Why must coaxial cables be routed as directly as possible?

Coaxial cables are designed to carry signals with minimal interference and loss. When coaxial cables are routed in a direct path, it helps maintain the integrity of the signal. Long bends or excessive lengths can introduce unwanted impedance changes and increase signal attenuation, which can degrade the quality of the transmitted data over long distances.

Maintaining a straight and direct route for coaxial cables helps ensure that the shield and the center conductor function effectively, allowing for the optimal performance of the cable. This is especially important in applications that require high bandwidths, as any introduction of signal loss can lead to reduced performance and errors in data transmission. Therefore, the primary reason for routing coaxial cables as directly as possible is to minimize signal loss.