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CASINOS USE UTP TO MIX ANALOG AND MEGAPIXEL CAMERAS
Casinos today have more vigorous regulations for video quality that demands an environment for technology that can utilize megapixel cameras for those critical areas and analog cameras for the remote areas. The gaming venue was looking for a solution that will take advantage of the same structured wire, Cat5e or Cat6, for their CCTV projects that is currently used with their telephone and data networks. At the same time, the solution required the flexibility of installing equipment in the many closets that will provide all needed signals for analog and megapixel cameras. Then, from the closets, connect the megapixel cameras to the network switch and transmit the video from the analog cameras back to a centralized head end in the control room over multi-pair UTP backbone. When casino installations of 200 – 4800 cameras are required, only a proven solution was acceptable.
CCTV System Wiring
Each IDF closet will house equipment that can send the power and PTZ controls to all cameras while transmitting the data back for the megapixel cameras and the video back from the analog cameras. This was done by installing a Cat6 cable from each camera back to the equipment in the IDF closet. The video from the analog cameras was sent out from the closets over multi-pair UTP cables back to the Head End. Over that same multi-pair UTP cable, the appropriate pair was used to send the PTZ control to the closets.
The Nitek Equipment Solution
Utilizing IDF closets is known as a “Mid Span” solution. The only solution that can mix and match analog and IP cameras is the Nitek UTPLinks system. By installing a PS115 Power Supply and the CX452 chassis, they had the option of installing the PoE48 module card for the megapixel cameras and the CXM22 module card for the analog cameras. The CX452 chassis can hold up to five modules cards, for a total of 20 cameras. Now, they had the flexibility to use the same cards in each chassis or mix and match the cards with the same PS115 power supply. To receive and transmit all the signals at the analog cameras, the Nitek VB43ATF balun was used. For the megapixel cameras, it was a direct connection with a RJ45 connector at the end of the Cat6.
At the MDF, the video was received from the analog cameras over the multi-pair backbone cables from the IDF closets. Since the majority of cable lengths between the cameras and MDF were between 230-450 meters, the Nitek VH3251 active receiver hubs were used. This equipment would provide a full 1V P-P video signal and protect against any ground loops.
Conclusion
The requirement to have an ability to mix and match the different format cameras allowed for immediate cost savings as well as minimal future costs. Yet, more importantly, from an operational standpoint, the equipment used in the IDF closets will not become obsolete when adding or replacing the analog cameras with megapixel in the future.
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