What type of video cable for long runs?

Question

We need to run video from one building to another, several hundred feet. What's the best type of cable to run, and what type of booster/amplifier do we need?

Answer 1

For what kind of signal will the cable be used?

It depends a lot on the kind of signal the cable is carrying and the application. Provide more details.

Answer 2

Cat5 and a balun will work but that's a lot of effort for a Video only run one direction.  Cat5 is not usually recommended for outside use unless you get the specific type.



I would use regular Coax RG-59 or RG-6 or even RG6 Quad shield if you have a lot of RF interference in the area.  Cable companies all over the world use miles and miles of it.

You didn't say how you were getting it to the other building....along a fence, through the air, in the ground?  Just make sure you buy the right type of Coax or Cat5.  Most cat 5 is used in side or in walls thus doesn't stand up very well to the weather where as Coax usually does better.  You can get direct burial Cat5 and coax.  They just cost a little more.

Depending on the signal output strength of your source (camera?) you may not need a signal booster.

There are lots of signal boosters out there.  Even Radio shack sells them.

Here is one with BNC connectors (Closed circuit TV/Video camera's usually use) http://www.q5usa.com/proddetail.asp?prod...

here is the Radio Shack one with the typical F plugs most people know on the back of their TVs and VCR's

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index....

Answer 3

Bobs right on the baluns. There are now baluns for every type of video connection including HDMI (need 2 Cat5e though)

If however you are just connecting Coax then RG6 is fine and will be cheaper than the baluns in most cases.

This really depends on what the signal is comming from and what it is going to.

Whichever you decide you need make sure you run a couple extra Cat5e cables since you running something anyway. This will allow you to add to it later on if you need to. And Cat5 cable is cheap anyway.

Answer 4

When our cable company added more channels, our cameras stopped working at our house. We had to pay someone to change our cameras to cat5 type for computers because there was no other way. These guys (my husband hired) had to change all the wires in our walls and attic. It was a mess with holes in my walls and dust everywhere! I'd say probably best to just get the cat5 wire to begin with.

Answer 5

Use a balun!

These devices convert video and audio so it can be send using Cat 5. The one in this link can send Component Video. It's good for about 1000 Ft. So your several hundred should be fine.

http://www.svideo.com/videobalun1.html

If you only trying to send video and not audio you can use one of these.

http://www.svideo.com/cctvbalun2.html

Look around on this site they have all kinds of cool thing you can use.

Remember to Buy Two! You need one the send and one to receive. They only make one type. A balun can be used to send or receive. But you still need two.

Hope this help. Let me know how things worked out. :)

Yes It will. It would be the right way to go. The Balun are only $22.00 each. and from the sound of things. It would cost more to run Coax. It looks like your on the right track.

Good luck!

Answer 6

cox cable is best. use yamaha to amplify.

edit: seriously, do what bob says. one day you might want to use ethernet cameras and see them from home. if you do, you can use the same wire bob suggested. won't work with coax cable, sorry other guys that suggested it. and balins for regular camera video are cheap. in fact cat5 is so cheap that coax might actually cost more than cat5 and balins. there is no reason to do anything else!!