Topband: Using CAT5 in place of coax (was video baluns)

[Kevin]

That's why it's rated at 100 meters max distance when used for networking.
Now before everybody breaks their fingers posting anecdotal evidence to 
the contrary I have done the same.

It worked out great, till we starting loading that segment down. That 
400' run was replaced with fiber inside a month. There's all sorts of 
stuff people do with CAT5/6 that isn't supposed to be done, like running 
it parallel to or in the same conduit as AC power. Using it for a 
transmission line has got to be right up there.

Remember, I am only the messenger, the IEEE came up with these "rules".


On 05/07/2012 07:07 PM, Rick Karlquist wrote:
> I did some careful measurements of CAT5 cable a few years ago
> using a 4 port network analyzer (NOT a 2 port VNA with baluns).
> On my random sample, the characteristic impedance was within
> 5% of 100 ohms.  The cable is fairly lossy, which is no
> surprise given the tiny wires.  There doesn't seem to be
> any compelling reason to use it in place of RG-6.
>
> Rick N6RK
>
> _______________________________________________
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
>


-- 
R. Kevin Stover
AC0H