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BNC and RCA Cable Making

post #1 of 8
7/6/08 at 10:20am
Thread Starter 
Howdy all,

I'm going to attempt to wire up an extron matrix switch, and I need to make quite a few RCA to BNC cables. Lengths rill run from 4 inches to 6 feet. All distance runs are going to go over cat5 which is already in the walls. I think I've found everything I need, but I wanted to check here as I don't want to screw this up.

The first thing I need is the coax cable. My understanding is that I can use either RG6 or RG59, and that for shorter runs it doesn't matter. Thus, I settled on standard shielded RG-6 from monoprice as the price is fantastic.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

If I should really get quad shielded or RG-59, please let me know.

For Tools, I'm going to get this:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

I'm also going to get a stripper at Home Depot that looked good for a good price.

The part I'm having trouble with is the terminations. I have heard that you need different terminations for standard and quad shielded. I was just going to get these for BNC:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

but I got worried that they wouldn't fit the cable I got.

I'm not really sure where to get RCA terminations, as monoprice doesn't sell them. I have a local DIY electronics place, but the prices are pretty outrageous. Any advice would be appreciated, as I'm about to plop down several hundred $$ and I don't want to screw it up.

Lastly, the decision to make my own is pretty firm because this rack is going to be a month long hobby, and I REALLY don't want 3 feet cables where I need 6 inch cables. The cost will justify itself in the long run as I have a lot of similar projects coming.

Target
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post #2 of 8
7/6/08 at 11:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Target1 View Post

For Tools, I'm going to get this:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

I'm also going to get a stripper at Home Depot that looked good for a good price.

The monoprice tool says it's a stripper also, so I'm not sure why you want another stripper.

The part I'm having trouble with is the terminations. I have heard that you need different terminations for standard and quad shielded. I was just going to get these for BNC:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

but I got worried that they wouldn't fit the cable I got.

All BNC are the same. Where are you using these terminations? They are normally for unused live connections.

I'm not really sure where to get RCA terminations, as monoprice doesn't sell them. I have a local DIY electronics place, but the prices are pretty outrageous. Any advice would be appreciated, as I'm about to plop down several hundred $$ and I don't want to screw it up.

If you really need to terminate the RCA you could use an RCA to BNC adapter and then a BNC termination. But that may cost as much as your RCA termination.
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post #3 of 8
7/6/08 at 11:35am
Thread Starter 
I'm wiring up an Extron 100 matrix switch. 8 in 8 out. I'm going to use about half of the inputs/outputs for component RCA, and about half for VGA. I know that the Component components won't talk with the VGA, which is fine. I bought VGA to BNC cables, but they don't work. The way the switch is set up, the the five wires from the VGA to BNC cable can't reach the various inputs necessary. Thus, I need the 4 inch cables. With all this effort maybe I'll just purchase the shortest cables I can find online.

Target
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post #4 of 8
7/6/08 at 7:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Target1 View Post

The first thing I need is the coax cable. My understanding is that I can use either RG6 or RG59, and that for shorter runs it doesn't matter. Thus, I settled on standard shielded RG-6 from monoprice as the price is fantastic.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

If I should really get quad shielded or RG-59, please let me know.

All RG6 is not the same. You do not want to use RG6 or RG59 with a copper-covered steel center conductor and an aluminum braid shield (like most coax at a home center or at Monoprice). You want something with a bare copper center conductor and a 95% tinned copper braid over aluminum foil. For the frequencies that you are going to need to cover, the bare copper center conductor is very important.

Don't use the monoprice BNC connectors. I just looked at them and they plainly state 50 Ohms. Component video is sensitive to this (CCTV is not very), so you need to seek out connectors that are 75 Ohm. My favorites are ICM connectors, but your should find a selection made by Thomas & Betts, Gilbert, PPC, among others.

That having been said - your distances are short enough that despite doing everything "wrong" it still may work. Your message did show some concern for doing things the right way - hence my post.

Hope your able to get it all up and running!

Carl
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post #5 of 8
7/7/08 at 3:56am
Thread Starter 
So perhaps it would be best to go to my local DIY place and get better RG-6. The place is pretty fantastic, its just pricey. As for connectors, I think what I'm going to do is terminate everything in F-Type. These are super cheap. From there I'll get adaptors for where I need BNC and RCA. Would that run into quality dangers? I definitely want to do this right.

I'm also considering using an F-Type patch panel. This would simplify things I think.

Target
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post #6 of 8
7/7/08 at 3:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Target1 View Post

So perhaps it would be best to go to my local DIY place and get better RG-6. The place is pretty fantastic, its just pricey. As for connectors, I think what I'm going to do is terminate everything in F-Type. These are super cheap. From there I'll get adaptors for where I need BNC and RCA. Would that run into quality dangers? I definitely want to do this right.

I'm also considering using an F-Type patch panel. This would simplify things I think.

Target

This is what I'm doing. RCA to BNC adapters from components to my Extron switch. For the RG6 or RG59 runs to the displays, I am just terminating with F-type compression connectors. Then I use F-type to BNC adapters to the Extron. Got all the adapters at Monoprice and they are working great so far.
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post #7 of 8
7/17/08 at 9:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by fedders View Post

Don't use the monoprice BNC connectors. I just looked at them and they plainly state 50 Ohms. Component video is sensitive to this (CCTV is not very), so you need to seek out connectors that are 75 Ohm. My favorites are ICM connectors, but your should find a selection made by Thomas & Betts, Gilbert, PPC, among others.
Carl

Maybe someone can clear something up for me, since I purchased BNC-RCA adapters from Monoprice and from their product description they don't list if they are 75 Ohm or not. The link to the BNC terminators seem to be an entirely different product. When would you use a terminator like that?
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post #8 of 8
7/17/08 at 10:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by justtaint View Post

Maybe someone can clear something up for me, since I purchased BNC-RCA adapters from Monoprice and from their product description they don't list if they are 75 Ohm or not. The link to the BNC terminators seem to be an entirely different product. When would you use a terminator like that?

I've used them on unused video distribution runs. Not the BNC type but F-type (standard coax). In residential applications, you'd likely not ever use a BNC terminator.
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