Composite Video/Audio over 100m

[Swizzuk]

Hi All,

 

I have had a quick search to see what others have done in the past and so on. I can find results on video, and seperate solutions for audio but not for both together.

 

I have a DV cam (NTSC) that I will use FOH focused on the stage and needs to be connected to my flatscreen (handles the NTSC signal fine.) which will be backstage as a monitor for cast.

I have composite audio and video coming out of the cam and need a way to send all backstage.

 

I was thinking using BNC cable and a small video amp to boost the signal but would like to send the audio at the sametime rather than have to convert to XLR and run all that back also.

 

Any ideas?

[DanHerbert]

You could convert the signal using a Cat5 transmitter and run both the audio and video over Cat5, with a receiver at the other end.

 

The price of this solution seems to be coming down over time and ABtUS and Kramer Electronics both offer solutions:

 

http://www.abtussingapore.com/ABS_Cat5.htm#CV

http://www.kramerelectronics.com/products/...simpleformat=38

 

Let me know if you'd like pricing information.

[Swizzuk]

Thanks DanHerbert,

 

I'll have a look at those and have a think.

 

Cheers

[Dan Gruner]

Yes, use a Cat 5 solution for this.

 

Check out the products from Madnat- I have use the video over Cat5 passive baluns for several jobs and they are inexpensive, good quality (made in Canada) and work well. As you see, they do several including stereo audio as well.

 

Please PM me anytime if you want further info.

 

Dan

[Alex222]

Yes, use a Cat 5 solution for this.

Hi

 

I would strongly recommend using cat 5 for this, every year I do a live event and have to run a live feed from where I am to a hall where there is a "big screen" type of thing. You need to make sure that the cable toes NOT run over electrical cables (or if it does as little times as possible) as the interference/ buzz that you will get over the distance will be huge, and also if u have a clean sound at source when you get to the end of the cable there will be a slight buzz, you can remove most of it with a 32band eq at each end of the cable.

 

Also you need to make sure that the level from the source does not clip otherwise at the other end one is had been converted into cat 5 and back again it becomes a distorted mess.

 

Try contacting http://www.bluelizardmedia.co.uk/ they will be able to offer a good solution, they also have other companies arround the uk as well as the one the website is for in edinburgh (it's the company that I use for the cat 5 solution)

 

alex.

[david.elsbury]

TBH if it were me, and the cable run wasn't a problem, I'd just use 100m of RG6 coax, pop an amp/line driver at the start, and let it go.

Audio, just run 100m of balanced mic cable (or, pop a couple of XLRs on CAT5 cable).

 

All depends on what you have available.

[Pete McCrea]

I'm with David on that. And it's partly because we have the cable and line drivers to do it either way. And hum blockers too. We regularly send SDI over 300m on Co-ax, but it does benefit from the enhanced noise rejection of being Digital.

 

You should also find that with a proper CAT5 system which Balances the video and audio lines you won't be prone to interference the same as with unbalanced cabling. Cheaper unbalanced CAT5 will not give the same benefit.

[Swizzuk]

Thanks guys,

 

At this stage, I have neither cat5 or coax to hand, so will need to purchase either method.

I have a fair amount of XLR to hand so will probably go the line driver and coax route as seems to be the most cost effective for me at this stage.

 

Many thanks for the advice.

Nice to find out about the cat5 solutions though. Will look closer at that maybe later in the year. would be good in enviroments where structured cabling is already in place.

[Swizzuk]

Have decided to go with the cat5 route.

Gone with Dans suggestion of Madnat. They look pretty good and cost effective.

 

Which cat5e cable do you guys use? Standard or Shielded? My IT side says I should go with shielded but wondered if it really effects video signals on the cables?

Shielded cable is really robust but hard to coil when the shows over, especially when you have about 100m of the stuff!

[revbobuk]

It's the twist and the fact that the feed is balanced that provides the rejection of interference. I'd suggest using Cat5 stranded, rather than solid core, as it is less prone to flexing damage. 100m isn't all that far for video over Cat5 - you shouldn't have any problems. We have longer runs than this in our church building - although we use an active sender - and the quality is excellent.