While the futurists in our industry tout the improved benefits of IP networked CCTV surveillance and insist that all should switch immediately to it today, the realists know that such a drastic, immediate change is sometimes not possible for a host of reasons, including investments in present analog equipment that continue to work successfully.

As CCTV suppliers provide bridges between analog and digital equipment, providing most of the benefits of an IP system while using legacy analog equipment and forging a pathway to ultimate 100 percent IP, too often forgotten is the transmission system. It, too, must be created for later migration. Fortunately, there is a way to implement such a system, providing both a solution for today's system and laying the groundwork for an extremely easy switchover to IP in the future.

RJ45 connectors and hubs that provide power, video and data (PVD) in conjunction with UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) wiring create exactly what the great majority of today's CCTV systems should employ.

Straightening Out Today's Jumble of Wires and Cables

It's well accepted that coaxial cable is more difficult to install than UTP wire in most video transmission applications, resulting in higher labor charges and larger hardware costs. In addition, coax systems do not comply with structured standards-based protocols such as 568B, while UTP wire does. Contrary to coax, RJ45-connected, UTP video solutions also provide an ultimate migration pathway to an all-digital solution.

However, far too many integrators and their customers are unaware of this simple remedy. Too add confusion, different trades use different techniques.

For installing CCTV, RG-59 has been historically used by security industry personnel to transmit video signals from the cameras to the receivers. Meanwhile, the telecommunications and data communications industries developed quite different standards. For instance, Token Ring runs on 150 ohm shielded twisted pair, IBM System 3270 runs on RG-62 coax, and Ethernet runs on RG-58 coax. Telephone signals are transmitted on quad wire or unrated UTP wire.

Needless to say, this has created monumental problems for installers. When using RG-59, installers have had to provide a nearby outlet and/or power transformer. Additionally, most P/T/Z control required yet another shielded twisted-pair cable. Between RG-59, RG-58, RG-62 and 150 ohm shielded twisted pair, the industry created a mess. There was no common wiring, bulky coax seemed to exist everywhere, and there was no way to organize and manage all of it. As multiple systems came to market, the clutter grew larger and more out of control.