What cabling for an IP camera system
IP systems have a fundamental advantage in their almost endless mix of wiring options including wireless. Most options are described in our article IP camera system wiring options.
Which cables do I need
Because IP systems work — as the name suggests — on an IP-network basis (LAN), they are built like any computer network. You can even reuse an existing network for the IP camera system. Structured cabling is used, which includes:
- UTP cables (unshielded) (sufficient for most camera systems)
- FTP/STP cables (shielded)
These cables are further divided by conductor cross-section into:
- CAT5, CAT5e (sufficient for most camera systems)
- CAT6
- CAT7
For IP camera systems, the most common CAT5 UTP solid cable is generally enough, with a maximum single-segment length of 100 m.
Where should the cables run
The ideal cabling principle for an IP system is to create a wired link between the IP camera and the PoE recorder or PoE switch.
For a family-house installation that means:
- the cable runs from the camera to the technical room where the rack (cabinet) for the rest of the technology (router for internet, etc.) is prepared,
- one end connects to the IP camera, the other to the PoE recorder (NVR) or switch that carries video data and power,
- and that's it. 😉
In short, prepare cables from the camera location to the spot where the rest of the equipment will be. We recommend preparing 2–3 230 V outlets and an internet connection.
TIP: For those who can't run cables from the cameras directly to the recorder, you can place a PoE switch in the loft to power the cameras and continue with a single UTP cable down to the internet router (e.g. several floors below) where you also connect the recorder (no PoE ports needed).
More details in: IP camera system installation
What cabling for an AHD camera system
AHD systems are slightly stricter on cabling than IP, but also simpler.
Which cables do I need
AHD camera systems transmit video as analogue signal. They therefore require a quality coaxial cable (also used for antenna distribution) that ensures interference-free transmission. Camera power is usually solved separately. There is, however, an elegant single-cable solution:
- Multi-cable for AHD camera systems
This cable is a quality RG59 coaxial combined with a power pair. It is the ideal solution for distances around 150 m (the coax part will carry image even at 300 m, but the DC power line then has noticeable losses).
Where should the cables run
For AHD the situation is simple — the coaxial cable must always run directly from the cameras to the recorder. You cannot use a switch that would aggregate the video and forward it on a single cable as in IP technology.
- The cable runs from the camera to the technical room where the rack (cabinet) for the recorder is prepared.
- One end is connected to the AHD camera; the other end has its coaxial part plugged into the recorder and its power pair into the power supply.
In short, prepare cables from the camera location to the spot where the recorder will be. We recommend preparing 2–3 230 V outlets and an internet connection.
More details in: AHD camera system installation