Video Cables

Video cables are used for the transmission of video signals, including monochrome, composite and component color video signals. There are two basic types of products: bulk cables and cable assemblies. Bulk video cables are sold by the foot or in reels. Video cable assemblies are collections of wires or cables that are banded into a single unit with connectors on at least one end. Video standard, configuration, cable construction, and features are also important specifications to consider when selecting video cables. 

Video standards for video cables include RGB, Y P_bP_r, Y/C (S-Video), and composite. RGB is a type of component video output in which red, green, and blue image components are transmitted as separate signals over three separate wires, allowing for full bandwidth for each component. Y P_bP_r is a component video format in which three signals (Y, R-Y, and B-Y) are transmitted via separate cables. S-Video or Y/C output contains two separate signals, luminance (Y) and color (C), which are transmitted on two separate video cables. The C color component is modulated on the same 3.58 MHz sub-carrier as it would be for NTSC output, but the bandwidth is not limited as it must be for composite output. Composite output format contains the red, green and blue components of the color (C) encoded or compressed, then superimposed on the luminance (Y) on a single signal.

Cable type, cable length, gender and connector type are cable construction specifications to consider when selecting video cables. Choices for cable type include: Cat 3, Cat 5, Cat 6, coaxial, fiber optic, RG6/11, triaxial, type 1 and twisted pair. Cable length is measured in English units such as inches or feet, or metric units such as meters (m). There are three choices for gender: male-male, male-female, and female-female. Many different connector choices are available. Examples include Centronics 36 and Centronics 50; high density 15; Bayonet Neil Concelman (BNC); DB9, DB15, DB25, DB37, DB50, and DB68; Header 26, Header 40, Header 26, Header 40, and Header 50; internal 50-pin SCSI and internal 68-pin SCSI; micro-Centronics 36, micro-Centronics 50, micro-Centronics 60, and micro-Centronics 68; Mini DIN 4; RJ-11, RJ-12, and RJ-45; Telco 50, RCAM; and USBA and USBB. 

Video cables differ in terms of applications and features. Products that are designed for extreme environments can withstand extremes of temperature, humidity, shock and vibration. Products that are designed for clean room use are also commonly available. Shielded video cable assemblies are constructed so that every joint on the surface of the underlying insulation is a ground potential or at some predetermined potential with respect to ground. By surrounding a cable with grounded metal, there is a decreased chance that electrical signals carried by that cable will interfere with, or be interfered with, by external electrical signals. Telco cable assemblies are used for data and voice applications with punch down blocks, patch panels and distribution boxes. They can also be used as extension cables. Technology choices for video cables include Fibre Channel, IEEE 1394 or FireWire (Apple Computer, Inc.), general-purpose interface bus (GPIB), Ethernet, parallel, patch, small computer systems interface (SCSI), serial, and universal serial bus.

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Part Numbers for Video Cables