Use of video balun and CAT5 cable for CCTV Cameras

Balun is the abbreviation of balance+unbalance. A video balun is an one of important accessories that converts between a balanced signal and an unbalanced signal. 

The reason why use video baluns? Video baluns, also known as CAT5 baluns, enable security installers to utilize CAT5 cable running video (and optionally power) for CCTV video cameras. A video balun is positioned on both ends of the CAT5 cable run and uses one of the the twisted pairs from the CAT5 cable to transfer the video from the camera to a DVR or monitor. There are also multi-camera baluns that could use the four twisted pairs in CAT5 to transfer the video for up to 4 cameras. The majority of security camera installers are familiar with using RG59 Siamese coax cable for CCTV, as this is actually the industry standard cable and also permits installers to run both the video from the camera and power to the camera by using a single cable run. There are versions of video baluns that also support running power to CCTV video cameras in addition to the video. These are some of the most common reasons that a security installer would choose to use CAT-5 cable rather than RG59 for a CCTV application.