WiFi Antenna Cables & Wireless Extension Assemblies

Signal loss in WiFi cable is severe — at 5 GHz, even a few feet of the wrong cable wipes out a significant portion of your signal. Short runs need thin, flexible cable. Long outdoor runs demand low-loss .240 or .400 cable to preserve link quality.

Quick Pick — Best Cable by Run Length

Not sure what to order? Start here.

Under 3 ft RG-174

Ultra-thin and flexible for RP-SMA pigtails on routers and adapters

Build with RG-174 →

3 – 15 ft RFC-195

Low-loss .195 for indoor access point connections

Build with RFC-195 →

15 – 50 ft LMR-240

Best balance of size and loss for indoor/outdoor antenna runs

Build with LMR-240 →

Over 50 ft LMR-400

Low loss at 5 GHz — essential for long outdoor antenna runs

Build with LMR-400 →

Signal Loss Comparison

dB loss per 100 feet — lower is better. Multiply by your run length and divide by 100.

Cable	900 MHz (IoT)	2.4 GHz WiFi	5 GHz WiFi	5.8 GHz WiFi
RG-178	24.0	42.0	70.0	70.0
RG-174	21.5	38.0	65.0	65.0
RFC-195	10.4	17.7	29.4	29.4
LMR-195	10.2	17.3	28.9	28.9
RFC-240	7.8	13.1	21.5	21.5
LMR-240	7.5	12.6	20.6	20.6
LMR-400	4.7 ✓	7.9 ✓	13.0 ✓	13.0 ✓
RG-316	18.5	32.0	55.0	55.0

Values are approximate. ✓ indicates lowest loss for that frequency.

All Recommended Cables

RG-178

$0.50/ft

Low loss:

Thinnest option at 1.75mm. For internal device wiring only.

Best for: Internal wiring, U.FL pigtails under 6 inches

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RG-174

$0.75/ft

Low loss:

Ultra-thin and flexible for RP-SMA router pigtails.

Best for: Router pigtails, USB adapter cables under 3ft

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RFC-195

$1.15/ft

Low loss:

Flexible low-loss .195 for short indoor WiFi runs.

Best for: Access point pigtails, indoor runs 3–15ft

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LMR-195

$1.48/ft

Low loss:

Times Microwave quality thin low-loss cable.

Best for: Router pigtails, short indoor connections

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RFC-240

$1.25/ft

Low loss:

Budget-friendly .240 for medium-length outdoor WiFi runs.

Best for: Outdoor panel antennas under 50ft

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LMR-240

$1.75/ft

Low loss:

Best balance of size and loss for WiFi antenna runs.

Best for: Indoor AP runs, short outdoor runs under 25ft

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LMR-400

$2.00/ft

Low loss:

Low loss at 2.4 and 5 GHz. Industry standard for outdoor WiFi.

Best for: Long outdoor AP runs, WISP installations

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RG-316

$0.90/ft

Low loss:

PTFE jacket for high-temp outdoor AP environments.

Best for: Rooftop APs, high-temperature environments

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Popular Builds

Most common connector combinations on lmr240. Click to configure length and order.

RP-SMA Extension

From $20.58

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RP-SMA to N-Female

From $21.08

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N-Male to N-Male

From $21.58

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SMA to RP-SMA

From $20.58

View Product →

Frequently Asked Questions

What cable is best for a WiFi antenna extension?

For short pigtails under 3 feet, RG-174 is flexible and lightweight. For runs up to 25 feet indoors, LMR-195 or RFC-195 are ideal. For outdoor runs or anything over 25 feet, use LMR-240 or LMR-400 to minimize signal loss at 2.4 and 5 GHz.

What connector does a WiFi router use?

Most consumer routers and USB adapters use RP-SMA (Reverse Polarity SMA). Enterprise access points and outdoor equipment typically use N-type. Always check your device before ordering.

How far can I run a WiFi antenna cable?

With LMR-400, up to 50 feet at 2.4 GHz and about 30 feet at 5 GHz with acceptable loss. At 5 GHz, cable loss is much higher — keep runs as short as possible for best throughput.

Will a longer WiFi cable reduce my signal?

Yes — coax loss increases with frequency and length. At 5 GHz, RG-174 loses about 13 dB per 100 feet. LMR-400 reduces this to about 3.9 dB. For outdoor directional antennas, LMR-400 is essential for longer runs.

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