CCTV Video Baluns

At Cabling Plus we offer a huge selection of video baluns to support your CCTV surveillance camera installations. Video baluns are used as a popular method for distributing your surveillance video over a standard Cat5e or Cat 6 UTP cable. All of our video baluns are manufactured to the high quality to ensure your surveillance system performs to its maximum potential. All of our video baluns are simple to install and are 100% guaranteed to perform!

Use our professional grade video baluns for your CCTV application!

Since the use of UTP cable is becoming more and more popular for transmitting surveillance video in CCTV applications, video baluns have become a necessity in CCTV system installations. Many installers choose to use Cat5e or Cat 6 cable to transmit surveillance video in installations where their cable runs exceed 600 feet long. This is the distance where a standard RG59 coaxial cable will start to reach its transmission limits. Some video baluns will allow you to transmit your video signals well over 3000 feet. So, using UTP cable with video baluns is a viable option for combating distance limitations encountered with coaxial cables. For some installers they choose to use UTP cable and video baluns because they feel that this combination is more cost effective, and easier to install than using an RG59 coaxial cable.

A video balun is really a simple device that allows you to convert a UTP cable to the BNC connections you need to attach the cable to a security camera and a CCTV security DVR. Since most security cameras and DVR’s only accept BNC connections, a video balun must be used to create the connections you need for a successful installation. Most quality video baluns have simple to use screw terminal blocks or push pins that allow you to easily attach a UTP cable to them. Once the UTP cable is attached to the video balun, you just simply connect the balun to the security camera and DVR via the BNC connection. There are different types of video baluns available for you to choose from depending on the length of your cable runs or the distance your video signals must travel between the security camera and CCTV DVR. So it is important for you to evaluate the distance you need your video signal to travel, and choose the video balun that best support your application.

A CCTV video balun is offered in both active and passive types. The active video balun is usually powered, and is designed to support the longest video cable runs. The power in an active video balun will amplify your video signal so it can be transmitted extremely long distances. Most active video baluns will include a transmitter and receiver, along with power transformers so you can power both units. So if you have an applications where active video baluns are needed you will have to ensure there is local power so you can power both the transmitter and receiver. The passive video baluns do not require power and are usually used for applications where video must be transmitted under 1500 feet. Using a passive balun just requires attaching a balun on both sides of your UTP cable, and then attaching the balun to the DVR and security camera. Installing both active and passive video baluns is very easy and can be done in just a matter of minutes.

At Cabling Plus we offer numerous video baluns design to support any CCTV applications. We offer standard passive and active baluns so you can rest assure we have the professional grade balun you need to support any video transmission requirements. We even offer multi-port video baluns hubs to support multiple cameras, and specialty video baluns designed for power, video, and PTZ camera installation applications. Choose our video baluns to ensure you get the best video quality possible delivered back to your security DVR. All of our video baluns are built for quality and performance!

Frequently Asked Questions About CCTV Video Baluns - FAQ’s

How do I install a CCTV video balun?

Installing a CCTV video balun is very simple. Most video baluns have easy to use push pins or terminal blocks that will allow you to insert the UTP cable pairs directly into. These slots will create a strong connection between the cable pairs and the balun. Once this connection is made you can then simply attach the BNC connector on the balun to both your security camera and DVR.

When should I use a CCTV video balun?

We always recommend using an RG59 Siamese CCTV cable for your security camera installations. This cable is really the best cable used to deliver both your power and video between your security cameras, DVR, and camera power supply. But there are some applications where there is a UTP cable already in place, or you have decided to use Cat5e or Cat 6 cable to support real long video runs. In these applications we do recommend using a video balun. A video balun is your only option for converting a UTP cable to a BNC connection.

What distances can I transmit video using video baluns?

It all depends on the video baluns you use. There are active video baluns that are powered that can transmit video up to 4 or 5000 feet. Plus there are passive video baluns that do not need power that can transmit color video up to 2000 feet. So you need to evaluate the distances you need to transmit your video and then choose the video baluns that best support your cable distances.

Do I need to power both the receiver and transmitter of an active balun?

Yes. Most quality active video baluns will already include the power supplies needed to power both the transmitter and the receiver. So, when designing your CCTV system plan on having local power available on both ends of your UTP cable runs.

Can I use Cat 6 cable with a video balun?

Yes. You can choose to use Cat 6 UTP cable with your video baluns. Cat 6 cable is a thicker gauge cable s you are getting a bigger pipe to transmit your video over. Most quality video baluns will offer the connection mechanisms that support the thicker cable pairs that are common with a Cat 6 cable.

How many UTP cable pairs do I use with a CCTV video balun?

Most video baluns allow you to use just two pairs of a UTP cable to transmit video. So you will have two available pairs that can be used for power. But it is important to understand that you could have some voltage drop and distance limitations when sending power over Cat5e or Cat 6 cable pairs. So if you have long cable runs you may have to run a separate 18-2 power cable from your power supply to your cameras, or plan on powering your cameras locally closer to the camera location.

Is it cheaper to use Cat5e or Cat 6 cable for my CCTV system?

It all depends. When using video baluns with a UTP cable solution for your security camera installations you need to account for your cable, and a pair of baluns for each camera. You also have to account for another power cable if you are not able to use your extra UTP cable pairs to deliver the right amount of voltage your cameras require. So you need to evaluate your complete system and its needs before you can evaluate the cost.