Which is better, coaxial cable or video over unshielded twisted pair (VUTP) for analog cameras?
A. When wiring NTSC or PAL cameras, traditionally integrators used 75 ohm coaxial cable. This type of cable works well however, it has some limitations. It is distance limited (<300 ft), heavy, expensive, and requires BNC terminations at each end. Some integrators use twist-on BNC connectors while others use Crimp type connectors. Twist-on connectors tend to fail over time. Additionally, it is awkward to effectively deploy a proper cable management system in the head-end. VUTP requires the use of two baluns – one at each end – to change the impedance of the cable from 100 ohm to 75 ohm. However, in a typical CAT53 or CAT6 cable, there are four pairs – video only uses one pair so there is sparing built in. Or, the extra pairs can be used for power or telemetry. Additionally, video can be run distances up to 1000 ft with passive baluns and greater than 4500 ft with active baluns. The wire is lighter, less expensive, and has significant standards available for cable management and termina
