It is worth mentioning that we didn't increase or maintain our customer base by ever publicly boasting about who buys what from us. So, whatever you ask about, or acquire from us, will not be used as a recommendation by us for any others to do the same!	~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Introduction to BALUNS and UTP; Video and Audio Transmission made easier ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ First let's cover the acronyms; BALUN means "Balanced - Unbalanced" and UTP means "Unshielded Twisted Pair" and the 'devices' generically are nearly all called "Baluns" and are a means of connecting a 'balanced' output to an 'unbalanced' carrier. BALUNs come in two types or categories; "PASSIVE" and "ACTIVE." With the ACTIVE types requiring power to drive them, and the PASSIVE type, not. Naturally, the ACTIVE powered variety provide longer range and distances exceeding 2,000 feet are not uncommon. This is, of course, only half of the story, as at the other end of the UTP another type of BALUN is required to convert back to the original signal input or outputs. So, Baluns need to be purchased in matched pairs. For some reason, this is not always obvious in Balun advertising. In the image shown below, and at the top, are an example of a PASSIVE BALUN pair that show bidirectionallity in as much as the right hand unit OUTPUTS both Video and Audio from a camera, as well as passing the power to drive the camera. The left hand unit fits directly onto the standard BNC connector found on the back of most CCD cased video cameras, while the RCA connector is for the audio, if available. The two bare wires provide the power for the camera. However, the larger unit is a very complex, but simple to use, 4 camera ACTIVE BALUN system. ACTIVE systems are reliable out to more than 1 Kilometer (3,280 feet) whereas the basic pair, and using CAT5 cabling will achieve good results out to 600 plus feet. However, there is a small voltage drop on the power for the camera, that may be as high as 7-10% and depends upon the quality of the CAT5 used. So, for a regular 12Vdc camera at the end of 500-600 feet of CAT5, we recommend a voltage input of 15 volts DC. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please E-Mail for more information on BALUNs as well as LEO product pages!