If your business operates television cameras or if you sell television camera accessories, you should use triaxial cables instead of coaxial for the wire connecting cameras to their camera control units. With triaxial cables, information is conveyed more faithfully than with coaxial cables because triaxial cables provide improved bandwidth and are better at blocking out noise. This cable link between the camera and the camera control unit is important because it carries the sound and video from the camera, and it also carries control signals, audio, video and power from the camera control unit to the camera.

It also makes sense to install triaxial cables in places where television cameras are frequently used such as in sports arenas or in town halls and courthouses, where televised discussions occur. Long runs of cable are permanently installed between where the television vans park and the location where the camera crews gather to televise the action.

1. Find manufacturers to make triaxial cables to specification.

2. Find retailers who have a long-run triaxial cables list from which to choose.

3. Find triaxial cables at retailers who sell camera-to-camera control unit link cables.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Contact a company to create the triaxial cables you need

Sometimes you need to have cables created to a certain specified length such as when installing video cabling in a locale that television crews will frequent often.

I recommend: Tonk & Associates will create the triaxial cables you need in a range of sizes. Tonk claims that their cabling is resistant to fire and chemicals, corona resistant, are non-flammable, low-noise and high attenuation. Consolidated Electronic Wire & Cable will also manufacture triaxial cables given your requirements.

Get long-length triaxial cables to run the cable from television vans

Running triaxial cabling from where the television vans park at a frequent television camera location can require some serious length.

I recommend: Markertek carries long lengths of triaxial cable that you can order. SJ Media Systems also carries many different lengths of triaxial cabling, including 100-foot and 500-foot. DV Warehouse also carries an assortment of good-quality triaxial cables.

Select from a triaxial cables list of short lengths for the camera to CCU link

For connecting a television camera to the CCU, you're going to want to buy a short length of triaxial cable that is cut for that purpose.

I recommend: For the data/control/power link between a television camera and its camera control unit, TestPath and DV Warehouse have you covered.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If a triaxial cables provider does not sell a cable that meets your specs, contact them with your needs. Many triaxial cables manufacturers will be happy to cut a length of cable for you of the specified type and length and with connectors attached.