CCTV Video Baluns

CCTV video baluns, also known as UTP baluns, allow traditional coax cable to be replaced by category 5 and other forms of twisted pair wire in CCTV video camera & surveillance installations. Video baluns allow installers to use more cost effective structured cabling techniques to wire security cameras. By using video baluns, UTP wire such as cat-5 can be run over longer distances easier than coax cable and for less money. Active balun transceivers enable UTP wires for cameras to be run distances up to 3,000 feet.

Video Balun Passive

The origin of the word balun is bal(ance) + un(balance). Video baluns, also known as CAT5 baluns.  A video balun is placed on both ends of the CAT5 cable run and uses one of the the twisted pairs from the CAT5 cable to transmit the video from the camera to a DVR or monitor.  There are also multi-camera baluns that can use the four twisted pairs in CAT5 to transmit the video for up to four cameras.   Most security camera installers are familiar with using RG59 coax cable for CCTV, as this is the industry standard cable and allows installers to run both the video from the camera and power to the camera using a single cable run.   There are versions of video baluns that also support running power to CCTV cameras in addition to the video.  These are some of the most common reasons that a security installer would choose to use CAT-5 cable instead of RG59 for a CCTV application.

• The location of the installation already has CAT5 cable pre-run and the installer wants to use it.
• The distance of the cable run exceeds 700 feet (the maximum distance supported by RG59 without a video amplifier).
• CAT5 cable typically costs less than RG59 cable.

The following types of video baluns are available and used in different circumstances.

Passive Video Balun with Power Connector

Passive Video Baluns

Passive video baluns are not powered and support cable distances up to 1200 feet.  These baluns use only one of the twisted pairs in the Cat5 cable.  The CAT5 is attached to the baluns on both end using screw terminals or other connection types. The balun has a BNC connector that gets connected to the camera on one end and a DVR or monitor on the other. 

Video Baluns with Power

Video baluns with power support running low voltage power to CCTV cameras in addition to transmitting the video signal.  For baluns that also supply power to cameras, one of the twisted pairs from the CAT5 cable is used for video and 2 pairs are used for power.

Passive Video Balun with Power Connector & Data - for PTZ Camer

Installers attach one pair for the positive and one pair for the negative power leads.  There are also video + power baluns that use RJ-45 connectors instead of the cable terminals, and even some models that support audio as well.  Some installers prefer this, especially when using pre-made network cables with the RJ-45 ends already attached.  An important note is that the distance that power is unable to be run is much lower than video and is still limited by the voltage and guage of cable being used. 12V DC typically begins to drop after 200 feet. The below video demonstrates how to use passive video baluns with power.

Active Video Baluns

Active video baluns include a power supply and act also as an amplifier so that cable distances can be increased beyond 1200 feet (the limit for passive baluns). 

Active Video Balun

Multi Ch Video Balun

An active balun receiver can be used on the DVR or monitor end of the cable with a passive balun on the camera end to boost the maximum effective distance to 2000 feet.  When an active transmitter balun and active receiver balun are used together, the effective distance of the cable increases to 4000 feet for color cameras and 5000 feet for black and white. The below diagram illustrates the wiring used when installing active video baluns. Please note that power is required for both the transmitting and receiving unit.

Wiring Diagram

Multi-Camera Baluns

Multi-camera video baluns allow each twisted pair of a CAT5 to be used for one camera, effectively allowing an installer to run video for up to four CCTV cameras over a single CAT5.  The below diagram illustrates how a multiple camera video balun is wired.

Multi Camera Baluns

Internal Circuit of Baluns:

Distributing Video Over CAT 5 and CAT 7

Some SI Need to Know About Video Distribution Through Cat5 or Cat7


When thinking of setting up your home video system, it means that you should know something about distributing video over CAT5 and CAT7 because it is the kind of system that will broadcast optimum performance. It also means that you can now have your source from a distance away from the display device, television or monitor.
There are three (3) general types of video distribution system:
1) Analog or Baseband
2) Internet Protocol
3) Radio Frequency

Any of these types may use coaxial cables, category 5 or more commonly known as CAT5 cables, CAT5e, CAT6, CAT6e or CAT7 cables. What are the differences between them?
1) CAT-5 distributes video up to 100M.
2) CAT-5e 350M.
3) CAT-6 and CAT6e distributes video as far as 550M to 1000M
4) CAT-7 is rated from 700M to 1000M.

Viewing Video Over CAT5 or CAT7
Video over CAT5 or CAT7 like those delivered by CATV, data, and telephone are all distributed in similar wiring closets. It delivers videos that may run along a distance of 100M for CAT 5 or even up to 1000M for CAT7. Video over CAT5 or CAT7 all goes out on the same cabling system. The system is channeled in a passive broadband balun that converts any uneven coaxial signal into a balanced signal through the video over CAT5 or CAT7. Even when distributed to different channels simultaneously, it will not slow down the network because the air analog signals do not travel on that similar network, and thus, it does not rely on the bandwidth of the video signals.
Presently, the use of FTP or UTP cables for audio and video needs is prevalent. Instead of using coaxial cables, CAT5 and CAT7 cables are used. Coax are first installed into the hubs and everything else is distributed through the FTP/UTP. Video over CAT7 or CAT5 for that matter are now possible at a limited cost. There is ease in the installation and location change is not a big deal. All one needs to do is connect patch cords from the distribution hub to the patch panel and have a single port converter connected to the television.

Advantages of a Video System Using CAT5 and CAT7
1) Video over CAT5 or CAT7 is cost effective as it eliminates the need for additional coaxial cables.
2) Configuration of video over CAT5 or CAT7 is much easier than having multiple splitter taps, amplifiers and combiners of coax.
3) A high quality signal is maintained as the distribution system of video over CAT5 or video over CAT7 uses active RF video hubs. It makes automatic slope adjustments hence all video channels’ image quality is sustained.
4) The video distribution system of CAT5 or CAT7 can carry out voice and auxiliary signals simultaneously. There are no interferences between the voice and video data.
5) A system with video over CAT5 or CAT7 allows video streaming from the computer and it is made possible through a broadband video system.
Distributing video over CAT5 and CAT7 is made possible through an RF broadband system. It broadcasts CATV, HDTV, internally generated video, video-on-demand services, and satellite videos through twisted pairs of CAT5 or CAT7 cables.

What Really Is an IP System

The market is being whipped into a frenzy by buzz about IP, yet studies show that only 10-15% of systems sold include IP cameras. What’s the deal?

One firm was recently retained by a new client to provide a strategic review on the electronic security industry. This client was focused on CCTV, and inevitably the topic of IP-based CCTV systems was high on their list. They had studied all of the market data they could find and were disappointed to discover that — depending on the estimates — only 10-15% of the systems being sold today are considered IP systems. “How can this be?” they asked. “Aren’t all systems today essentially IP based systems?”

They were right. Unless you are using a videocassette-based system or an extremely low-end DVR, all systems are IP based. Why? Because the recording is handled by a DVR, and that DVR virtually always includes client software that allows you to remotely access live or recorded video. So, if all systems are IP eventually, why is there so much discussion as to the pros and cons of IP based systems?

Close to the Edge

The real question is how far out to the edge do you go with IP. An IP system converts an analog video signal to a digital stream that can be transmitted over a conventional Ethernet network. But it can do this in a number of places.

If an IP camera is used, the signal is converted at the camera itself — this is what is commonly referred to as an IP-based system. An analog camera can also be used, and the signal can be fed into an IP encoder that converts the signal to a digital stream. The IP encoder can be located in a more convenient location, and multi-channel encoders are available to convert multiple cameras from one box. Or the camera can remain analog all the way to the recording device, which then converts the signal to store it. In that case, the recorder is also serving as an encoder, and the signal is generally available as an IP signal streaming from the recorder.

So, which system should you use? In general, we recommend that analog cameras be fed to IP encoders unless megapixel resolution is required. We base this on a number of factors, including cost, ease of installation and appearance.

1. Cost — In general, the cost of an analog camera plus an encoder is generally the same price or less than the cost of an IP camera, and technically the signal quality is identical. In fact, if multi-channel encoders are used the cost of the analog/encoder pairing drops significantly below the IP camera cost.

The true savings come in when you look at replacement cost. Edge devices fail or get damaged from time to time. One of our clients had a faulty camera installation and the outdoor IP camera filled up with water during a storm. Replacement cost was $900, but it would only have been $300 if an analog camera had been used and connected to an encoder that was safely installed in a closet or other weatherproof space.

2. Ease of Installation — An IP camera has some installation limitations that can drive costs up significantly. Primarily is cable distance — IP cameras are limited to 100 meters (328 feet) unless special converters, repeaters, or fiber optic cable is used. Analog cameras can run for great distances before being converted to IP — over a mile if the proper UTP (unshielded twisted pair) baluns are used. The same cabling can be used, so cable cost isn't an issue, and the convenience of locating equipment where conditioned space is available often outweighs other concerns.

Other installation factors include the sensitivity of IP cameras to power fluctuations, the difficulty in getting environmentally hardened IP equipment, and the limitations in size and form factor for IP base products.

Finally, analog cameras can be plugged into a portable monitor for setup, focusing, and field of view adjustments. While some IP cameras also include analog outputs to allow this, many do not. This makes installation far more difficult, involving a computer, extra network port (if power-over-Ethernet is used) and added time and complexity when installing.

3. Appearance — We are currently in the golden age of analog cameras in that the variety of sizes, shapes, features and performance levels available at low price points has never been better. This gives the designer or installer tremendous flexibility in matching cameras, housings, lens types, and other specification features to capture exactly the image that is needed. Too often, IP cameras require aesthetic or performance compromises that do not go over well with end users.

While these and other advantages make us lean in this direction, nothing trumps technical requirements. If your application makes IP cameras advantageous, feel free to mix and match or use whichever makes the most sense. As far as which type of device to use, keep both in your toolbox and remember the old adage; if the only tool you have is a hammer, pretty soon everything looks like a nail.