Fiber, Coax or UTP?

To determine the cable technology best suited for a particular security video system, a company will need to gather some basic information to help decide whether to use unshielded twisted pair (UTP), coax or fiber cable for transmission.

If cable runs less than 250 feet, coax is probably the best option. Between 250 and 8,000 feet, UTP wire is often the best choice. If the runs are more than 8,000 feet, it’s time to consider fiber. Other conditions that may indicate UTP wire include runs between buildings and floors, noisy environments, existing UTP wire, or the need for plenum cable or conduit. For companies using cameras with built-in UTP transmitters, pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) cameras, or a DVR that is sensitive to attenuated video, UTP may be the transmission mode of choice.<