What are Twinaxial Cables or Twinax Cables?

A Twinaxial or ‘twinax’ cable is a type of electrical cable that consists of two conductors separated by an insulator and enclosed in a common shield. These cables were originally used by IBM for its IBM3x and AS/400 computer systems, but nowadays, they are found in applications that require short-range, high-speed differential signaling with data rates of as high as 10 Gbps. As a result, these cables are commonly used in data transmission and information systems applications. 

Construction 

Twinax cables consist of four main parts: two inner conductors, an insulator, shield, and outer jacket. The two inner conductors are usually made of copper or aluminium. These conductors carry the electrical signals from one end of the cable to another. Each conductor is  surrounded by a layer of insulation to prevent cross-talk between the two conductors. 

The insulated conductors are then enclosed in a metallic shield which protects the signals from external electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI). The shield may be of single layer or multiple layers, depending on the level of shielding required and the specific application requirements. The entire cable assembly is then enclosed in an outer jacket to provide mechanical protection and insulation. 

Advantages of Twinaxial Cables

Twinaxial cables offer several advantages like transmitting data at high speeds over long distances with minimal signal loss; the shielding of Twinaxial cable provides excellent protection against electromagnetic interface (EMI) and radio frequency (RFI), which helps in maintaining signal integrity even in environments with high levels of noise. Also, their cost-effectiveness and robust construction make them a popular choice for various communication and networking applications.

Applications 

Twinaxial cables are used in many industrial and networking applications. In networking, these cables are used to connect devices within a local area network (LAN) or a Storage Area Network (SAN) because they offer an inexpensive yet reliable solution for high-speed data transmission between servers, switches, routers, etc. They’re used in telecommunication infrastructure to connect modems, routers, telephony devices, etc.  

Twinaxial cables are used in many industrial and networking applications. In networking, these cables are used to connect devices within a local area network (LAN) or a Storage Area Network (SAN) because they offer an inexpensive yet reliable solution for high-speed data transmission between servers, switches, routers, etc. They are also used in telecommunication infrastructure to connect modems, routers, telephony devices, etc.

Twinax cable being used in a server 

Twinax cables can also be found in certain video transmission applications such as professional audiovisual systems and surveillance cameras to transmit HD video signals over long distances. Additionally, they’re also used in industrial control systems such as process automation and manufacturing facilities, which need reliable transmission of control signals and sensor data reliably and efficiently.