Which of the following is a disadvantage of coax cables?

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a disadvantage of coax cables?

Coax cables rely on a shield to protect the signal from interference, and that shield must be tied to ground. When the shield is connected to ground at more than one point along the run, a ground loop forms. Differences in ground potential between those points drive current through the shield, which can introduce noise, hum, or interference into the signal path and potentially stress equipment grounds. Proper practice is to bond the shield to a single reference point and manage grounding to avoid multiple grounding paths. Other statements aren’t as reliable: coax isn’t inherently cheaper or higher bandwidth than twisted pair, and while shielding helps reduce interference, that benefit depends on correct grounding and installation.

Coax cables rely on a shield to protect the signal from interference, and that shield must be tied to ground. When the shield is connected to ground at more than one point along the run, a ground loop forms. Differences in ground potential between those points drive current through the shield, which can introduce noise, hum, or interference into the signal path and potentially stress equipment grounds. Proper practice is to bond the shield to a single reference point and manage grounding to avoid multiple grounding paths.

Other statements aren’t as reliable: coax isn’t inherently cheaper or higher bandwidth than twisted pair, and while shielding helps reduce interference, that benefit depends on correct grounding and installation.

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