Can i use cat 3 wire for video?

[Duncan Millar]

Hello,
can i use cat 3 wire for video camera for home security?

 

[tsnor]

what are you sending on the wire? ethernet? If so it shoudl work if the cameras can be forced to 10mbit. I don't think cat 3 (unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable) will reliably work for 100mbit. (Double checking with google, someone said "In regards to trying to use 100BaseT on CAT3 cable, it may work for a while but you may end up with a lot of problems: excessive crosstalk, dropped packets, excessive resends, interference, etc. " Someone esle said "As I said before I get 100M but the terminations HAVE to be correct. Twists have to be maintained and the cables cannot be damaged."

net seems to be, this is a bad way to save money vs. using cat5 or cat6.

aside: wireless access points (and wireless video camera if you haven't already bought teh camera) are both really cheap. You sure you want to run wire at all? I have a camera at the barn for my mom. It uses wireless Wireless 801.n, goes 150 feet reliably thru a tree, and was pretty cheap.

 

[Duncan Millar]

Ok thanks, while waiting for a response I installed RJ45 male connectors to my cat 3 wire (aprox. 70") and tested the security camer, and found it had a very good picture!

 

[Duncan Millar]

Best answer selected by Duncan Millar.