Cat5 vs RG59 video quality

[Nimrod 0]

Has anyone done a direct comparison of the quality of video for cat5 with baluns verses RG59 at various lengths. I am mostly concerned with runs from 50 to 300 feet.

[Soundy 1]

Never done a side-by-side, but I haven't found any sort of noticeable difference *inherent* to using one over the other.

[vitHoward 0]

I have done numerous tests. As long as the cable runs are less than about 300ft, there is no noticeable difference using passive baluns. Going above 300 feet, we noticed that the color burst started to drop, causing the colors to begin to fade although the image was still very sharp.

 

The disclaimer: your results may vary depending on the length and quality of cable, the signal level of the camera, balun and a host of other site specific circumstances.

 

Do I use them? Yes, and I have been very satisfied.

 

I hope this helps.

Howard Kohnstamm

[Nimrod 0]

"I have done numerous tests. As long as the cable runs are less than about 300ft, there is no noticeable difference using passive baluns. Going above 300 feet, we noticed that the color burst started to drop, causing the colors to begin to fade although the image was still very sharp."

 

Good post, thank you.

[survtech 0]

I've also done tests and basically agree with vitHoward, except that I see no noticeable difference at up to 700 feet. Yes, on a scope or meter, there are some differences in the burst levels and frequency response but modern encoders and monitors usually correct the levels and minimize the perceivable differences.

 

An example: we can see playing cards on adjacent table games using identical cameras and lenses with equal clarity on the two systems where we have one table fed by RG59 and an adjacent table fed by twisted-pair.

[Nimrod 0]

“I see no noticeable difference at up to 700 feet”

 

Could be the baluns used. What type do you like.

[survtech 0]

We typically buy Video Baluns Unlimited BL3265 but have also tested NVT, Vigitron, GVI and a few others. Neither a "live" resolution comparison nor our CM-1 CCTV tester showed any real difference between the brands using up to 1000 feet of Cat5e.

[Nimrod 0]

This document answers every question that has come up with baluns.

 

1 How it compares to RG59.

2 How long can you run CAT5E.

3 What causes ground loops.

4 How to splice CAT5E and what happens if you do.

5 Top secret ways to extend the distance for passive baluns.

6 What is better for noise immunity CAT5E or RG59.

7 How should CAT5E be run to avoid noise pickup.

8 Does running 24vac or multiple video feeds in one CAT5E cable introduce noise.

9 Why do different people get different results for same length of CAT5E run.

 

http://www.muxlab.com/assets/files/application_guides/VE_CCTV_Balun.pdf

 

The document is 23 pages long and it is worth reading.

[spreedin 0]

thanks for this....helped me figure some things out

[dustmop 0]

Felt the need to chime in with my two cents here.

 

I use exclusively UTP/power siamese cable, and I have about 250,000 feet of it in the building. ~800 cameras, all analog. Longest runs are in the range of 1,800 to 2,000 feet. I use passive baluns at the camera, and active transceivers at the matrix end. Using active transceivers, I see absolutely NO difference in image quality/color. I have tested using passive on both ends, about 500 feet is where I start to notice a degradation of image quality both live and in recording.

[Nimrod 0]

“I use exclusively UTP/power siamese cable, and I have about 250,000 feet of it in the building. ~800 cameras, all analog. Longest runs are in the range of 1,800 to 2,000 feet.”

 

WOW, that is an incredible system. Can you tell me more about the utp you use. Is it cat5e with 16-2 power or what configuration is it and were do you buy it.

 

And while we are at it, how in the world do you manage 800 cameras.

[dustmop 0]

“I use exclusively UTP/power siamese cable, and I have about 250,000 feet of it in the building. ~800 cameras, all analog. Longest runs are in the range of 1,800 to 2,000 feet.”

 

WOW, that is an incredible system. Can you tell me more about the utp you use. Is it cat5e with 16-2 power or what configuration is it and were do you buy it.

 

And while we are at it, how in the world do you manage 800 cameras.

 

The cable is a 2-pair UTP siamese with 16/2. I use Tappan spec# H91068.1. Quite nice. Just slap a balun on the camera end, attach, split the cable in the nearest data closet, hook to power there, then use 110 blocks for the video/control. In terms of management, you can pack a lot of cameras in to a relatively small area. I do all the cable routing on the walls, but in our temporary facility we used a few years back, it was all in racks.

 

As for purchasing the cable, I usually rely on my vendor(s) to buy it direct from the factory, as when I order it, I'm usually ordering at least 10k'. Of course, they require at least 10k' minimum for black cable (standard, non-lead time color is white). CSC does carry this cable, I think as part number 590319.

 

As for managing ~800 cameras... Luck? Ha! I am the only tech, and we don't bring in integrators/contractors/vendors for anything. After the initial build, and one door access addition, it's been all me. It's a casino (oh no! I've said too much! heh), about 250,000 sqft, multiple buildings on property, parking garage/lots. Outside lot cameras are all done with multimode fiber. Door access (also mine) has about 75 access controlled doors in multiple buildings, all kind of panic alarms, and emergency exit alarms.

 

Since everything was built a few years ago, I have added about 275 cameras, moved around 100, added/moved 25 doors, and countless other little things like panic alarms, emergency exit horn/strobes, etc.

[rory 0]

I used 2 well known US brands of baluns in the past and the video was worse at just approx 200', powered 24VAC local near the cameras. But they were only $20 baluns. That was a few years back though.

[the keifer 0]

From my experience, I've had better luck with RJ59 on longer runs as far as picture quality goes. I maintain cameras at a hospital and found that the cat5 runs on tranceivers are more likely to pick up interference but the advantage is having to run less cables on a long run. I've used ground loop isolators to solve the interference problem.