Cable Length Limits

[Cam_SA]

Hi All
New to this forum

I have a HikVision DVR and 5 Cameras all connected using Cat5E Cable. I have 2 cameras that are around 40m away and these 2 cameras has quite significant signal loss however they still work fine.

I'm adding 2 more cameras which is around 60m away and I already can tell that the signal loss is going to be even worse so I want to find out if RG59 cable will be a better option than Cat5E of Cat6E

Thanks

 

[SpacemanSpiff]

"The maximum length you can run Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6a cable is 100 meters or 328 feet. The length limit for Cat5 also includes any patch cables, jacks or couplers that are connected in the run. For example, you could not run 100 meters of Cat5 cable between the walls, and then connect with a jack to another 10 meter cable. In terms of distance limitation, the 100 meters of Cat5, the jack and additional 10 meters of Cat5 are all seen as a single length of cable. It is recommended to only run the structured cabling (the horizontal cabling or the infrastructure cabling) 90 meters to give adequate length for end users patching into the network jacks."

edit: Credits to the author referenced above... Kevin Kantola -- Discussing Cat5 Length Limits

 

[TonyR]

Hi All
New to this forum

I have a HikVision DVR and 5 Cameras all connected using Cat5E Cable. I have 2 cameras that are around 40m away and these 2 cameras has quite significant signal loss however they still work fine.

I'm adding 2 more cameras which is around 60m away and I already can tell that the signal loss is going to be even worse so I want to find out if RG59 cable will be a better option than Cat5E of Cat6E

Thanks

Welcome to IPCT!


You said "DVR" and not NVR........so are the cameras analog and not IP and you are using baluns on the CAT-5e cable?

 

[Cam_SA]

Welcome to IPCT!


You said "DVR" and not NVR........so are the cameras analog and not IP and you are using baluns on the CAT-5e cable?

Yes it is a DVR and I am using baluns

 

[mat200]

Hi All
New to this forum

I have a HikVision DVR and 5 Cameras all connected using Cat5E Cable. I have 2 cameras that are around 40m away and these 2 cameras has quite significant signal loss however they still work fine.

I'm adding 2 more cameras which is around 60m away and I already can tell that the signal loss is going to be even worse so I want to find out if RG59 cable will be a better option than Cat5E of Cat6E

Thanks

Welcome @Cam_SA

Are you using CCA wired cable ? or solid copper wired cable ? What is the gauge of the wires ?

 

[Cam_SA]

Welcome @Cam_SA

Are you using CCA wired cable ? or solid copper wired cable ? What is the gauge of the wires ?

To be honest the cable I put wasn't the best quality - definitely not solid copper. I don't have the packaging to confirm it's composition as the installation was done sone time back.

 

[mat200]

To be honest the cable I put wasn't the best quality - definitely not solid copper. I don't have the packaging to confirm it's composition as the installation was done sone time back.

If the Cable is CCA cable, you should replace it.

 

[TonyR]

+1^^^^

The common and cheaper alternative to pure copper, CCA (Copper Clad Aluminum) conductors can have issues down the road especially when providing power to cameras via POE or over any of its conductors.. Periodic movement of any kind, even by thermal contraction and expansion, can cause issues over time.

The fact that UL (Underwriter's Laboratories in the U.S. of A.) won't even give CCA approval speaks volumes about its dependability.

Personally I can tell a significant difference in weight when holding a 25 foot long cable of CCA and a cable of the same length that is pure solid copper.

Check Your Specs, CCA Is Different From Solid Copper