Security Camera Cables: A Comprehensive Guide to IP and Analog Security Camera Cables
One of the most difficult aspects of installing a surveillance system is installing security camera cables. The type of security camera cable you’ll require is entirely dependent on your system and the tasks you’re attempting. You’ll use different types of cables depending on whether you have an analog or an IP system. While there is considerable variance, the most typical security camera wire types for each setup are listed below. To deliver power to and receive video from your security cameras, you’ll need RG-59 Siamese cables if you have an analog or HD-TVI system. You’ll most likely utilize cat5e Ethernet connections to send both power and data to your IP security cameras if you’re setting up an IP security camera system. If transmitting power over your Ethernet cable is not an option, you may also need a 12v power supply. We’ll go through all of the different cable types you can encounter while installing a hard-wired security camera system in the rest of this blog post. Ethernet Cable: Everything You Need to Know Ethernet Cable Let’s start with Ethernet cables, which are the most popular type of cable used in hard-wired security camera systems. You’ll surely need them if you’re putting up an IP system. Even if you’re installing a traditional security camera system, you might want to invest in some of these useful wires. Eight insulated copper wires are separated into four pairs in an Ethernet cable. To reduce signal interference, the wires in each pair are twisted around each other over the whole length of the cable. The wires inside an Ethernet cable are referred to as “twisted pairs” for this reason. Ethernet wires, on the other hand, serve a supplementary purpose. Your Ethernet connections can also link your security cameras to power if you have a Power over Ethernet (PoE) switch. You just have to worry about one cable traveling to and from your security cameras if you choose this technique of cabling. Analog Security Camera Systems Even if you don’t need to link your analog or HD-TVI security cameras to your network, you can still use Ethernet network cables if you have an analog system. The RJ45 Ethernet connector can be converted to a BNC connector for use with RG-59 Siamese cable using a video balun. Why would you want to connect analog security camera systems to Ethernet cables? There are a few advantages to using a video balun to convert an Ethernet wire to a BNC connection. Siamese cables are more expensive than Ethernet cables Data can be transmitted across larger distances using Ethernet wires. Ethernet cable runs may already exist in certain residences, reducing time and energy spent laying new wires. Categories You’ve most likely seen an Ethernet cable characterized as “cat” followed by a number. This is the Ethernet “category” that that particular cable belongs to. Ethernet cables are classified into numerous kinds based on how they were built, the amount of data they can carry, and the speeds at which they can do so. Check out the table below to see what each Ethernet cable category can perform. Category Transmission Speed Max Bandwidth Cat 3 10Mbps 16 MHz Cat 5 10/100 Mpbs 100 MHz Cat 5e 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) 100 Mhz Cat 6 10,000 Mbps / 10 Gbps* 250 Mhz Cat 6 cables only offer 10Gbps speeds up to 55 meters (180 ft). Cat5e Ethernet cable is recommended for most CCTV installations. Cat5 is slow and out of date, and it’s no longer in use. For most surveillance systems, Cat6 is overkill. Cat5e is less expensive and more widely used than cat6. If money isn’t an issue, investing in cat6 cables from the start will help you future-proof your network and allow you to upgrade to higher-bandwidth goods when newer technologies become available. The category doesn’t matter if you’re using a video balun to convert your Ethernet wires to a BNC connector for your analog security system. Because you’re not using the Ethernet cable to transfer network data in this scenario, upgrading to a more expensive cat6 cable, or even a cat5 cable, won’t help. Are you ready to purchase some Ethernet cables? You can buy pre-made Ethernet cables or Ethernet cables in quantity. You’ll need to install your own jacks to both ends of your line if you buy these cables in bulk. Continue reading to find out the connections and tools you’ll need to create your own Ethernet cables. Connectors and Tools RJ45, or Registered Jack 45, is the connector you’ll want to utilize with your Ethernet cable. These jacks, also known as 8-position 8-contact (8P8C) Modular Connectors, divide the four Ethernet twisted pairs into eight distinct copper strands. Ethernet Cable Advantages You might be tempted to forego the cords entirely and go wireless. While this can be useful in some circumstances, it isn’t always the greatest option. There are numerous advantages to using Ethernet cables when installing an IP or analog security camera system. We’ve already mentioned a few, but here’s a more comprehensive list. Ethernet connections are advantageous because they… They move quickly. Even with Cat5e, network speeds of up to a Gigabyte are achievable. Wi-Fi is improving all the time, but it’s still not quite there. They are dependable. Your Wi-Fi signal will be spotty from time to time, no matter how good it is. Your security cameras will most certainly slow, and there will be occasions when they entirely stop working. A hard-wired network may still experience this issue, but it will be far less frequent and less severe. They are inexpensive. Ethernet cable is less expensive in bulk than other forms of cable, making it ideal for both IP and analog security camera installations. They’re readily available. There’s a good chance that an Ethernet wire or two is laying around your workplace unused while you read this blog post. It’s unlikely that you have any extra Siamese cables lying around. They’re adaptable. Use them for your security cameras, your computer, your printer, and
