads to moisture ingress or other problems. Humidity can affect moisture in the dielectric and potentially increase loss in some cases, but it’s not the primary driver of insertion loss under normal conditions.

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