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Title: SDI cable suggestions?
Post by: Rob Spence on April 02, 2018, 01:51:49 PM
I need about 125’ of SDI cable.

Much coax cable seems pretty stiff with annoying memory.
I need cable to deploy for a gig then coil after.
I expect it doesn’t have to be quite as limp as some XLR cables.

Since 100’ seems to be a standard length, would coupling a 100 & a 25 together be a problem?

Suggestions on cables and suppliers? I would like them pre terminated.

Thanks. Getting closer to my needed video setup.



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Title: Re: SDI cable suggestions?
Post by: Michael Thompson on April 02, 2018, 03:30:32 PM
I need about 125’ of SDI cable.

Much coax cable seems pretty stiff with annoying memory.
I need cable to deploy for a gig then coil after.
I expect it doesn’t have to be quite as limp as some XLR cables.

Since 100’ seems to be a standard length, would coupling a 100 & a 25 together be a problem?

Suggestions on cables and suppliers? I would like them pre terminated.

Thanks. Getting closer to my needed video setup.



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

I've been very happy with Belden1694F.  It's probably as flexible as your'll find for a coax at that length if you want 3G-SDI bandwidth.  Belden's data sheet indicates that it should be good for 174 ft.@ 3G-SDI, 260 ft. @ 1.5G and 892 ft for SD-SDI widescreen (even longer for PAL and NTSC).
Title: Re: SDI cable suggestions?
Post by: Milt Hathaway on April 02, 2018, 08:28:07 PM
I've been getting mine through Markertek. My heavier-duty HD-SDI cables are Canare L-5CFW, and I have some lighter ones (when appearance matters more than durability) that are Belden 1505F (although apparently there is now a better Belden model number for this use).

Both types want to be carefully over/undered, in fact the Belden will fight if you if you don't do it correctly. These are the cables I allow no other person to handle.
Title: Re: SDI cable suggestions?
Post by: brian maddox on April 02, 2018, 09:57:55 PM
I need about 125’ of SDI cable.

Much coax cable seems pretty stiff with annoying memory.
I need cable to deploy for a gig then coil after.
I expect it doesn’t have to be quite as limp as some XLR cables.

Since 100’ seems to be a standard length, would coupling a 100 & a 25 together be a problem?

Suggestions on cables and suppliers? I would like them pre terminated.

Thanks. Getting closer to my needed video setup.



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Others have suggested good cable choices.  My only input is to avoid coupling two cables together, particularly at this distance.  Anything over 100’ and SDI tends get to get more finicky.  And BNC couplers introduce signal losses on top of being notorious failure points.

Another note.  Everything in an SDI signal path is going to be rated up to a certain number of Gs, including connectors.  It’s a bit like RF in this way.  So it pays to just buy good stuff to begin with.  Then when you end up using this cable with 12G 4K sometime in the future, it’ll still work...
Title: Re: SDI cable suggestions?
Post by: Rob Spence on April 02, 2018, 10:23:41 PM
Thanks for all the information.

So, I bought Belden 1694F from Markertek.

I presume that fiber is used for longer runs. At what length does coax stop being effective?



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Title: Re: SDI cable suggestions?
Post by: brian maddox on April 02, 2018, 10:59:32 PM
Thanks for all the information.

So, I bought Belden 1694F from Markertek.

I presume that fiber is used for longer runs. At what length does coax stop being effective?



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Rule of thumb in the field is basically 200’. There are tons of variables of course, most important being video resolution and cable type. But in general if you’re going over 200 feet it’s easier and more reliable most times to just use fiber.
Title: Re: SDI cable suggestions?
Post by: Rob Spence on April 03, 2018, 12:06:25 PM
Since I have not seen either of these cables it is hard for me to choose. I know the 1694F is more flexible than the 1694A but is the “A” flexible enough to uncoil and lay on the floor for an event the coil back up after?
Markertek has the “A” in stock and can ship right away and is less expensive while they have to make up the “F” and will take a few weeks.

What say you?

Thank you


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Title: Re: SDI cable suggestions?
Post by: Jordan Wolf on April 03, 2018, 05:18:46 PM
Since I have not seen either of these cables it is hard for me to choose. I know the 1694F is more flexible than the 1694A but is the “A” flexible enough to uncoil and lay on the floor for an event the coil back up after?
Markertek has the “A” in stock and can ship right away and is less expensive while they have to make up the “F” and will take a few weeks.

What say you?

Thank you


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1694A is fairly stiff, as it’s an install version. The F version is more flexible, but you sacrifice how long you can make your run.

We bought various pre-terminated lengths of Canare L-4.5CHWS from FullCompass and it been wonderful. I’d say it’s about 1/4” thick, but it coils like nice DMX cable, or rugged CATx.

Belden 1505F is great for shorter runs.

Pic attached comparing them to some Rapco-Horizon mic cable.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180403/80ca1dd25a520bf97cdf99e68e266e35.jpg)
Title: Re: SDI cable suggestions?
Post by: Rob Spence on April 03, 2018, 05:55:22 PM
1694A is fairly stiff, as it’s an install version. The F version is more flexible, but you sacrifice how long you can make your run.

We bought various pre-terminated lengths of Canare L-4.5CHWS from FullCompass and it been wonderful. I’d say it’s about 1/4” thick, but it coils like nice DMX cable, or rugged CATx.

Belden 1505F is great for shorter runs.

Pic attached comparing them to some Rapco-Horizon mic cable.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180403/80ca1dd25a520bf97cdf99e68e266e35.jpg)

Thanks. I would like a 150’ run. Will the 1694F work for that length? It will be running from a switcher to a projector.



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Title: Re: SDI cable suggestions?
Post by: Jordan Wolf on April 04, 2018, 01:38:12 PM
Thanks. I would like a 150’ run. Will the 1694F work for that length? It will be running from a switcher to a projector.
Belden lists 1694F for up to 174ft @ 3G-SDI resolution (1080p/60); 255ft for the 1694A.
Title: Re: SDI cable suggestions?
Post by: brian maddox on April 04, 2018, 01:51:58 PM
Belden lists 1694F for up to 174ft @ 3G-SDI resolution (1080p/60); 255ft for the 1694A.

All of these video resolutions made my head hurt until someone pointed out to me that a 4K video signal was just 4 1080p signals set into a quad pattern.  In fact, one of the transmission methods for 4K involves splitting the signal into "Quad" and sending it down 4 1080p capable paths and then recombining the signal on the other end.  This allows you to use legacy video routers and such.

Anyway, once i grasped this concept, the 1.5G, 3G, 6G, 12G thing started to make sense.  If 1080p/60 requires 3G cable, then if i want to do 4K/30 i need 6G [4 times the number of pixels, one half the number of frames].  And if i want to do 4K/60 i need 12G. 

All of this is an over-simplification, but it helps make some of this make a little bit of sense.  At least to me...  :)
Title: Re: SDI cable suggestions?
Post by: Tim McCulloch on April 04, 2018, 10:32:30 PM
All of these video resolutions made my head hurt until someone pointed out to me that a 4K video signal was just 4 1080p signals set into a quad pattern.  In fact, one of the transmission methods for 4K involves splitting the signal into "Quad" and sending it down 4 1080p capable paths and then recombining the signal on the other end.  This allows you to use legacy video routers and such.

Anyway, once i grasped this concept, the 1.5G, 3G, 6G, 12G thing started to make sense.  If 1080p/60 requires 3G cable, then if i want to do 4K/30 i need 6G [4 times the number of pixels, one half the number of frames].  And if i want to do 4K/60 i need 12G. 

All of this is an over-simplification, but it helps make some of this make a little bit of sense.  At least to me...  :)

I think our shop is about to follow the rabbit down the Video Hole.  My head is hurting already.
Title: Re: SDI cable suggestions?
Post by: brian maddox on April 04, 2018, 11:01:18 PM
I think our shop is about to follow the rabbit down the Video Hole.  My head is hurting already.

Mine never stops....
Title: Re: SDI cable suggestions?
Post by: Rob Spence on April 04, 2018, 11:48:21 PM
Well, I ordered 150’ of 1694F. Should get it in a week or so.

It’s a pretty tight squeeze down this rabbit hole Tim. Maybe some mushrooms would help?



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Title: Re: SDI cable suggestions?
Post by: Tim McCulloch on April 05, 2018, 02:51:52 PM
Well, I ordered 150’ of 1694F. Should get it in a week or so.

It’s a pretty tight squeeze down this rabbit hole Tim. Maybe some mushrooms would help?



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Go ask Alice, I think she'll know...
Title: Re: SDI cable suggestions?
Post by: Jordan Wolf on April 06, 2018, 12:56:35 PM
Go ask Alice, I think she'll know...
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180406/484ab8b846ea112f034dd2b967050b7f.jpg)