This special low-loss RP-SMA male to N-Male extension cable from ALFA Networks is RFC-400 equivalent shielded. The cable is 9m long (~30 feet) and can be used to put an extension between an RP-SMA antenna connector on a Wi-Fi USB adapter or PCI card and an antenna with an N-female connector. We recommend this extension cable compared to some others online because this is ALFA Networks branded and is also a special low-loss cable (RFC-400 NL Low Loss 50 OHM). What does this mean? The antenna to which you will connect this to has a gain. Let’s say for example you will be connecting this to a 12 dBi gain antenna. As the cable in between the antenna and adapter gets longer, you will experience cable loss, which is a drop in the signal gain of the antenna. With low-quality unshielded extension cables, the huge drop in gain will mean a much lesser range. Our special low loss cable limits the cable loss factor and preserves the high gain of your antenna.
Made in USA. This cable is American made and manufactured for superior performance and quality control.
We do recommend RokTape to seal all outdoor connection points.
Compare gain loss of this cable:
915 MHz application: -1.1 dB (Helium mining/LoRa device)
WiFi 2.4 GHz application: -1.9 dB (standard home WiFi networking)
WiFi 5 GHz application: -2.9 dB (dual-band 2.4/5 GHz WiFi to 5 GHz networks)
Compare this to a cheaper RG-58 shielded cable of the same length- the gain-loss would be -4.5 dB for 915 MHz, -8.7 dB for 2.4 GHz WiFi, and a whopping -14.9 dB for 5 GHz WiFi
That means standard RG-58 cables have about 4x times as much gain loss as this cable!
If you invested a lot in your antenna, it is worth the extra amount to get a 400-grade low-loss cable to maximize your antenna performance. This goes double for Helium mining- a higher loss cable means you may be getting less reach with your miner, and therefore mining much less.
Why is this cable more than twice the price of our 5m extension cable?
It may seem more economical to chain two of our ALFA 5m extension cables together. This is not recommended. Our 5m cable has CFD-200 shielding, which is a good shielding for cables up to 5m in length. For a 9m cable, CFD-200 is not the recommended shielding because of the distance. For a distance of 10m, to limit loss, CFD or RFC-400 is recommended. RFC-400 shielding is much thicker than CFD-200 and has several layers of protection. Because of this, the cable is 5 times more expensive to manufacture than the 5m CFD-200 cable. It is much heavier as well. Cable prices normally coincide with length, so a 10m cable will normally be twice the price of a 5m. But when you add in the thicker shielding, the cost goes up more. This cable is also five times heavier than our 5m cable, so the shipping cost is higher too.
Additional Features:
– Length: 9m
– Impedance: 50 OHM
– Frequency: all bands from 0-6 GHz, including 868-915 MHz LoRa, 2400-2700 MHz WiFi/ 5100-5900 MHz WiFi
– Compatible with 2.4 GHz 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11g and 802.11b WiFi standards, 915 MHz LoRa standard
– Compatible with many WiFi adapters & Helium miners with RP-SMA ports
FAQ:
1. I see 9m cables on eBay for only a few dollars with free shipping from China. How can you charge so much for just about the same length?
An antenna extension cable is not like a power extension cable you would use with an electric lawnmower. In other words, all antenna cables are not basically the same. When you use a cable in between the antenna and the WiFi adapter, the gain of the antenna decreases markedly. This is a factor known as cable loss. The $3 and $4 RP-SMA extension cables in abundance on eBay have no low loss shielding. Using them will cause significant gain loss- so much so you may find your factory antenna connected directly to your adapter will begin to work better than your expensive high gain outdoor antenna. To limit gain loss, you need a thick shielded low loss cable, from a trusted manufacturer like ALFA Networks. It has special low loss shielding to limit your gain loss and simply works much better than cheap cables that have no low loss shielding.
2. I already have (or want to buy) an external antenna for my wireless adapter, and I want an extension cable so I can put my antenna further away from the adapter. How do I know if this is the right extension cable for me?
Check with the maker or seller of your antenna to find out what type of connector it has. As a rule of thumb, you want to get an RP-SMA male to RP-SMA female extension cable when the antenna you have can connect directly to the RP-SMA connector on your wireless adapter if you wanted it to. That would mean your antenna also has an RP-SMA connector, and this would be the right cable for you. If your antenna has another type of connector, meaning it is not possible for you to connect it directly to the RP-SMA connector on your wireless adapter, then please contact us so we can help you locate the right cable for your needs. Additionally, we always recommend getting as close to the length you need as possible. If you are only trying to go 10 feet, don’t buy a 30-foot cable as you will have more gain loss.
Warranty & Support:
Complimentary Telephone and Email/Live Chat Support (Click Here)
Sales tax is required in many states and will be added at checkout if applicable to your delivery state. Tax exempt forms can be sent to our support department.
Return Policy: This item is a final sale item. Final sale items may not be returned except in cases of defect. Expedited shipping charges paid are non-refundable.
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