Published on 10/13/2026
RG213 and RG214 are nominal 50 Ω, roughly 10 mm-class coaxial cable families commonly considered for radio interconnects and HF/VHF feeder work. RG214 typically adds a second braid and silver-plated conductors; that does not automatically make it lower-loss or higher-power at every frequency. Select the exact cable and finished assembly for the transmitter conditions.
A radio may produce 500 W, but the feeder, connectors and ambient conditions decide whether that power can be carried safely. The cable name is not a power approval. Even a low attenuation percentage can mean meaningful heat at high RF power.
This guide uses published reference constructions 8267 and 8268 to compare RG213 specifications and RG214 vs RG213. Cable-only ratings remain separate from assembly limits, and no certification or qualification is implied by the family name.
On This Page
| Property | RG213 reference 8267 | RG214 reference 8268 |
|---|---|---|
| Conductor | 13 AWG, 7-strand bare copper | 13 AWG, 7-strand silver-plated copper |
| Dielectric | Solid PE | Solid PE |
| Shield | One 95% bare-copper braid | Two 95% silver-plated copper braids |
| Jacket / diameter | PVC / 10.3 mm | PVC / 10.8 mm |
| Impedance / velocity | 50 Ω / 66% | 50 Ω / 66% |
| Capacitance | 101 pF/m | 101 pF/m |
| Operating temperature | -40 °C to +80 °C | -40 °C to +80 °C |
| Installation bend radius | 100 mm | 108 mm |
Both references are commercial non-QPL products. A military-style cable designation does not mean a qualified source was supplied. If procurement requires qualification, approved source or traceability, specify the evidence and verify it before release. SigmaRF's aerospace and defense standards guide treats this separately from basic cable selection.
Key idea: A second braid is a construction difference, not proof of a particular screening value or a universal power advantage. Compare the required measured performance and selected parts.
The reference cables have identical nominal attenuation at the listed points through 1 GHz. Their published cable power tables differ by frequency. This is why "RG214 is always better" is not an engineering selection rule.
| Frequency | Both nominal loss dB/m | RG213 listed cable W | RG214 listed cable W |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 MHz | 0.043 | 1122 | 1500 |
| 100 MHz | 0.062 | 748 | 907 |
| 200 MHz | 0.089 | 494 | 549 |
| 400 MHz | 0.135 | 326 | 332 |
| 700 MHz | 0.213 | 235 | 221 |
| 1000 MHz | 0.262 | 194 | 171 |
These power figures are published cable data, not permission to operate an assembly at those levels. The extracted tables do not provide enough application conditions to approve your installation. Obtain the applicable derating basis for temperature, altitude, duty cycle, VSWR and installation. Connector ratings can be more restrictive.
At 100 MHz, 10 m contributes about 0.623 dB of nominal cable loss for either reference. At 400 MHz, that becomes about 1.345 dB. For a longer feeder, evaluate a lower-loss construction against the actual radio band and installation constraints. More shielding alone cannot recover transmission loss.
⚠️ Working voltage, test voltage, RF peak power and average thermal power are separate checks. Do not calculate transmitter permission from a 3700 V cable voltage line.
RG214 is worth considering when the approved double-braid construction fits a screening or interference requirement. RG213 may be enough when a single-braid construction meets the job. The decision should include shield termination, connector body continuity and the installation, not only cable braid count.
HF radio feedersVHF interconnectsRF equipment linksScreening-sensitive routes
Choose the approved RG213
A single-braid reference meets the RF, environmental and screening requirements and fits the connector system.
Consider the approved RG214
The extra braid and selected conductor finish fit a specific requirement, with the additional diameter and handling accepted.
For HF/VHF, connector contact resistance and workmanship become especially important at transmitter power. Use a connector cable group suitable for the approximately 10 mm cable, with appropriate support. See SigmaRF's shielding-effectiveness guide for the difference between a cable shield construction and complete-assembly screening.
Specify the complete RF assembly
Send the frequency band, connector interfaces, finished length and routing drawing. SigmaRF can match the cable and terminations to your application.
Cable diameter affects bends, clamps and the load on a equipment socket. The reference minimum installation bend radii are 100 mm and 108 mm. Those values should not be replaced by a tight-radius number from a different supplier or a flexible-looking sample.
The reference environmental suitability includes indoor use, not riser or plenum. The RG214 reference also identifies supported black aerial use. Neither detail is blanket permission for direct burial, every fire compartment or exposed connector use. Choose the exact jacket and installation approval for the site.
Allow strain relief and support near the connector, prevent crushing and keep the cable away from hot surfaces beyond its rated environment. Do not use the connector as a lifting point. Outdoor interfaces need a specified sealing system, even when the jacket itself suits the location.
Step 01
Define transmitter conditions
State operating band, maximum forward power, duty cycle, ambient range, altitude and expected VSWR. Request a cable-and-connector power/derating assessment rather than selecting from one watts column.
Step 02
Control the complete construction
Name the cable and connector parts, finished length, routing datums, ferrule/termination requirements and strain relief. Define any shielding or qualification evidence needed.
Step 03
Agree RF and mechanical acceptance
Set VSWR and insertion-loss limits across the band, plus continuity, insulation and workmanship requirements as applicable. Power testing and safety checks are separate from a low-power VNA sweep.
SigmaRF VNA-sweeps every assembly for VSWR and insertion loss before shipment. Its overall RF assembly capability spans 100 MHz to 40 GHz across suitable cable and connector systems, not every product discussed here. Volume work is supported in Vadodara, India, with precision work in the Cleveland area, USA. Lead times can be as short as 2 days for suitable builds, subject to parts, quantity and the agreed specification.
SigmaRF's 100 MHz to 40 GHz range describes company-wide capability across different systems, not every RG213/RG214 assembly and not a promise for operation below 100 MHz. Ask about the exact HF test requirement if the product operates there. Its RF cable design and VNA measurement guides cover the broader drawing and test decisions.
Assume a 10 m feeder at 100 MHz using nominal attenuation 1.9 dB/100 ft, ignoring connectors and mismatch for this illustration. Suppose 500 W is incident on the line. The calculation describes matched loss, not a power-rating approval.
Attenuation = 1.9 / 30.48 = 0.0623 dB/m
Cable loss = 0.0623 x 10 = 0.623 dB
Matched transmitted fraction = 10^(-0.623/10) = 0.866
Illustrative transmitted power = 500 x 0.866 = 433 W
Illustrative lost power = 500 - 433 = 67 W
The loss is modest in dB but not trivial in watts. That heat is distributed along the cable in the ideal example; connector loss can create local hot spots. Mismatch and ambient heating change the situation. Verify an actual power and derating specification before operating.
Avoid these high-power assumptions
Release checklist
What are RG213 specifications?
The reference here is 50 Ω, 10.3 mm PVC-jacketed coax with PE dielectric, 13 AWG stranded bare copper and one 95% braid. Exact loss, temperature and ratings must come from the approved cable part.
Is RG214 lower loss than RG213?
Not universally. The two reference products have the same listed nominal attenuation through 1 GHz. RG214 adds a second silver-plated braid; selection should follow measured requirements, not braid count alone.
How much power can RG213 handle?
Use a part-specific cable and connector derating assessment. Published cable watts vary with frequency, and your duty cycle, ambient temperature, altitude, VSWR and termination system matter.
Does RG214 have two shields?
The reference RG214 construction has two 95% silver-plated copper braids. Confirm the exact part and its assembly screening requirement; braid coverage is not a measured dB shielding value.
Can I use RG213 outdoors?
Only when the exact jacket and installation suit the site. Specify supports, sealing and any fire or burial approval. The cable name alone does not establish outdoor or direct-burial suitability.
Can SigmaRF make RG213 or RG214 assemblies?
Provide approved cable and connector parts, length, operating band, environment and acceptance requirements. For high-power work, define the power and derating basis as well as low-power RF test limits.
RG213 and RG214 are useful large-diameter radio cable families, but high-power suitability is an assembly and installation decision. RG214's extra braid is not a universal performance upgrade.
Calculate loss, define transmitter conditions and verify the approved parts. A clear power/derating basis and well-supported termination are more useful than a broad "high-power coax" label.
Build an RF assembly around the real requirements
Send the frequency band, connector interfaces, finished length and routing drawing. SigmaRF can match the cable and terminations to your application.