Basics for Video Cabling CONTENTS:

Design and Installation Tips for High Quality Video Cabling Installing Video Cabling Case Study Video Cabling Glossary

Video cabling is a demanding and unforgiving technology. If there are problems in video cabling they are immediately apparent, even to non-technical personnel. Compared with cabling for data communications, where parity checks are made and data is instantly retransmitted, no real-time correction capacities exist. Video involves using the equivalent of extremely rapid data-transmission rates; for example, typical baseband video signals operate at a frequency of five megahertz (about 5 million bits per second, compressed). Broadband video signals operate at even higher frequencies, ranging from 50 to 450 MHz. These fast transmission rates and the lack of real-time correction capability allow no room for error in video communications. The key to problem-free video cabling, therefore, is high quality design and installation. Design and Installation Tips for High Quality Video Cabling High Quality Design Cable selection is important to achieving high quality design. Installers need to know when to use 75-ohm baseband or broadband coaxial cable, RG-59, RG-6 or RG-11 cable, fiber optic or unshielded twisted pair cable. The standard medium installed in video applications is 75-ohm baseband and broadband coaxial cable, whereas for data communications, 50-ohm coaxial cable is commonly used. If you use 50ohm coaxial cable rather than 75-ohm, an impedance imbalance occurs, resulting in an attenuation problem as video signals start to weaken. Selecting cable that is frequency-swept will ensure attenuation properties at listed frequencies. Most manufacturers publish specification sheets listing cable property characteristics. In terms of attenuation, for example, RG-59 baseband cable can be run to 600 feet, and RG-6 and RG-11 baseband cable are effective to 850 and 1200 feet, respectively. Broadband cable distances, however, vary with channel frequencies. Cable shielding is also critical to prevent noise problems caused by electromagnetic or radio frequency interference (EMI/RFI). Baseband and broadband video cabling shield cover should be a minimum of 95 percent. Before purchasing cable, you should review specifications on shielding characteristics and cable composition of different cable types. For longer runs, where baseband and broadband cable would experience attenuation problems, consider using fiber optic cable. For baseband applications, the cable typically used is 62.5/125micron multimode fiber, while broadband normally uses single-mode fiber. Fiber optic cable provides an additional benefit; it is impervious to EMI/RFI. Baseband video signals can also be transmitted over unshielded twisted pair cable. At least Category 3 UTP is recommended to provide attenuation properties similar to coaxial cable. These properties are sufficient for using UTP in such applications as video to the desktop. The video can be transmitted over the extra twisted pair normally included in structured cabling systems. Installing Video Cabling In addition to high quality design, installing video cabling correctly is crucial to its successful operation. The following tips address key installation areas: Central Power Video systems with multiple cameras should always be powered from a central location. Most large buildings are equipped with multiphasic power systems. If cameras are plugged into existing room receptacles, phase differentials can cause transmission problems. To eliminate these problems, hook up high quality power cabling to a centrally located power transformer and pull

this cable with the video cabling to each camera. This centralized configuration eliminates not only phase problems but also power surges that might damage sensitive camera electronics. Central Grounding Video systems should also have a central ground source, because any type of ground loop or differential between a central power point and video camera sites will cause transmission difficulties. Instead, using three-conductor cable, carry the ground from the central power source to the cameras. Use 16 AWG cable because it will minimize resistance to ground. In addition, tape and wrap all connections to ensure no physical grounding exists along the route; this can also cause ground-loop problems. Cable Pulling Do not stretch coaxial cable when it is being pulled. Stretching changes the distance between the cable's central conductor and shielding, which causes a change in impedance, resulting in attenuation. To prevent this problem, cut cable to manageable lengths. Connections For baseband cable, you should use BNC connectors. For broadband cable, use F-type connectors. Case Study A large distribution warehouse that has a two-mile-long computerized conveyor and multiple types of cabling has recently incorporated an event-driven video system. The system has 12 video cameras located along the conveyor at points where the highest probability of problems might occur; for example, a product jam or pileup. Sensing devices detect problems at each of these locations and activate the appropriate camera so that the problems can be called up and viewed at six different workstations. Eleven cameras are linked to a central point via baseband cable ranging from RG-59 to RG-11. The twelfth camera is located approximately 2000 feet from the central point and is therefore connected using 62.5/125-micron multimode fiber cable. Centralized power is provided to all cameras with three-conductor, 16 AWG cable. At the central point, the 5 MHz baseband video signals are fed into individual broadband channel modulators. These units modulate the signals to cable television frequencies of 50 to 450 MHz and distribute them to the six workstations via RG-11 broadband cable designed with a loopthrough or daisy-chain configuration. The workstations are equipped with specialized boards that serve as both television channel receivers and scan converters, permitting video signals to be digitized and displayed on workstation VGA screens. Video Cabling Glossary Baseband cable: Coaxial cable used for a signaling technique in which one signal at a time is transmitted in original form, unchanged by modulation. Broadband cable: Coaxial cable in which frequency division multiplexing divides a single physical channel into a number of smaller independent frequency channels. Electromagnetic/radio frequency interference: Signal transmission or reception resulting from the radiation of electrical or magnetic electrical and magnetic fields. Frequency-swept cable: Cable tested by manufacturers at listed frequencies to demonstrate attenuation properties. Ground loop: Ground differential between a central power point and a device such as a video camera that causes transmission problems. Impedance: The total opposition that a circuit, cable or component offers to alternating current. Including both resistance and reactance, impedance is generally expressed in ohms. Noise: Any extraneous sound or signal in a cable or circuit that interferes with the sound or signal normally present in or passing through a system.