Audio Over CAT 5 - now we know we can do it

[Instantdeath]

I am doing a temporary site install, I have a line source(from a Yam 01v96 mixer) which I need send to three locations approx 300m in 3 different directions. The input to the desk is likely to be the odd show annoncement/emergency evac type thing.

 

Receiving the signal the other end would be a local mixer

 

Cost as ever is an issue for a temporary install.

 

Can anyone recommend some send and receive devices?

Is there a piece of kit which will send x 3?

A good type of CAT5 cable for the job? not really use CAT5 in the past

Would it be better to just buy some starquad in long lengths? If its cheaper

 

Your help is as ever is always appreciated.

[bruce]

Would it be better to just buy some starquad in long lengths? If its cheaper

 

Well, standard cat5 is around 30 quid for a 305m drum. If you can find starquad for less than 10p per metre, tell us where!!

 

 

 

Is there a piece of kit which will send x 3?

 

A simple balanced DA ?

[mackerr]

I am doing a temporary site install, I have a line source(from a Yam 01v96 mixer) which I need send to three locations approx 300m in 3 different directions. The input to the desk is likely to be the odd show annoncement/emergency evac type thing.

 

Receiving the signal the other end would be a local mixer

 

Cost as ever is an issue for a temporary install.

 

Can anyone recommend some send and receive devices?

Is there a piece of kit which will send x 3?

You say the 3 locations are in 3 different directions, why do you need to send all 3 feeds in the same direction down one cable? It is easy in the 01v96 to patch a single output channel to several output connectors. You can put the proper balanced connectors on your CAT5 to plug into the mixers on each end, using one of the 4 twisted pairs in a CAT5 on the plus and minus pins of the connector. Unless you have already used up all the output connectors on the 01v96 there should be no need for a DA.

 

Mac

[Instantdeath]

Thank you Gents, I guess you've answered my question. XLR's on the end of the CAT 5. I guess I thought you might need a sender/receiver on each end.

 

Last questions

 

Which sort of CAT 5, I'm guessing stranded with Shield

[GUSTie]

baluns

 

we do this a lot there are about 9,000,000 types of them in every size and shape, you can get them for every aplication and I have a couple lying around the office that do 3x audio signals.

 

the better the shilding on the Cat5 the better but it does not need to be anything fancy. we use stuff out of maplin and it works.

 

matt

[dbuckley]

baluns

Err - No

 

A balun is a BALanced to UNBALanced converter, the OP is using a Yammie digital board which has all balanced output, into another desk which you would assume had balanced inputs, so balanced out to balanced in over balanced cables, no need for unbalancing anywhere.

[bruce]

As Dbuckley rightly says, there's no need (or place) for a balun here.

 

Over those sort of distances, an isolating transformer would be a good idea.

 

I hadn't thought about patching the signal to several outputs on the mixer, as suggested by mackerr, rather than using a separate DA. Good idea.

 

One minor benefit you might get from using a DA is that if you get one with a tweakable gain, you can send a reference level from the mixer, then increase the DA gain to make sure you get the same level at the destination, thus compensating for line losses.

 

We have used that technique to send a signal over about a km of cable, or even over a couple of hundred metres of ancient BT cabling! Having said that, we often just use an "ordinary" balanced output over 300m, and it's fine (although we're using decent screened cable). In fact, once in an emergency we sent an unbalanced signal down 300m of video cable, and although it was a little noisy, it was useable and got us out of a hole....