Twinaxial cable is a type of cable used to transmit data at high speeds. It consists of two wire conductors that are twisted together and then coated with insulation and nestled in a protective jacket. Learn more about what twinax is, its capabilities and disadvantages, and where it is used.
What Is Twinax Used for?
Mainframe networks and data centers frequently use twinax cables for ethernet and storage connections. However, they are found in a wide range of applications. Some of the most common are:
- Audiovisual transmission: Because it reduces interference, some professional-grade AV setups use it for signal transmission.
- Data centers: Twinaxial cable is ideal for high-speed data transmission in data centers. It can accommodate up to 100G ethernet connections.
- Networking setups: It is a popular cost-effective choice for direct attach copper cables in networking applications.
Twinax was originally developed by IBM for use with its systems. It is still widely used in legacy applications to connect IBM network components.
What Are the Capabilities of Twinaxial Cable?
Twinax is a popular choice for data center signal transmissions, cable television, broadcasting, and some RF applications. It is a solid, cost-effective alternative to fiber optics for short-distance data transfer.
Twinaxial cables can accommodate transmission rates up to 100 gigabits per second in short runs. While they can also be used for longer distances, most twinax runs top out at around seven meters. This makes it a great choice for data centers and servers but not for large-scale enterprise solutions.
Why Choose Twinax Cable? Key Benefits Explained
Its unique design reduces signal interference, making twinax a great choice for applications where data integrity is important. That is just one of the many benefits it provides.
Reduced Electromagnetic Interference
EMI is a serious consideration in data transmission. It can cause signal distortion and data loss, which negatively impacts network performance. Using twinax cables is one strategy to reduce electromagnetic interference.Â
Cost-Effective Cable Solution
Another significant benefit of twinax is that it is an extremely cost-effective solution for short-distance data transmission. Its performance over short distances is comparable to that of fiber optics at a fraction of the cost.
Compatibility With Existing Network Infrastructure
Wide compatibility with existing infrastructure makes twinax an attractive choice. Engineers can easily integrate it into current systems with SFP+, SFP28, QSFP+, and other interfaces, allowing for design flexibility, greater expansion possibilities, and lower costs.
Environmentally Friendly Materials
Copper is an eco-friendly material. It is durable and can be recycled repeatedly without losing its key characteristics. This makes it a sustainable choice for cabling. Twinax also uses less power than fiber because it does not require transceivers.
What Are the Disadvantages?
Twinax has many positive qualities, but it also has a few limitations. You should understand these before deciding if it is the right material for your data transfer needs.
Limited Bandwidth Capabilities
Twinaxial cables can be used for up to 100G Ethernet transmissions. This is sufficient for many applications but limits their use in ultra-high-speed data networks, such as those in commercial, government, and military applications.
Structural Rigidity
Another drawback of twinaxial cables is their rigidity. They can also be heavy and bulky. This is often not a problem because they are used to cover short distances. However, it can cause complications in cramped data centers and network cases. Fiber optics are much more flexible, reducing these issues.
Distance Limitations
Like similarly structured coaxial cables, twinax is designed for relatively short runs. It is commonly used for transmissions over seven meters or less, which is sufficient for use within data centers and network mainframes but limits its use for many other types of applications.
Twinax vs. Coaxial Cable: Which One Do You Need?
Twinax and coaxial cables are similar in many ways. Both feature copper conductors within a jacketed insulation. They are used for high-speed data transfer and offer excellent signal quality over comparable distances. The main difference between coaxial and twinaxial cables is the number of conductors used.
Coaxial cable uses a single copper conductor. This is wrapped in insulation and a protective cover. Some versions feature an additional conductor outside of the insulation.
Twinaxial cable, on the other hand, uses two copper conductors twisted together inside an insulation layer. That is covered by a layer of protective jacketing material.
Coaxial cable is typically more affordable than twinax because it uses less copper per foot. However, its single conductor limits its capacity.
Twinax can handle higher data transmission demands, such as with Gigabit internet and data center signals. In some cases, it can replace CAT cables. However, it does not replace coaxial cable, which is more versatile and can transmit baseband, broadband, radio, and audio signals.
How is Twinax Different From Fiber Optic Cabling?
Both types of cables are used for high-speed data transfer. They also support reduced signal interference. However, there are significant differences between twinax and fiber optic cables. For starters, twinax uses copper wires, whereas fiber optic cable transmits data as light through glass fibers.
Fiber can transmit data over incredibly long distances, handle high-bandwidth transmissions with minimal losses, and help minimize EMI.
Fiber cables offer superior data security compared to copper cables. They are widely used in new transmission networks for residential, commercial, and government applications.
Twinax offers higher data transmission quality than coaxial cable, but it falls short of that provided by fiber optic networks. However, older networks that have not been upgraded to support fiber optics and the required connections may find that twinax offers superior performance to other cable options. In these instances, using high-quality twinax cables and connections can optimize network performance without requiring a complete overhaul.
Explore What Twinax Cable Is With Equal Optics
Equal Optics provides premium networking components to companies around the globe. Our team is committed to providing quality products and superior service. We can answer your questions about what twinax is and help you see how it can fit into your network. Contact us to explore our premium networking solutions and get expert guidance on twinaxial cables today.
