This 50‑metre SDI‑over‑RJ45 extension solution enables you to transmit professional‑video signals (such as SD‑SDI or HD‑SDI) from one location to another using standard twisted‑pair network cable (CAT5e/6) terminated with RJ45 connectors, rather than traditional 75 Ω coaxial BNC cable. The setup typically involves a transmitter unit at the signal source, which converts the SDI (BNC) signal into a form suitable for transmission over twisted pair, then a receiver unit at the far end that converts it back to SDI. This allows long‑run video links with less expensive or simpler cabling in many AV installations.
Key features and considerations include:
- Signal formats supported: The system can cover SD‑SDI (270 Mb/s), HD‑SDI (SMPTE 292M ~1.485 Gb/s) and in some designs even 3G‑SDI.
- Cabling: Use of CAT5e or CAT6 UTP/STP cable allows the video link to be run via network infrastructure or through cable trays, ceilings or walls, using RJ45 terminations.
- Distance: With a good quality installation, these extenders can carry the signal over ~50 metres (or more) reliably, which suits many mid‑sized facility runs.
- Installation practicalities: You connect the BNC output of your source (camera, router, switcher) to the transmitter; then run the RJ45/CAT cable (50 m) to the receiver, which outputs via BNC to the destination device.
- Advantages: Compared to long coax runs, twisted‑pair wiring can be lighter, easier to route, and may reuse existing infrastructure. It also reduces the need for bulky coax or multiple signal boosters.
- Important caveats: The link must maintain signal integrity — twisted‑pair cable has different impedance and signal properties versus the standard 75 Ω coax used in SDI, so the extender must properly translate the signal. Also, cable quality, shielding, termination and sourcing from the parallel‑dedicated system matter a lot. Using standard RJ45 cables alone (without the special transmitter/receiver pair) is not sufficient for SDI natively because of the impedance mismatch and extremely high‑frequency requirements.
In summary: an SDI‑over‑RJ45 (50 m) solution offers a flexible alternative for long‑run video links in professional AV setups, especially where routing coax is impractical. It bridges BNC‑SDI sources and destinations via CAT‑cable infrastructure, delivering broadcast‑style signal quality with simpler cabling—but it requires the proper extender equipment and careful installation to ensure reliability.
