Anyone know how long video cables can be?

[simmons3d]

Does anyone know what the maximum length of video cable (either s-video or component) can be running from your average stand alone player? We may be running a projector system and the cable length may exceed 20 feet. Thanks.

[spiderman2k1]

I think 30 or 35 feet Go to a real TV store like Tweeter or Cambridge Sound work's they will know but I did ask some from one of these store and he said 30 or 35 feet but this was a year ago I ask him to double checkit might be 30 feet

[ZippyP.]

I can't remember exactly, but I ran an S-video of 35 ft no problem. I know that the limit is higher than that, so 20 ft is no problem.

Check this: http://www.audiovideo101.com/learn/askus/displayaskus.asp?questionid=1874&List=2

[BJ_M]

we run s-video 250 feet on dual belden 8281 cable (like a good rg6 coax) in many installations .. this is driven by a kramer line eq/amp, should be good out to 300 feet ..

without the amp 75 feet is fine with the above cables or rg6 (or good canare or extron type cable)

for composite with canare or belden 8281 you can run about 100 feet with no problems .. more with a eq'd/amp signal .. like as much as 500+ feet ..


rgbhv i've run 1000 feet (again with the right hardware on both ends)

in all cases assume no breaks or joints and very high quality BNC 75ohm connectors are used (many BNC are 50ohm) or high quality video jackfield . everything run in conduits is preferable.

[lgh529]

RGBHV for 1000 feet Are you sure about that? RGBHV cable is really expensive, like more than $2 foot. And the bandwidth required for RGBHV is way higher than composite or s-video because RGBHV is not a band limited signal. To go 1000 feet in RGBHV usually means switching to a CAT5e solution, but that requires a transmitter and receiver.

As far as composite, I engineer cable systems with a 300 foot spec without line amplification. S-video will do 150 feet without amplification. This assumes of course a good quality RG-6 cable. (RG59 will work too, but not quite so far) If you add a good line amp, composite will go >600 feet, and S-video >300 feet[/i]

[BJ_M]

RGBHV for 1000 feet :?: Are you sure about that? RGBHV cable is really expensive, like more than $2 foot. And the bandwidth required for RGBHV is way higher than composite or s-video because RGBHV is not a band limited signal. To go 1000 feet in RGBHV usually means switching to a CAT5e solution, but that requires a transmitter and receiver.

As far as composite, I engineer cable systems with a 300 foot spec without line amplification. S-video will do 150 feet without amplification. This assumes of course a good quality RG-6 cable. (RG59 will work too, but not quite so far) If you add a good line amp, composite will go >600 feet, and S-video >300 feet[/i]

yes - 1000 feet for RGBHV , in several stadiums and for at least one world fair (in portugal) exhibit .. Long runs of Triax are even more expensive and you know they runs miles of that stuff everywhere during something like the superbowl (well they used to before everythng became wireless - well a lot of it anyway)..

we have tried various cat 5 solutions (and fiberoptic) but at least with the cat5 - the bandwidth just wasnt there for the added cost and complexity (some plasma's now even come with cat5 for video built in - but i'm not doing this for plasma's , but for the big displays you see on scoreboards (when they used to be vidoecubes before LED displays killed the jumbo vidoe cube walls) and video projection for large events and special shows and such - as well as the wiring built into stadiums for infra structure distro and exhibit interactive and projection requirments...

[Sartori]

Meanwhile back in the real world - I run a svhs cable 20m and its fine (vhs - ATi radeon) from Maplins (UK).

[ZippyP.]

Meanwhile back in the real world...-

Nice!

[BJ_M]

some people live in a larger world

[dcsos]

You're just doing display...BJ_M,
correct me if I'm wrong,
but I don't think those distances would be as reccomendable for recording
chores, as the crew would probably design a closer position to the action if
LOSELESS RECORDING was the goal!
a Display over that distance looks good to be sure!, but you'll have differntial gain problems even with electronics at both ends

The poster asked about the length of cable from the VCR to the TOWER ..for no recording loss
I would reccomend no more than 20 feet but:

For a SVHS cable
Length of video cable is mainly controlled by 3 factors:
1) Loss of high frequencies, particularly at chroma subcarrier.
2) Differential Y/C delay.
3) Ghosting caused by reflections.

If you use high quality, properly terminated broadcast type video cable (it
is about 0.25 inch thick) then experience shows that losses over the first
100 feet are minimal. , Perry Mitchell
Video Consultant
http://www.perrybits.co.uk

[BJ_M]

no i am taking both display and recording .. thats why you equalize the HF and have a gain/phase control for long cable runs (a standard practise in studios for many years). here is a inexpensive one that works well (it really isnt very expensive) : http://www.kramerelectronics.com/group1/vm9yc.html


now days everything is switching to digital -- like SDI for higher end as one type.


here is a nice info on found on digital transmision btw - slightly off topic http://www.nvision1.com/Serv/RefLib/TheBook/chapter3.asp

[ZippyP.]

some people live in a larger world

I know, and it's interesting to read your exchange of information for a little glimpse of what's out there, although I think you're giving more technical information than most of us will ever use. Having said that, the original poster had his question answered long ago so.....carry on!