Looking for good CAT5 Solutions

[JohnnyM]

Hi There

We are in the process of setting up a mobile webcast unit, based on the Tricaster Studio platform.

We would like to run the cameras using CAT5 cables. We would take the camera output (Stereo Audio & S-Video/Composite) through a balun and then down cat5 to our Tricaster. We will be using mostly Sony HVR-Z1U cameras.
We would like to use Ethercon connections and heavy duty cat5 cable for this solution.

Here are my questions:

1) Does anyone sell or make heavy duty blaun boxes (S-Video & Stereo Audio)?

2) Does anyone know where I can get pre-made CAT5 cables with Ethercon connections suitable for this set up (500ft)?

3) Can you recommend any other solutions that might be suitable?

Your help with these questions would be greatly appreciated.

[PIZAZZ]

"You are a speakin my language" -- Men At Work

We developed a complete flexible Cat5 solution using a tactical grade Cat5 cable. It rolls as easy as a Canare or Mogami mic cable. The NCAA has been using our design for their DII Broadband streaming the last 2 years. Each cable is terminated with a Neutrik EtherCon connector that locks upon insertion just like an XLR. We use aluminum boxes on the cameras instead of plastic like most balun manufacturers do. The CameraBox can be Composite, SVideo or Component YUV. The CameraBox can also have a Tally light along with InterCom coming out of it.

Operational distances are up to 1000 feet. The NCAA routinely uses 500' for the field cam in football. There is now quality difference between 100' or 1000'.

With that in mind, I have a couple different ways to do the Cat5 solution.

1 cable we use for simpler projects is a single Flexible Cat5 cable. You can carry Composite or SVideo with stereo audio down 1 Cat5 cable. You can also carry Component YUV and Tally down 1 Cat5 cable instead.

Another cable we use is the same cable as above but paired with a twin in a single flexible jacket. This Cat5 snake is what we developed for the NCAA's DII streaming group. In the dual cable setup we carry video and audio on one Cat5 and then Tally/Intercom on the other.

Of course going with a single Cat5 cable would be less expensive than the dual cable.

The camera boxes would be priced as follows:

1 SVideo/Left/Right Unbalanced audio - $150
1 Composite Video/ Left/Right Unbalanced Audio - $150
1 Component YUV video/ 1 unbalanced Audio - $195

1 SVideo/Left/Right Unbalanced audio with Tally and Com - $195
1 Composite Video/ Left/Right Unbalanced Audio with Tally and Com - $195
1 Component YUV video with Tally and Com - $245

1 Rackmount or Desktop mount Breakout box for converting from Cat5 back to Video/Audio is - $295


Single Flexible Cat5 cable is $.95 per foot terminated with durable EtherCon Cat5 connectors.
Dual Flexible Cat5 cable is $2.25 per foot terminated with EtherCon connectors.

If you need Intercom, we sell tons of the Production Intercom gear to our clients. Production Intercom is interchangeable with ClearCom or Telex unbalanced PL Lines. 4 beltpack systems with power supply start at around $1000 See more details here www.beltpack.com

Let me know if you need any more information or have questions. I will try to find some pictures to post of our boxes for reference.

[brians0105]

I can testify for Jef's Cat5 products. We have the dual cable option because we send the following to each camera via Cat5:
- Component video
- Tally light
- Intercom

When we do sports remotes and don't need the component camera signals, we often run three composite cameras down one Cat5 box instead of 1 component camera.

These solutions save plenty of time and work, especially for remote productions!

Brian

[JohnnyM]

Thanks for the info guys.

Just wondering what you think is the better solution in terms of S-Video versus Composite. Typically S-Video has better quality than Composite, but I have read where there may be some latency issues when using a Y/C signal with Tricaster Studio. Any thoughts?

Do you have any photos of the boxes you could post?


Thanks for your help

[PIZAZZ]

Thanks for the info guys.

Just wondering what you think is the better solution in terms of S-Video versus Composite. Typically S-Video has better quality than Composite, but I have read where there may be some latency issues when using a Y/C signal with Tricaster Studio. Any thoughts?

Do you have any photos of the boxes you could post?


Thanks for your help


There are zero latency issues with Y/C into the Studio. I am not sure why someone would of said that. All of the NCAA's gear was via SVideo instead of composite because we wanted to obtain the highest quality possible with the Canon GL2 cameras in the kits. You mentioned having Z1U cameras, you should use Component YUV anyway with them for the best quality into the Studio.

I am working on some pictures for you. I only had pics of the older design not the newer ones.



---- Brian, Thanks for the endorsement.

[bob anderson]

I answered my own question.

[LW_Will]

Okay... so this CAT5 is not a packeted transmission (TCP/IP or whatever)... this is just using a CAT5 instead of a standard y/c or other cable, right?

[TBrocato]

correct. There is no encoding of the signal, it is just using the wires to create a connection from point a-b. Of course there is some passive circuitry to make it all come together.

[PIZAZZ]

Actually unknown to Mr. Brocato, we use a little bit of voodoo magic inside our boxes. :)

[ted]

We just ordered an awesome CAT-5 set-up from Jef.
As mentioned elsewhere, after helping Jef set-up a show in San Antonio, and realizing there wasn't much set-up with Jef's method and TriCaster, I knew it was the easiest, best method when we got our TriCaster.

Not only is it a great set-up, Jef and his team made it really easy to put together. They educated me on what I should order for what I wanted to do and are getting it to us in a rush for our next big job. (I hope!) :D
I wish everyone I tried to give my money to made it this easy!
Yeh, the CAT-5 solution was the ticket for us.

[jh4wvu]

I was hoping for a single cat5 solution...thought a system from Vaddio was the answer but it still requires three cat5 cable runs...one for the video, one for the power, and one for the control.

I am going to be using 3 Sony BRC-300 cameras in a portable application. Power would only need to be connected at each camera, one VISCA cable for the camera control, and one BNC cable for video.

This seems cheaper to buy these cables rather than paying for the CAT5 solution and still having to buy 3 cables for each camera. I will probably spend a couple of hundred dollar on these cables versus $3,000 on the Vaddio solution and still have to buy a whole bunch of Cat5 cables.

Any thoughts on the true advantage of going with a cat5 system?

[TRCC]

Jef, Did you ever get any pictures of your boxes? Right now we're using EXTRON MVS series, but to get a tally/intercom integrated makes me very intriged on your products. I'd like to see what they look like. I'm also interested in the CAT-5 cable that wraps, we're using regular CAT-5 cable with an XLR sleved in 1/2" Nylon stretch tubing to conceal/protect, but we constantly have to replace both cables because of twist and kinks.

Thanks,
Luke

[ted]

The last day of NAB I found the "near perfect" solution.
CAMPLEX has on one, yes ONE cat 5 cable, High Def component video, Tally light, I'm pretty sure stereo audio, power to the camera and I think more.
The "near" perfect part is that they won't be out till June-September and the box runs $5,000.00 per camera.

But man oh man, this is truely a great option and all on one CAT 5 cable.
Camplex is doing great things in this department. It won't be long before others figure this out and the price drops.

I'm still waiting for my system from Jef so I can't tell you how that's working out yet.

[MacOne]

Jef,
Interested in your cat5 connection cable system also - please post pic or more info..

Thanks,

Bob
Mac One

[BELLE1RaceComm]

Jef,
Interested in your cat5 connection cable system also - please post pic or more info..

Thanks,

Bob
Mac One
Im very interested in the pics too....I think we might need to convert our 3-4 Cam set-up with this.

[ted]

Bob and Belle, get in line. I'm still waiting on mine. I'm sure it'll be great when it gets here though. I'll let out a few [ictures when I get it. :D

[PIZAZZ]

Ted is going to have to take some pictures of our new design. I didn't have time to take any. I have another system going out later this week that I will do my best to get some closeups of.



Our new website will be updated finally later this week too and I will have all the info on that too. If you need info immmediately then contact me directly about these solutions via jef at pizazzme dot com or call 409-860-9283

[cameraman91569]

Jef - ADD me to the list of interested Cat 5 customers!!!

I was wondering what you use to roll the cables up with, how much room a 500' Cat 5 cable takes up, etc. Do you have it set up so that you don't have to unroll the whole cable to hook it up?

I'm sure I'll think of more questions later.

Thanks,

Brad
brad@bbbtv12.com

[ted]

You can get reels that enable this. Jef can get you specifics.
The dual CAT5 cable that we got from Jef is fatter than 2 CAT5's taped together. It's 1/2 inch in diameter. BUT you wouldn't likely hurt it if you had a door close on it or a car drive over it. It's far more likely to last a long time and not get crunched in the middle of an important job.

[cameraman91569]

Jef can you please contact me either by phone or email, because I AM interested in purchasing some new cables before football season (August) and this sounds like something that will work for me. So, please contact me at my toll-free number 866-412-8112 or my email at brad@bbbtv12.com

Thanks,

Brad Jones

[Tarheel Cougar]

I've been waiting for some photos and specs also for cables to use this upcoming football season. Doesn't look like the website or photos are up yet.

[videosc]

Jef, I'm interested in this also and would like to hear how yours compares against the Camplex.

And when will your website redesign be ready?

[rally1]

Also ready for pics and the new website, very interested in your solution.

[donald.williams]

Just a quick note -

We purchased our own bulk CAT5 cable from Lanshack.com (We bought 4 1000') reels - bought the cinch ends, and boots...

Crimped our own 600' cables (4 of them) and bought video baluns (Dual S-Video and S-Video + Hi-Fi, as well as ProXLR M&F) from s-video.com

We ran a football game today - crystal clear image - no problems at all - ran the 4 cables together with cable ties -

At the end of each balun we had another 75' of-s-video cable to each camera - the XLR connector is used for our Porta-com headset extension box -

We used the time-warp module and got some awesome instant replays!

Got to run for now - it was a lot of fun today - get to do it all again next weekend - if you want more specifics about how we did it ourselves - email me

This solution cost about $1100 - and worked like a charm -

[ted]

Donald, that's awesome. But the best part is that you had a lot of fun doing it. Isn't TriCaster great?

[donald.williams]

Quite a few people have written me wanting more details -

Here is what I have put together so far -

If you still need more let me know

www.svideo.com for the baluns - (they are listed there - just remember you need a pair - one for each end -
btw audio xlr is going to be mono - you might want to get a hifi audio balun and run a mixer on one end and then run another hifi balun on the other end that terminates into the tricaster line in connection (be sure to use mono 1/4" to female rca for this) otherwise you will get no audio!

http://www.svideo.com/cctv.html

lanschack.com for the wiring and termination connectors

http://www.lanshack.com/Cat-5E-Cable-C69.aspx

http://www.lanshack.com/make-cat5E.aspx

http://www.lanshack.com/Quick-Cat-Cat-5E-8-Conductor-Modular-Plugs-w-Loadbar---Bag-of-100-P2638C0.aspx

http://www.lanshack.com/RJ-45-Snagless-Boot---Bag-of-100-P1341C0.aspx

You will need a crimp tool!


From Markertek

http://www.markertek.com/SearchProduct.asp?item=MD%2D3BK&off=2&sort=prod&skuonly=0&search=cable+cover&pagesize=20

http://www.markertek.com/SearchProduct.asp?item=EC100%2D75BE&off=5&sort=prod&skuonly=0&search=cable+cover&pagesize=20


I still need some kind of reel I have 600' of 4 strands of cable - inside of that wire cover stuff right now - and we just wind it around a trash can -

[amospro]

Jef Kethley
PIZAZZ

I make stuff....

see it all here... www.pizazzme.com


I don't see anything there except a nice website with nothing on it. I ordered my own stuff to make up what I need.

Has anyone recieved anything from Jef?

[PIZAZZ]

I don't see anything there except a nice website with nothing on it. I ordered my own stuff to make up what I need.

Has anyone recieved anything from Jef?

these guys all have our systems
the NCAA DII streaming initiative
Webstream Productions
D3Cast - Bullpen Productions
the World Series of Poker both US and Europe
Vision Video Productions for Cox broadcast in La.
even used it for NewTek at NAB and Siggraph

I will be the first to admit that the recent times have been too crazy to update our site with new information. Our event production division has exploded in the last year. If you email me directly I will send you what information I have. I am currently in London producing the WSOPEurope main event. Be back in Texas later next week.

[HMMJeff]

You may be interested to know that these are also relatively easy to make yourself, simply by stripping S cable and attaching the same colors to the inside of a radio shack cat5 wall box. I've done this at least a half dozen times and the results are perfect. If you need more information than that the job may not be up your ally, but I suppose I can post a pic if you need one.

[amospro]

Jef,

I just wanna see some pictures of these products.

[PIZAZZ]

Here is a pic that Kim from Vision Video sent me and also one from a previous TriCaster system.

I will be back from London first of next week and one of my first goals is to put together a little press package of the latest design.

[DMcClaflin]

Any thoughts on the true advantage of going with a cat5 system?

McClaflin Mobile Media just delivered a 3 camera PTZ system to WGTE.

There is nothing wrong with running 3 cables per camera. It takes a bit longer to do, but the end result is the same. Traditional cable is generally a cheaper solution. CAT5 is quickly gaining in popularity for longer cable runs. While CAT5 may be a good solution in certain scenarios, it is by no means the only solution. It is simply an alternative. Baluns come in a vast variety. Stay away from cheaper imports. Anyone that has ever looked inside knows that many of the cheaper units seem to have evolved. Meaning, No intelligent design. CAT5 cable selection is also very important. Cheaper cable yields disappointment. If you plan to run your PTZ Cameras over a shorter distance, say 100’, S-Video should be just fine.

D. McClaflin
McClaflin Mobile Media
http://www.mcclaflinmobilemedia.com