2013Brackets/Widgets forum
Building custom BNC cables for HD-SDI video
13 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Neutrik supplies complete BNC cable kits that include connectors, quality cable, and a hexagonal crimper suitable for getting started.
- Lower profile BNC connectors are available for thin HD-SDI cables and can be installed with interchangeable crimper tools.
- Canare L-1.5C2VS cable with BCP-C1 plugs creates very thin spaghetti-style BNC connectors with approximately 2.9mm outer diameter.
- Thin spaghetti-style BNC cables require solder-core connectors, a dedicated crimp tool like the Canare TC-1, a die set like the TCD-1DB, and a soldering station with fine tip and flux.
- Belden produces cables as thin as 2.5mm diameter but Canare L-1.5C2VS offers better balance between flexibility, thinness, and durability according to user experience.
- Neutrik RearTwist connectors come in variants matched to specific cable types, such as part number NBTC75BLI4 for Canare L-1.5C2VS cable.
Depends on
- The Neutrik kit approach and thin cable approach represent different solutions with different tool requirements and cost structures.
- The experience with Canare cable quality is based on individual user assessment rather than comparative testing data.
- Building custom cables requires investment in multiple specialized tools beyond the basic crimper.