Can I use one cat 5 for more than one camera? And if so, would I cut and splice it at each camera or just skin the outer sheath and tap into the pair I need leaving the cat 5 intact to the next camera downstream? I will have the power supplies at the camera locations, so the cat 5 will only carry the video.
Also, what is the most economical approach to a license plate camera? The vehicles will be at about 50', moving slower than 30 MPH (most cases between 10 & 20 MPH)and observed from the back, both day and night. There is HPS street lighting existing directly above the proposed capture area. We do not have front plates in my state.
I am a licensed electrical contractor looking at expanding into the video surveillance market. I am setting up equipment at my home to learn the basics first.
In regard to the first questions you can use a single Cat-5 cable to provide video for more than one camera. Please see the following link BALUN-4HUB This will allow you to run video for 4 cameras on 1 Cat-5 line.
In regards to the second question. The most economical approach is going to be our LPR-SC600HC however this camera will read License plates at a max of 27ft. If you cannot position the camera closer than here is the next option LPR-700H.