TD 101 – Explaining Video Distribution Systems to End Users

A moment’s thought makes clear that any larger scale installation requires some serious amounts of gear,  cable management and issues of keeping all monitors looking the same.

More than Video

While the above example provides a simple way to demonstrate the basic topology and pitfalls of an analog video distribution system, most modern versions move a lot more than video.

As noted at the beginning of this article these systems are more rightly called media distribution networks. In addition to video these networks carry streaming content, on demand libraries, ethernet/ internet data, digital signage messaging and emergency notification.

Taking the example above, it would be legitimate to presume that an increase in items to be delivered over the network would mean an increase in both cable and hardware and complexity.

In fact the current generation of distribution systems can be described as both more complex and simpler.

Existing Versus New cable

It may seem odd to start with the cable but the topology dictates the requirments of the rest of the system and how it will work.

Rather than solid copper, like the coax example in a sports bar, the cable of choice is twisted pair category cable. The CAT cable provides a number of advantages over previous standards. Improvements include a better bend ratio, more flexibility in getting around corners and tight conduit, to better tools for handling signal error and loss. The connections are also an advantage as nearly every tech and IT person has experience with terminating the RJ45 used.

You will have most probably defaulted to seeing or even saying aloud ‘CAT 5 cable’ when reading the above. While many manufacturers will claim compatibility with pre-existing wiring schemes there are caveats in doing so.

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