Frequently Asked Questions

HSI Centre is an online store for the UK's premier High Speed Interconnect supplier, Siemon, with a comprehensive choice of high-quality, factory-tested data connectivity products such as Active Optical Cables (AOCs) and Direct Attach Copper Cables (DACs).

Our compatibility guarantee ensures that you'll find cables that work with renowned manufacturers such as Cisco, HP, Brocade, Juniper, Dell, Intel, Extreme Networks and more. Unsure what you need or whether a product will work with your equipment? Take advantage of our product sample service.

With huge stock availability and next day delivery on hundreds of products, we're confident you'll get the goods you need, when you need them.

Delivery times vary depending on the choice of product.

We have a huge stock range in our UK warehouse, ready for same day dispatch/next day delivery.

For other more specialist cables that may require specific EEPROM programming, lead times may be extended up to 12 business days.

Please check the item's description for estimated delivery times.

In the event that you would to return a product, you have 30 days from the date you received it. To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. Your item must be in the original packaging. Your item needs to have the receipt or proof of purchase.

Once we receive your item, we will inspect it and notify you that we have received your returned item. We will immediately notify you on the status of your refund after inspecting the item. If your return is approved, we will initiate a refund to your credit card (or original method of payment). You will receive the credit within a certain amount of days, depending on your card issuer's policies.

Please contact a member of our dedicated sales team to discuss placing large orders.

Telephone: 01403 754233 

Email: sales@hsicentre.com 

Our team of expert advisors are on hand to assist with any technical enquiries you may have.

Please give us a call on 01403 721389

We are extremely confident that our high-speed interconnects are compatible with almost every major brand. Don't share our confidence? No problem, simply use our free sample service to check for yourself.

Siemon factory test 100% of their cables before dispatch. For more information, please see Siemon's white papers regarding interoperability below:

SFP+ Interoperability

QSFP Interoperability

Yes, we are happy to offer product samples before you commit to purchasing from HSI Centre.

A copper cable with connectors on both ends known as a direct-attached cable (DAC) used for connecting network hardware usually within the same or adjacent racks. The connectors usually contain a latch mechanism or similar to ensure the connections don't become detached. A DAC cable is a type of interconnect cable that is designed to be used to connect devices that are typically rack-mounted. Network switches, servers, and storage are examples of these devices. Direct-attached DAC cables are so named because they are designed to connect directly to the devices being used. They're also known as "Twinax" cables because they're made up of two twisted pairs of copper wires.

What are the DAC cable types?

Direct attach cables are divided into two categories: passive DAC and active DAC. A passive DAC cable sends data without signal conditioning. This is a less expensive option than an active DAC cable where the signal is amplified by electric components within the DAC connector modules. This signal is compared to the data being sent on a regular basis, and any differences are recognised and fixed. Although the active DAC connection is more expensive, the enhanced signal can be useful for long distances and high-resolution audio.

Active optical cables (AOC) are another name for AOC cables. They're multimode fibre optic cables with connectors on both ends that link network equipment to network termination devices. They contain an internal transmitter and receiver that converts electrical signals into light signals and sends them through fiber optic lines.

What are the AOC cable types?

Based on the data rate and connector type, the AOC cable is typically available in the following configurations: 10G SFP+ AOC cable, 25G SFP28 AOC cable, 40G QSFP+ AOC cable, 56G QSFP+ AOC cable, 100G QSFP28 AOC cable, 200G QSFP56 AOC cable, 400G QSFP-DD AOC cable, 40G AOC Breakout Cables, 56G AOC Breakout Cables, 100G AOC Breakout Cables, 200G AOC Breakout Cables, 400G AOC Breakout Cables.

Short-haul transmission is particularly suited for DACs, which are commonly employed in high-performance computer systems, large-scale commercial operations, and storage applications. DACs are extremely energy efficient, cost-effective, and operate extremely effectively. They're suitable for connecting top-of-rack switches to rack-mounted network servers and storage.

Active optical cables are perfect for long-distance transmission because they can transmit data up to 100 meters, have ultra-high bandwidth, are tiny and flexible, are electrically robust, and are simple to install.