Newbie: BNC->RCA and cable types

Oct 06, 2004 3 Replies

Hi all,



I am in the middle of setting up a CCTV system in my home, and have a few questions about cable runs etc.


1) What cable is best to use to carry the composite video signal? Maximum run is maybe 20 meters. The cheapy cameras I bought have RCA connectors, but I suspect RG59 coax would be a better choice then straight twin core? Is this correct. I will be running maybe 4 or 5 wires next to each other down a single run, and probably a 12v 2A DC line too. Is this going to cause interferance problems?


2) My capture card uses BNC connections which is fine for coax, but as I say, the cameras use RCA. Can I stick an RCA plug on the end of RG59 coax? Will it fit? Which way around do I need to connect the core/sheath?



Thanks, Lister


RCA plugs are designed to take shielded cable. It would take considerable ingenuity to connect one other than core to pin, shield to body I think :-)

Over that distance, a decent coax.

If all the video signals are in coax then you should not have any problems.

If you get a phono plug that is designed to be fitted to coax then it is pretty straight forward. e.g.

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screen of the coax terminates at the gland on the back of the plug.

I used to use 100' runs of RG-59u between my cameras and switcher. The cameras had RCA plugs. It was not problem at all putting them on the coax. All it takes is some minimal skill with a soldering iron.

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