What is Coaxial cable?
[[File:Coaxial.svg|thumb|200px|right|Schematic drawing of a coaxial cable]] A '''Coaxial cable''' is a special electrical [[cable]]. It is used to transmit [[signal]]s. The cable is specially insulated. This makes it quite stiff. Today, coaxial cables are used for things like [[Cable TV]]. Coaxial cables can also be used for [[computer network]]s, but this became rare in the 21st century, as twisted pair cables can be used more easily. Such cables are usually made of a conducting wire. Then there is some insulation, then there is another layer of conducting material. Finally there is the (insulating) mantle. Such cables are used as a [[transmission line#High-frequency electrical transmission lines|high-frequency transmission line]] to carry a high-[[frequency]] or [[broadband]] signal. Because the [[electromagnetic field]] carrying the signal exists (ideally) only in the space between the inner and outer [[electrical conductor|conductors]], it cannot interfere with or suffer [[interference]] from external electromagnetic fields. There are different types of coaxial cables, which satisfy different standards. == Timeline == *1880 — Coaxial cable [[patent]]ed in [[England]] by [[Oliver Heaviside]], patent no. 1,407.<ref>[[Google Book Search]] - [https://books.google.com/books?id=e9wEntQmA0IC&dq=coaxial+cable+Oliver+Heaviside&pg=PA29 Oliver Heaviside By Paul J. Nahin]</ref> *1884 — [[Siemens & Halske]] patent coaxial cable in [[Germany]] (Patent No. 28,978, 27 March 1884).<ref>{{cite book|last=Feldenkirchen|first=Wilfried|title=Werner von Siemens - Inventor and International Entrepreneur|year=1994|isbn=0-8142-0658-1}}</ref> *1894 — [[Oliver Lodge]] demonstrates waveguide transmission at the [[Royal Institution]]. *1929 — First modern coaxial cable patented by [[Lloyd Espenschied]] and [[Herman Affel]] of [[AT&T (1885-2005)|AT&T's]] [[Bell Labs|Bell Telephone Laboratories]].<ref>{{US patent|1835031}}</ref> *1936 — First [[Closed-circuit television|closed circuit]] transmission of [[television|TV]] pictures on coa