RGBHV to Cat5 Converters: A Guide to What's Available

Promoted as a simple, inexpensive way to drive SVGA, XGA and SXGA signals long distances, Cat5 converters (or sometimes referred to as Twisted Pair converters) are catching on. Routing or driving RGBHV signals through high-resolution coax cable is certainly still the defacto-standard for the majority of the ProAV systems market, but more and more integrators are starting to use RGBHV to Cat5 converters for cost and simplicity.

The application is simple. Most systems integrate video, audio and RGBHV (computer) signals in the same room. Virtually every system today has at least one or two PC's, a VHS or DVD player or both. For years, ProAV systems integrators have used computer-video interfaces to process those signals so that they can routed up to 200' using coax cable. But, now, there's another way that's growing in popularity exponentially every month: using RGBHV, video and audio signal to Cat5 converters. These converters, in many cases, use proprietary technology to process and convert virtually any signal format so that standard UTP (unshielded twisted pair) cabling - the kind of wire used in Cat5 cable - can be used to drive the signal the distance to the projector or monitor.

Why? Simple. It's a lot less expensive. Cat5 cable in Chapel Hill, NC is $0.15 (yes, that's 15-cents) per foot. To compare, since they are probably the largest cable seller to ProAV dealers, I opened Extron's catalog and they charge $3.30 per foot for RGBHV cable (if you buy 1000 feet at a time). That's 22 times the price of Cat5 cable! So, when using Cat5 to route many different sources to a projector, there's potentially a huge savings advantage. In addition, anyone who's ever done it knows that pulling Cat5 cable through a wall and ceiling is a lot easier and faster than pulling Coax cable. Finally, crimpling Cat5 means two crimps per run versus 10 per run with RGBHV cable.

So, what's the catch? Well, in 90% of systems Cat5 cabling will work out just fine and both you and the client will be happy with the results. But, one word to the wise; not all Cat5 converters are alike. Not all of them are good and there is a quality difference. They don't all use the same technology to do the signal conversion and you need to compare. Don't assume that just because one is priced higher than the other or that one is bigger than the other that it is better. Do your own comparisons and be willing to try them ALL out.

Although there are many, many companies making computer, keyboard and mouse to Cat5 cable and even a few companies that specialize in KVM switches and converters making RGB to Cat5 converters, I decided only to list the companies (below) who specifically target the ProAV market and have product I have seen that works well. Here's a guide to who's making them Cat5 converters for the ProAV market (in alphabetical order) and where you can find them on their Web site:

Extron: http://www.extron.com/product/prodtype08.asp
Inline: http://www.inlineinc.com/products/special/
Kramer: http://www.kramerelectronics.com/group5/group5index.html
Proxima: http://www.proxima.com/site/Products/products.cfm?title=ProjectionLink

Gary Kayye is Chief Visionary of Kayye Consulting - a firm that specializes in providing marketing consulting and training development to the professional audiovisual industry. He spent 12 years at Extron and AMX as VP of Sales and Marketing before founding his own firm. He can be reached at www.kayye.com or via e-mail at gkayye@kayye.com.