Video over CAT5?
 

Does anyone here know of a supplier of an adaptor to allow me to send
composite video over CAT5 cabling?
Situation is I already have CAT5 installed and adding dedicated video cable
would be *really* hard work. I believe CAT5 can do this, just a question of
using the right pairs.

Alan.

In article ,
Alan wrote:
Does anyone here know of a supplier of an adaptor to allow me to send
composite video over CAT5 cabling? Situation is I already have CAT5
installed and adding dedicated video cable would be *really* hard work.
I believe CAT5 can do this, just a question of using the right pairs.

You need suitable video balancing/matching units. Not cheap, IIRC.

--
*If you can read this, thank a teecher

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Alan wrote:
Does anyone here know of a supplier of an adaptor to allow me to send
composite video over CAT5 cabling? Situation is I already have CAT5
installed and adding dedicated video cable would be *really* hard work.
I believe CAT5 can do this, just a question of using the right pairs.

You need suitable video balancing/matching units. Not cheap, IIRC.

--
*If you can read this, thank a teecher

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Ah. I was under the impression a passive adaptor could so this.
Video quality does not need to be great, as it's only for a security camera.

Alan.

"Alan" wrote in message
...
Does anyone here know of a supplier of an adaptor to allow me to send
composite video over CAT5 cabling?
Situation is I already have CAT5 installed and adding dedicated video
cable
would be *really* hard work. I believe CAT5 can do this, just a question
of
using the right pairs.

Alan.

There seem to be many commercial solutions for this, but
http://www.kat5.tv/index1.html
would seem to have the right flavour for the d-i-y community.

Andy

In article ,
Alan wrote:
You need suitable video balancing/matching units. Not cheap, IIRC.

Ah. I was under the impression a passive adaptor could so this. Video
quality does not need to be great, as it's only for a security camera.

It still needs to be a video balancing transformer, though. Last I heard
they were about 40 quid each, and you'd need one each end.

--
*I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Alan wrote:
Does anyone here know of a supplier of an adaptor to allow me to send
composite video over CAT5 cabling?
Situation is I already have CAT5 installed and adding dedicated video cable
would be *really* hard work. I believe CAT5 can do this, just a question of
using the right pairs.

Alan.


Google this group (groups.google.com, Advanced Search, choose "only in
group:" and specify uk.d-i-y) - we've been over this ground a while ago.
Bottom line: yes, it can be done, in that the Cat5 cable performance is
up to the job; but it's done rather rarely and in "professional"
settings that the necessary adaptors (baluns - litte transformers,
essentially) cost "professional" money, like about 80 quid each. Oh, and
you need a pair - one at each end.

Suppliers? (Reaches for Canford catalogue - www.canford.co.uk, aka the
BBC Spares Department ;-) p.675 of their catalogue shews they'll flog
you one Intelix V1A2, to handle "one composite baseband video + two mono
or one stereo audio, via female BNC and two RCA phono", for the bargain
price of 92.49. Plus VAT. And delivery. And you'll need a pair. Hell,
push the boat out and get the V2A2 which uses the last of the four pairs
to allow two video signals - it's only a fiver more for each one.

Now, how much "really hard work" does that 250 quid buy? ;-)

Now, how much "really hard work" does that 250 quid buy? ;-)

You have a point. But the cables would have to be run outside the house due
to recently decorated room and SWMBO etc.
And there is a suitable CAT5 socket in just the right place terminating in
just the right place also!

The kat5.tv link provided by Dave Plowman looks interesting also...

Alan.

The kat5.tv link provided by Dave Plowman looks interesting also...

I meant Andy sorry!

"Alan" wrote in message
...
Does anyone here know of a supplier of an adaptor to allow me to send
composite video over CAT5 cabling?
Situation is I already have CAT5 installed and adding dedicated video
cable
would be *really* hard work. I believe CAT5 can do this, just a question
of
using the right pairs.

Alan.


Why not use a 2.4 Ghz Video Sender System similar to the one found on here
http://www.cardman.co.uk/video.html

On Wed, 08 Dec 2004 15:15:39 GMT, "Alan"
strung together this:

Does anyone here know of a supplier of an adaptor to allow me to send
composite video over CAT5 cabling?
Situation is I already have CAT5 installed and adding dedicated video cable
would be *really* hard work. I believe CAT5 can do this, just a question of
using the right pairs.

Just flicking through one of the trade catalogues i can get convertors
for £9 each for video only, or £13 for video and power. These just use
a pair for TX\RX and you'll need two of each.
Active transmission is £39 for a TX and RX, which will TX\RX video,
audio and 12V across cat5 up to 2.4Km.
All + VAT and delivery.
These are professional units and are BNC\phono connections for
video\audio. Not sure what type of camera you've got, if it's one of
those DIY ones you might have to use a bit of ingenuity!
--

SJW
A.C.S. Ltd
Please reply to group or use 'usenet' in email subject

In article ,
Alan wrote:
The kat5.tv link provided by Dave Plowman looks interesting also...

I meant Andy sorry!

I'm not sure who'd be more offended. ;-)

--
*We have enough youth, how about a fountain of Smart?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article , "Alan"
says...

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Alan wrote:
Does anyone here know of a supplier of an adaptor to allow me to send
composite video over CAT5 cabling? Situation is I already have CAT5
installed and adding dedicated video cable would be *really* hard work.
I believe CAT5 can do this, just a question of using the right pairs.

You need suitable video balancing/matching units. Not cheap, IIRC.

Ah. I was under the impression a passive adaptor could so this.
Video quality does not need to be great, as it's only for a security camera.

Would it be easier to use a network camera?

In article , Dave Plowman (News)
writes

It still needs to be a video balancing transformer, though. Last I heard
they were about 40 quid each, and you'd need one each end.

He might be able to scrounge a couple of baluns used to convert coaxial
(10 base 2) Ethernet to twisted pair and vice-versa. I know they're 50
ohm as opposed to the 75 ohm of RG59 coax, but it should be okay for
short runs for CCTV.

--
..sigmonster on vacation

"Alan" wrote in message
...
Does anyone here know of a supplier of an adaptor to allow me to send
composite video over CAT5 cabling?
Situation is I already have CAT5 installed and adding dedicated video
cable
would be *really* hard work. I believe CAT5 can do this, just a question
of
using the right pairs.


Have you tried just connected direct to one of the pairs. Left unbalanced
quality will be poor and interference high but if it's for a security camera
it might suffice. Else get a core from Farnell and wind a balun yourself.

On Wed, 08 Dec 2004 15:15:39 GMT, "Alan"
wrote:

Does anyone here know of a supplier of an adaptor to allow me to send
composite video over CAT5 cabling?
Situation is I already have CAT5 installed and adding dedicated video cable
would be *really* hard work. I believe CAT5 can do this, just a question of
using the right pairs.

Cat5Blaster?

http://www.keene.co.uk/pages/cat/05dup/05F.html

Click Distribution Amplifiers then CAT5.

"Alan" wrote in message
...
Does anyone here know of a supplier of an adaptor to allow me to send
composite video over CAT5 cabling?
Situation is I already have CAT5 installed and adding dedicated video
cable
would be *really* hard work. I believe CAT5 can do this, just a question
of
using the right pairs.

Alan.



What type camera are you using? Is the CAT5 buried in the ground? Is it
running close to any mains AC cables?

Composite video signals at 1 Volt peak to peak from any camera can be sent
through CAT5 as long as the cable run is pretty clean from nearby outside
interference. It may also have a bearing if you've used cheaper quality CAT
cable, as the internal twisting on the pairs isn't always close wound enough
to prevent cross talk of signals. A decent quality CAT cable has enough
twisting on each of the pairs to allow composite video through though.

To check the quality of the CAT cable just look at the pairs after taking
the outer sheath off. If the pairs are wound (twisted) together at around
an inch separation, then the cable may not carry video to clearly over long
distance. If, however, the twisted pairs are wound to a half inch wrap, the
cable will carry video perfectly clear over a good 200 to 300 mtrs without
to much decay at the receiver end.

One of these at each end of the CAT cable should be enough:
http://www.tait-components.com/Produ... Cctv&iPage=1

What type camera are you using? Is the CAT5 buried in the ground? Is it
running close to any mains AC cables?

Composite video signals at 1 Volt peak to peak from any camera can be sent
through CAT5 as long as the cable run is pretty clean from nearby outside
interference. It may also have a bearing if you've used cheaper quality
CAT
cable, as the internal twisting on the pairs isn't always close wound
enough
to prevent cross talk of signals. A decent quality CAT cable has enough
twisting on each of the pairs to allow composite video through though.

To check the quality of the CAT cable just look at the pairs after taking
the outer sheath off. If the pairs are wound (twisted) together at around
an inch separation, then the cable may not carry video to clearly over
long
distance. If, however, the twisted pairs are wound to a half inch wrap,
the
cable will carry video perfectly clear over a good 200 to 300 mtrs without
to much decay at the receiver end.

One of these at each end of the CAT cable should be enough:

http://www.tait-components.com/Produ... Cctv&iPage=1


Camera not purchased yet but will only be security type, not broadcast
quality. From memory CAT5 is good quality with tight wrap, will check. There
are no mains cables along the run, which is probably ony 30m.

That device looks ideal for the job. Thanks for the link.

Alan.

"Alan" wrote in message
...

What type camera are you using? Is the CAT5 buried in the ground? Is
snipped

One of these at each end of the CAT cable should be enough:


http://www.tait-components.com/Produ... Cctv&iPage=1


Camera not purchased yet but will only be security type, not broadcast
quality. From memory CAT5 is good quality with tight wrap, will check.
There
are no mains cables along the run, which is probably ony 30m.

That device looks ideal for the job. Thanks for the link.

Alan.



How are you thinking of powering the camera?

As long as you have a signal of 1 Volts peak to peak on the video output
from the camera, which is the normal signal threshold on this type of
camera, you will be able to send video over an unshielded twisted pair (UTP)
or CAT5 cable without any decay, as long as you keep the signal on one pair
only. The device on the link is just an easy adaptor between standard BNC
and RJ45 connectors.

We do these systems nearly every day and to save us using miles of separate
coaxial cables to remote positions on site, we use a single multi-core
unshielded twisted pair cable to one central hub point, then distribute
coaxial to the individual cameras from there. We have had UTP cable runs up
to 500 - 600 mtrs without problems using a powered hub as a simple amplifier
to keep the signals along the UTP to the receiver end at the 1 Volts peak to
peak limit.

How are you thinking of powering the camera?

As long as you have a signal of 1 Volts peak to peak on the video output
from the camera, which is the normal signal threshold on this type of
camera, you will be able to send video over an unshielded twisted pair
(UTP)
or CAT5 cable without any decay, as long as you keep the signal on one
pair
only. The device on the link is just an easy adaptor between standard BNC
and RJ45 connectors.

We do these systems nearly every day and to save us using miles of
separate
coaxial cables to remote positions on site, we use a single multi-core
unshielded twisted pair cable to one central hub point, then distribute
coaxial to the individual cameras from there. We have had UTP cable runs
up
to 500 - 600 mtrs without problems using a powered hub as a simple
amplifier
to keep the signals along the UTP to the receiver end at the 1 Volts peak
to
peak limit.

No need to power the camera at the moment as it will have local power
source. I have ordered a pair of the versions which also transmit audio as
it may be useful to have the facility.

Thanks again for the link.

Alan.

In article , BigWallop
writes

The device on the link is just an easy adaptor between standard BNC
and RJ45 connectors.

No it isn't. It does impedance matching; it converts from the 100 ohm
of Cat5 to the 75 ohm of the coax video cable.

--
..sigmonster on vacation

"Alan" wrote in message
...
How are you thinking of powering the camera?

snipped
peak limit.

No need to power the camera at the moment as it will have local power
source. I have ordered a pair of the versions which also transmit audio as
it may be useful to have the facility.

Thanks again for the link.

Alan.



Audio needs good amplifiers at the receiving end to make it any use. Most,
or I'd go with "all", surveillance cameras with audio are crap, to put it
bluntly, at giving decent audio, that's unless they are connected to an
amplifier with good bass tone and treble frequency control. If going for
audio facility on the camera, then try to choose one with a compressor
microphone.

Would you believe the best camera with audio I've ever used, and still
continue to use where needed, is this one:
http://www.gadgets.co.uk/bullet-wire...ith-audio.html

So it's worth shopping around for a while before committing yourself I find.

"Mike Tomlinson" wrote in message
...
In article , BigWallop
writes

The device on the link is just an easy adaptor between standard BNC
and RJ45 connectors.

No it isn't. It does impedance matching; it converts from the 100 ohm
of Cat5 to the 75 ohm of the coax video cable.


That's what I said, it's an easy adaptor between standard BNC and RJ45
connectors. Why get all technical about a simple adaptor that does the job
without any fuss of doing the impedance matching yourself. If I'd wanted to
go into details of impedance matching with series and parallel resistor
configurations, and MOSFET screening using diode / resistor reflection, then
I would have, don't you think?

It doesn't change the fact that the link I provided to Alan shows an easy
adaptor for him to use with the cable and camera system he described.

In message , Dave Jones
writes

"Alan" wrote in message
...
Does anyone here know of a supplier of an adaptor to allow me to send
composite video over CAT5 cabling?
Situation is I already have CAT5 installed and adding dedicated video
cable
would be *really* hard work. I believe CAT5 can do this, just a question
of
using the right pairs.

Alan.


Why not use a 2.4 Ghz Video Sender System similar to the one found on here
http://www.cardman.co.uk/video.html

CPC are doing a (4 channel) wireless system for about £50 atm

All you need is a source of power at each end

--
geoff

In message , BigWallop
writes

Audio needs good amplifiers at the receiving end to make it any use. Most,
or I'd go with "all", surveillance cameras with audio are crap, to put it
bluntly, at giving decent audio, that's unless they are connected to an
amplifier with good bass tone and treble frequency control. If going for
audio facility on the camera, then try to choose one with a compressor
microphone.

Would you believe the best camera with audio I've ever used, and still
continue to use where needed, is this one:
http://www.gadgets.co.uk/bullet-wire...ith-audio.html

I've just bought one of these from CPC, but for some reason, the picture
quality is really poor

Crap, even

--
geoff