All About Video Baluns

What is a video balun?A video balun is a connecting device which converts a balanced electrical line to an unbalanced line and vice versa. It is also used as a cost efficient alternative to extending the distance of a security camera from 1,000 feet to up to 6,000 feet. This is achieved by using a Cat5e/A cable or another form of twisted pair wire (UTP) instead of the usual coaxial cable. With the help of a video balun, the UTP wire can be pulled for longer runs. A video balun comes in two’s. One is for converting the unbalanced line to a balanced line and the other is to convert the signal back. One key advantage of using a video balun is that the frequency transmits a stronger signal and thus has less of a signal interference. Basically, there are two kinds of video baluns—a passive video balun and an active video balun. However, the right kind of video balun to use mostly depends on the function. For example, a keystone video balun is more appropriate for behind the wall installations, while for your home theater, you will need a special HDTV balun. For industrial needs, a rackmount video balun will better support the requirements of a business. It helps eliminate tangled cables and simplifies the process of installation. Other common uses of video baluns include connecting security and surveillance systems, closed circuit television (CCTV) systems, televisions, computer monitors and laptops, USB devices and DVD players, among others.

There are three configurations by which video baluns can exist. If you use passive video baluns on both the camera and the monitor side, then there is no signal intensity change or amplification. This works for a maximum distance of 1,000 feet. If you use a passive video balun on the camera side and an active video balun on the monitor side, the receiving balun amplifies a weakened signal and transmits a stronger signal to the surveillance device. This set-up works for a maximum of 4,000 feet in distance. Finally, if you use an active video balun on both sides, the sending balun transmits a strengthened signal to the other end which then strengthens the signal and sends it to the surveillance device. This is good for a maximum of 6,000 feet in distance.

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Different Types of Fiber Optical Cables

As a whole, the general process for the creation of fiber optical cables is pretty much the same. Two layers of glass (or plastic for plastic fiber) are melted together and then drawn out into a long fiber with a core and an external sheathing. Light travels through the refractive indexes of the core and the sheath. The optical fibers are then drawn down, cooled and spooled for bundling and manufacturing.

Depending on how they were made, there are three types of fiber optical cables.

1. Single mode fiber optical cable. This has a narrower core and carries more bandwidth in a narrower spectral width, as compared to a multi-mode fiber. Single mode fiber optical cables allow for one data stream or mode to be transmitted over very long distances.

2. Multi mode fiber optical cable. Unlike a single mode fiber, a multi mode fiber cable uses a much thicker core. It can carry data encoded using multiple light sources which means that multiple data streams can travel through even just one fiber. However, multi mode fiber cables are only good for short distances and cannot support a high bandwidth which single mode fiber optical cables can usually support.

3. Plastic optical fiber (POF). Plastic fiber optical cables do not possess optical purity which is necessary for reliable data transmission so it is usually just used for decorative and aesthetic transmission of light like the toys where there is light transmission. This is achieved through colorful clumps of fiber optical cables. Unlike its glass counterparts, POF is cheaper to manufacture and is not as fragile so it is ideal for aesthetic purposes.

Fiber optical cables can also be categorized according to how they are bundled and the size of the cables. Keep reading this blog for more information.

Using CCTV Video Balun to Transmit Video Over a Cat5 Cable

When transmitting a video signal for your security camera over long distances, a Cat5 cable is ideal. This kind of situation is perfect for using a CCTV video balun, otherwise known as a UTP balun. What does a video balun do? It converts a 75 ohm video signal over to the correct 100 ohm impedance for the Cat5 cable and then back to the 75 ohm video signal again. Aside from a Cat5 cable, a CCTV video balun also allows other forms of twisted pair wire in CCTV video camera and surveillance installations. In addition, a video balun is more cost efficient because installers can run over long distances easier than a coax cable for less money. In fact, an active video balun transceiver can extend wires for surveillance cameras for up to 3,000 feet.

Aside from being a money saver, using a CCTV video balun is a time saver too. Instead of running a coax cable from all the way up, you can just check for unused Cat5 phone lines. Phone lines are cost efficient when it comes to wiring. As an installer, using a phone line means that you just have to unscrew the face plate, strip the phone cable wires and connect it to the balun. When it comes to stripping, the more economical video baluns will require wire stripping and an individual wire connection. For this, you will need a cable stripper. However, if you are using a “fancier” balun, you will notice that it usually has a built in port for easier connection directly from a cable with a connector. Using a CCTV video balun also gives you multiple pairs of wires. Ordinarily, you will have four pairs of 22 gauge wires so you can use one cable for four cameras. A word of caution, though. Do not forget to either power the security camera at the camera itself or use a separate Cat5 cable to avoid interference.

Video Baluns – What Exactly Are They?

Active Video Balun for Camera side,
Up to 6560 Ft

Video baluns are devices that are used to convert balanced lines to unbalanced lines and vice versa. Video baluns are electronic devices used in aerial and its feeder cable and other electrical circuit elements wherein one is balanced and the other is unbalanced. The difference between a balanced and unbalanced line is that balanced lines have two conductors having equal currents in opposite directions, whereas unbalanced lines only have one conductor and that the current returns via a common ground or earth path.

Video baluns come in pairs, with one converting balanced to unbalanced and vice versa, while the other converts the signal back. Video baluns function by transforming an unbalanced video signal to a balanced frequency that originates from a different cable. With video baluns, frequencies are then balanced, transmitting a stronger signal while preventing signal interference.

As mentioned, video baluns come in pairs. They also come in passive and active forms. For example, passive video baluns are available in 3- and 2-Pair Powers, both for the camera and monitor side for security cameras. These video baluns are also cost-efficient, increasing the distance of security cameras by 1000ft using a Cat5e or UTP Cable. Active video baluns are also available, requiring Cat5, Cat6, or phone cables to function. Some active video baluns can even provide signals for up to 6000ft.

Active Video Balun, Female BNC Connector, Terminal Type, Camera Side

Video baluns are commonly used in BNC or coaxial cables, security and surveillance systems, closed circuit television (CCTV) systems, and home theaters and television. They are also used in computer monitors, laptops, DVD players, USB devices, and unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cables.

PI Manufacturing, Corp. is an online wholesaler of video baluns and other computer cables. Browse through PIMFG’s wide selection of video balun products such as passive video baluns, active video baluns, video balun brackets, built-in video baluns and more.

Is your video balun compatible with your security system?

When it comes to the safety and security of your home or business, it is necessary to provide the clearest video quality possible. In tight, dark spaces, an excellent video signal processed through a great video balun can make the difference. A poorly engineered video balun will produce low signal quality and undermine security and safety. Without a clearly processed signal, important video information will be missed or distorted. Don’t sacrifice security by settling for a poor quality video balun.

Figure out the compatibility of a video balun with your security system. Different video baluns power transmission distances. When selecting a video balun, make sure your camera and video balun are compatible to avoid any unexpected voltage or cable problems.

Figure out how far your cameras will be placed from where the video signal will be processed. Video baluns have various video signal ranges and the quality will decrease as the signal increases. Make sure to recognize the distance between the video signal source and where it is transmitted. Neglecting distance will result in poor video quality.

Don’t get your wires tangled. Make sure you have just the right amount of cables for hooking up your video balun and camera. Any amount of entanglement between wires can also distort signal quality. There are various cable lengths available and special video baluns designed specifically for tight spaces.

Although video baluns are small, their quality is necessary to produce efficient signal quality in order to maintain the integrity of security systems.

Computer Cable Trick: Connecting Computers

Connecting two personal computers (PC) seems like a very easy task but it actually takes a special kind of USB computer cable to do the trick. Connecting two computers using a USB computer cable is useful for file sharing and for repairing problems in one of the computers. In doing this, you will need a “bridged” USB computer cable. A bridged USB computer cable is characterized by a circuit built in the middle. This circuit minimizes the damage that could happen if a regular USB computer cable will be used.

USB Type A Female Solder Type Connector 3u Gold

You can easily purchase an affordable bridged USB cable online or offline. Once you have it, follow these simple steps.

1. Install the bridge software, if any. This usually comes when you purchase the computer cable. If this is not the case, you can go online and download the software. When you do, you will be asked to choose between link mode and network mode. Link mode is ideal for transferring files from one computer to the other. Network mode, on the other hand, is ideal if you want the two linked computers to share a peripheral like a printer or Internet connectivity. Make sure to install the software on both computers; otherwise, it will not work. There will be times, however, when you will no longer need bridge software. This is particularly true for Windows.

USB 2.0 Cable, Type-A Male to Type-A Male, 3ft

2. Now you are ready to plug the USB computer cable into both computers. It really does not matter whether the computers are turned on or not. You can do this before or after plugging the computer cable. The other computer should display link mode or appear as another drive in network mode.

Remember, use only a bridged USB computer cable for this process. Check out PIMFG.com for bridged USB cables and a whole lot of other types of computer cables.

Guide on How to Sleeve Computer Cables

USB to PS/2 (PS2) Keyboard and Mouse Adapter Cable, 7inch.

Take a closer look at your computer and notice your computer cables. How do they look? Are they cluttered? Most likely, they are. Cluttered computer cables can decrease circulation in your computer and may eventually affect its performance. One way to reduce the chances of overheating is to sleeve your computer cables. This can also give your computer cables a more uniform look. It may seem like a tough task at first, but you can sleeve your computer cables with a sleeving kit and some other tools without too much hassle.

For this modification procedure, you’ll need a sleeving kit (you can buy it online or offline), pencil, paper, scissors, heat gun (or a hair dryer. You can also the heat from a lighter.), heat shrink tubing and of course, cable sleeves.

Read

ID Bit Cable, Female to Female

y to sleeve your computer cables? Here’s a step by step guide.

1. Study the connection of each individual wire. Take the connector end of the computer cable that you want to sleeve.
2. To better help you, draw a diagram of the computer cables. Do not forget to note the arrangement and color of the wires.
3. Using your connection pin removal tool, remove the computer cables from the connector. Place the connector on a hard surface and make sure the exposed metal connections are faced upwards. Insert the removal tool with enough force until it pops out and slips out.
4. In choosing your cable sleeve, make sure it is as close to the size of the computer cable you are about to sleeve as possible. Cut the sleeve in such a way that ¾ of the cable is exposed at both ends.
5. Now, carefully thread the cable sleeve through the wire.
6. Based on the diameter of your computer cable, cut two 2-inch pieces of your heat shrink tubing and place it at both ends of the cable, covering the exposed parts.
7. Using your heat gun (or a hair dryer on high heat or the heat from a lighter), heat the tubing while twisting the computer cables to ensure even heating and shrinking.
8. Based on the diagram you made earlier, secure the pins back to the connector. Tip: the pins make a clicking sound when inserted. Make sure it is secure before installing it again.