Application Watch: RF cable assemblies for smart homes

China suppliers of RF cable assemblies bank on the wired technology's advantage of enabling faster, and more reliable and secure connections in connected homes.

Wired technology is expected to remain relevant, especially as a backbone solution, in increasingly connected homes as its wireless counterpart continues to tackle issues of bandwidth, latency and security.

For this reason, companies in China's RF cable assembly industry are positive the category will still lead in smart home applications in coming years. In particular, such wiring products continue to have a strong base in the security and entertainment segments of this market because of advantages of low signal loss and enhanced noise suppression. Many local manufacturers that have raised shipments to meet demand in these sectors therefore anticipate the upward trend will persist.

Fueling the outlook is the rapid growth of the global smart home market in recent years. Research and Markets projects the industry will get bigger by 8 to 10 percent annually and hit up to $68 billion by 2018. In China, this will reach $51.5 billion by 2020, according to the Beijing Evening News.

To capitalize on these opportunities, most domestic makers turn out RF cable assemblies that pass international standards, including CE, TIA/EIA 570-A, TÜV and UL.

Zhongshan Zhenfu adopts gold flash contacts for enhanced quality, and 1.8m cables. Its 75ohm models come with gender changers or couplers to suit various requirements.

China has 300 manufacturers of RF cable assemblies spread over the coastal provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu. It is the world's largest production base for the line. More than 80 percent of the companies are homegrown businesses and the rest with foreign investment.

Over 150 suppliers offer units for smart home applications, which represent about 20 percent of China's shipments for the category at present. The share may reach 30 percent in the next two years amid demand rise.

The majority of China makers allocate 30 to 80 percent of output for export markets.

75ohm types in mainstream supply

RF cable assemblies with 75ohm impedance make up the common range in China. These have gold- or nickel-plated male or female connectors with TPE cover, oxygen-free copper conductor, aluminum or tinned-copper braid and PVC jacket. Cables may come in custom lengths. Typical models are usually 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 or 3m long. Various colors are available.

In addition to units for smart home products, China manufacturers have selections for the communications, networking, military and railways sectors. They also turn out other cable assemblies such as LAN and fiber-optic types.

Most companies obtain copper, gold, nickel, PVC, TPE and PE from local providers. Some also use imported materials, specifically plastic, in compliance with buyers' requests. A few have in-house capability to produce their own connectors, while the rest outsource them.

The stable cost and sufficient supply of manufacturing inputs are expected to keep product prices unchanged throughout 2017.