A parameter used in transmission line theory to quantify the attenuation and phase shift of a signal per unit length. The real part (attenuation constant) measures the loss of signal amplitude, while the imaginary part (phase constant) measures the shift in phase. Engineers use this metric to model signal degradation over long cable runs or optical fibers.
If you look at the propagation constant for this coax at 2.4 GHz, the attenuation is too high for a 100-foot run.
Related terms
Coaxial cable
A copper transmission line built with a central conductor surrounded by an insulating layer and a braided metallic shield.
Lossy
Characterized by the degradation of signal strength or the permanent discarding of data.
Signal
An electrical or electromagnetic variation that transmits data or voice from one point to another.