Electronic Parts Direct

EPD has a wide range of Balun products that use Category 5e cable and Category 6 cable, both of these types of cables use UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) type designs. These cables can carry all types of signals, Audio, Video, Data, IR, etc.. All of these signals rely on the twisted pair design for noise rejection and a balanced signal delivery. On average there are 6 twists per 5 centimeters to maintain a balanced system and to minimize crosstalk between the pairs. It is important to the circuitry used in any Balun delivery system to maintain these specifications. If you use the 568B wiring system then you must start the termination and finish the termination with it. Using any cables you want to terminate your RJ45 ends and not following the 568A or 568B wiring standard will result in a Balun device failure or produce unsatisfactory results. Always consult the documentation that comes with your Balun devices before you use them on a installation, look at the specifications for cable distance for your specific application. For example if the Balun specification for HDTV signal delivery states 200 ft. for 720p video resolution, then that’s it. Other things to consider when using balun technology are active versus passive devices, all electronic equipment designs react different to signal variations that can be altered by Baluns creating some signal delivery issues. It’s important to understand that these devices sometimes have limitations and will not always be 100% compatible with existing or new electronic products. Active devices provide compensation circuitry a more reliable signal delivery. Many active analog Baluns can also provide isolation between devices eliminating potential ground loop problems. Understanding Balun devices is important and will provide you with valuable knowledge when implementing them for a installation. The EPD tester Part No. 72-243 can provide a simple test for proper cable termination. that corrects for signal changes over various cable lengths providing.

The EPD Cable Termination Fact Sheet was created because so many users have issues using Balun products with Cat5e, Cat6 wiring and they don’t understand the importance of maintainig the proper wiring configuration when terminating RJ45 connectors.