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Change to baluns, stop the cabling nightmares

Installers, integrators and solution providers are all making the change from analogue to IP, but there are still customers not ready for IP who still insist on an analogue system. In short, we all know that particular customers will soon join the realms of IP, but it will take time. However, we must still attend to the customer’s needs, during the installation process, make the analogue solution ‘IP ready’ by running the cabling with Cat5e/6 UTP cable to the proposed camera points and connect using video baluns.

Video baluns are old news, however, working with the Folksafe brand of video baluns distributed by Syntech, make providing a future IP-ready solution unique. In most analogue installations, RG59/Powax cable is used to carry the video and power, between the camera and DVR. The limitation of using this method of cabling is distance and it is generally not advised to run cabling any longer than 150 metres.

Using UTP cable allows for longer runs and will carry video over much greater distances, however, the limitation here is down to the distance that power can be run over the same cable. Using a combination of the Folksafe baluns allows for installers and integrators to manage their cable installations more effectively.

The Folksafe range of baluns allow for combinations of 4, 8 or 16 channels running both power, video and even PTZs over one solution or a combined solution of balun hubs, see the examples shown.

Example 1: Running power and video to and from each camera to the DVR, without having the need for too many separate components that will cause wiring clutter behind the network cabinets.

This method will allow for power to be distributed by the Folksafe balun for up to 200 m.

Example 2: Power over longer distances

Now the problem arises when one wants to run power over a longer distance, say 500 m plus. This is not an easy task, but there are a number of instances when this is required.

This method shown will allow you to connect your cameras up to the Folksafe balun hub with local power and using the 4-in-1 port to connect to a passive balun running the video over a distance of around 700 m. One UTP cable can run up to four cameras back to the DVR.

These types of solutions are ideal for installers and integrators to have in their arsenal to create the correct cabling solution for their clients.

I have had a number of customers over the past few months, since Syntech introduced these products, commenting on why they did not have this solution earlier. Customers are now completing larger installations faster and the wiring chaos behind the DVRs is no longer there, making the installation neater and much more professional looking.

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