OT: Multfunction cable for HD-SDI

richard-courtney wrote on 12/2/2008, 6:21 AM

Can someone who has experience using multifunction cable (with video, genlock,
intercom) tell me if Canare's A2V2-L cable will work properly with HD-SDI?

Each run is expect to be no longer than 250 ft and will be supporting Sony's EX3
cameras.

Or is there something better that can be used to provide video, genlock, intercom,
and possibly power and tally functions?

Comments

farss wrote on 12/2/2008, 12:55 PM

It might not work with HD SDI. I've no direct experience however I do know a local broadcaster replaced ALL their cabling and patch panels when they went to HD SDI. The BNC connectors are quite different as is the cable compared to what was used to carry SDI and composite video. This change though might have been because they're running (or might need to carry in the future), whatever SMPTE HD SDI standard supports 10bit 4:4:4 i.e. very high data rate compared to what comes out of the EX3.
I can ask more questions if you like. I do know they're using fibre cabling for OBs.
Feeding 12V DC to power the cameras that distance would be problematic. Better to send 24 to 48V and use a DC-DC converter at the camera. I worked on a system years ago where we had to supply power over thin cable great distance. We used 400Hz AC to reduce losses and keep transformers smaller.

Certainly I think you're going to need termination boxes at the camera end. Interesting question really, I wonder if Sony have a solution. I'd certainly not want to be running any of those monster cables I've seen used on studio cameras into an EX3.

Bob.

richard-courtney wrote on 12/2/2008, 6:32 PM

Thanks Bob, I can get my hands on a spool for almost nothing. (perhaps why I can)

I was hoping one could simply branch the individual feeders out, the CCU type
multicore cables are a neater solution, but a box with a small switching PS might
be safer. I noticed the standard studio 26 wire cables have two larger power pins.

In another forum, Gepco was mentioned but it is a single coax. I was hoping to find
a manufacturer of a bundled cable to make the runs tidier for a roving camera.

EDIT: found this cable
http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=310742&surfModel=STUDIO-100

richard-courtney wrote on 12/18/2008, 5:51 PM

For anyone doing live multicamera events in HD using HD-SDI cameras:

http://nemal.com/catalog/download/BroadcastCatalog.pdf

They can custom build and "extrude" the outer jacket.