If you have a system of wired digital video, you want to make sure that the cables from the camera for them to correct. In this article we look at the most common form of security camera cable and cable connections. Camcorders security in general, two types of cables, one for transmitting video from the camera to the DVR (Digital Video Recorder) and the other to power the camera.

The most common security camera cable used today is the RG-59/U. This is a coaxial cable designed specifically for low-power video signals. Historically speaking, the name of the cable originates from the U.S. military. RG-59 designated the type of cable and the U stood for general utility use. However, the RG (which stood for Radio, General) component is no longer part of military standards, however the name use has remained, generally without the /U designation.

RG-59 security camera cable has a unique characteristic that makes it a good match for use with video transmissions. It has the same impedance as an antenna, such as the rabbit ears type that was used on televisions. This impedance of 75 ohms makes the cable a good choice for radio frequency transmissions for televisions, DVRs, and security camera video. RG-59 is smaller than typical cable television cable, RG-6, and is therefore less obtrusive and easier to manipulate.

However, RG-59 has a tendency toward high-frequency losses over long distances (greater than RG-6 for example) but 750 feet seems to be a generally agreed upon length before significant losses appear. These can also be corrected with drop amplifiers or active (powered) baluns to boost signals. For most security camera systems applications, RG-59 coaxial cable works well.

The RG-59 security camera cable consists of an outer plastic sheath (the colored cover or jacket of the cable), followed by a copper braid shield (it looks like a mesh or netting of fine wire), underneath which is an inner dielectric insulator (often looks like a milky white thick plastic material somewhat like a drinking straw) that contains a copper-plated or solid copper (better performance) center wire core.

RG-59 cable is usually fitted with one of three different types of connector; F connectors (used most commonly for cable television applications), RCA plugs (often used by DVD players), and BNC connectors. By far the most common type of security camera cable connector is the BNC.