Long Range CCTV Video Transmission over CAT-3 or CAT-5 UTP

CCTV Camera Pros recently received the following question from a customer looking for a solution for long range CCTV video transmission up to about 2500 feet:

I am a ski lift technician at a ski resort in Western New York. We have a ski lift that we would like to place two cameras at the terminal at the top if the hill and monitor them from the station at the bottom of the hill. We have in place a twisted pair telephone com line that runs from top to bottom and we have a couple spare pairs in that. The span is approximately 2500 feet. There is power at both top and bottom stations. Is this possible and what would you suggest?

CCTV Camera Pros recommendation:

Thank you for contacting CCTV Camera Pros. Yes, it si possible to transmit CCTV video over long range using CAT-3 or CAT-5 UTP cable.

I recommend that you try using one of these active video balun transmitter and receiver systems.

You can buy them on this page:

https://www.cctvcamerapros.com/Active-Balun-p/balun-avb1.htm

These active baluns are designed to be used with one un-shielded twisted pair (UTP cable ranging in gauge from 24-16 AWG (0.5-1.31mm). This is the gauge of cable that is typically used in CAT-5 cable. If your CAT-3 uses a similar gauge UTP, it will work.

Please let me know if you have additional questions.

Sincerely.

-Mike Haldas