Tech Tools / Cable Run
Cable Run Length
Check SDI (3G / 6G / 12G), Cat5e / Cat6 / Cat6A, and HDMI copper or fiber against your run length. Pass, marginal, or fail — with extender suggestions.
Use at your own risk. Cable max lengths depend on exact cable construction, connectors, EQ in the receiver, and installation (bends, crush). Published coax distances are SMPTE-loss estimates, not guarantees. HDMI has no single official max length — copper figures are typical certified-range industry practice. This tool is a planning aid only. Always verify against manufacturer documentation and on-site measurements before deploying to a show.
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—- Your length
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- Typical max
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- Headroom
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- Format
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Marginal = within 10% of published max · Fail = over max
Reference table
| Medium | Format | Typical max | Notes |
|---|
Sources
- Belden Coax Cable Video Distance Chart, Rev. 20 (10 Feb 2021) — SMPTE loss-budget estimates for 1694A, 1505A, 4694R, etc.
- Canford TechZone “Maximum transmission distances for digital video cables” (Belden-derived table).
- IEEE 802.3 — 100 m copper channel for 1000BASE-T / 10GBASE-T (Cat6A); Cat6 10G typically ~55 m.
- HDMI Forum: no fixed max length; each certified cable length is tested. Practical passive copper ranges from industry/installer guidance (Premium High Speed ~15–25 ft @18 Gbps; Ultra High Speed ~9–10 ft @48 Gbps). AOC lengths are product-dependent.
What this cable run calculator does
It compares your run length to published typical maxima for SDI coax, Ethernet, and HDMI copper/fiber, then flags pass / marginal / fail.
How to read results
Pass <90% of typical max · Marginal 90–100% · Fail over max — move to better coax, fiber, or an extender.
Worked example
150 ft of 1694A-class coax at 3G: max ~255 ft → ~59% → Pass. The same length as passive Premium HDMI (18 Gbps) would Fail — use AOC or HDBaseT.
FAQ
How long can Belden 1694A run for 3G-SDI?
Belden’s SMPTE-loss chart estimates about 78 m (255 ft) for 3G on 1694A. Treat near-limit runs as marginal and verify with your gear.
Does HDMI have an official max length?
No. The HDMI Forum certifies cables by performance, not a single max length. Practical passive copper shortens as bandwidth rises (e.g. ~3 m at 48 Gbps).
What is the Ethernet channel limit?
IEEE 802.3 copper channels are typically 100 m for 1000BASE-T and 10GBASE-T on Cat6A (Cat6 10G often ~55 m).
Long cable runs?
Kynetic designs signal paths for IMAG, recording, and multi-room shows.