Thomson's Tech Tips

SDI Cable Care: How to Make Your Investment Last
Quality SDI cables are built to last, but "built to last" and "will last forever no matter what" are different things. How you handle, store, and maintain your cables directly impacts how long they'll deliver reliable performance. Here's how to protect your investment and keep your cables working like new for years. Coiling: The Single Most Important Habit The way you coil your cables affects their lifespan more than almost anything else. Do it wrong, and you're slowly destroying your cables every time you wrap them up. The over-under technique:... Read more...
The Real Cost of Cheap Cables: A Rental House Perspective
When you're building out your cable kit, budget matters. But after years of testing cables—both on my own shoots and seeing what comes back from rentals—I've learned that the math on "cheap" cables rarely works out the way you'd expect. Here's what the true cost of budget cables looks like when you factor in everything that matters on a professional set. The Upfront Savings Illusion A 25-foot 12G-SDI cable from a budget brand might cost $40. A premium equivalent runs $80-120. That's a significant difference, especially when you're buying multiples.... Read more...
BNC Connectors Explained: Crimp vs Compression vs Solder
Every SDI cable ends with a BNC connector. But not all BNC connectors are created equal. The termination method—how the connector attaches to the cable—affects durability, signal quality, and serviceability. Here's what you need to know about the three main types: crimp, compression, and solder. Crimp Connectors Crimp connectors use a specialized tool to mechanically squeeze the connector onto the cable. The crimp creates a permanent bond between connector and cable jacket. The good: Fast to install with the right tools. Consistent results once you've mastered the technique. Good for... Read more...
Building Your First Professional Cable Kit
You just landed your first gig as a camera operator. Or maybe you're transitioning from renting to owning. Either way, you're staring at cable catalogs wondering: what do I actually need? Building a professional cable kit isn't about buying everything—it's about buying the right things. Here's how to build a kit that covers real-world scenarios without breaking the bank. Start With the Essentials Before you buy a single cable, answer these questions: What camera system do you shoot? What monitors and recorders do you use? What's your typical setup distance... Read more...
SDI Cable Troubleshooting: Is It the Cable or Something Else?
The monitor's showing sparkles. Or black. Or some weird artifact that shouldn't be there. Before you start swapping cables, let's figure out what's actually broken. The Troubleshooting Mindset Signal problems have three possible sources: The source (camera, playback device) The cable (and connectors) The destination (monitor, recorder, switcher) Cables get blamed for everything, but they're only responsible for about a third of problems. Before you condemn a cable, rule out the other two. Symptoms and What They Actually Mean Complete Black/No Signal Likely causes: Source isn't outputting (wrong output selected,... Read more...
How to Test Your SDI Cables: A Field Guide
Your cable looks fine. The connectors are tight. But something's wrong with the signal. Is it the cable? Or something else entirely? Here's how to know for sure. The Quick Visual Inspection Before you grab any tools, look at the cable: Connector damage: Bent pins, cracked housings, loose BNC locks Cable damage: Kinks, crush points, cuts in the jacket Strain relief: Is the cable pulling away from the connector? Corrosion: Green or white buildup on the connectors If you see any of these, you've probably found your problem. But invisible... Read more...
Why Quality SDI Cables Cost More (And Why It's Worth It)
You're looking at a $15 Amazon cable and a $60 professional cable. Same BNC connectors. Same coax. Why the 4x price difference? Let me break down exactly where your money goes. The Components That Actually Matter 1. The Center Conductor Cheap cable: Copper-clad steel (CCS). A thin layer of copper over a steel core. Looks like copper. Conducts like... not copper. Quality cable: Solid copper or bare copper braid. Copper all the way through. Better conductivity, less signal loss, more flexibility without breaking. CCS cables can lose 30-40% more signal... Read more...
3G vs 6G vs 12G SDI: What's the Difference and Why Should You Care?
Somebody’s going to ask you this on set. Here’s how to answer without sounding like you’re reading a Wikipedia article out loud. The quick version 3G-SDI handles 1080p60. It’s been the industry backbone for over a decade. 6G-SDI handles 4K30. The middle child nobody remembers. Showed up late, left early. 12G-SDI handles 4K60. The only one worth building around. The numbers Standard Data Rate What it carries HD-SDI 1.485 Gbps 1080i/720p 3G-SDI 2.97 Gbps 1080p60 6G-SDI 5.94 Gbps 4K30 12G-SDI 11.88 Gbps 4K60 Each one roughly doubles the last. More... Read more...
SDI Cable Length Limits: How Far Can You Actually Run?
“How long of a cable can I use?” Depends on three things: the signal speed, the cable quality, and how much you enjoy troubleshooting problems you could’ve avoided. The spec sheet numbers Here’s what the specs say for Belden 1694A (the industry-standard RG-6 SDI cable everyone benchmarks against): Standard Data Rate Max Distance SD-SDI 270 Mbps 300m+ HD-SDI 1.485 Gbps 100m 3G-SDI 2.97 Gbps 70-100m 6G-SDI 5.94 Gbps 50-60m 12G-SDI 11.88 Gbps 50-70m These are conservative estimates. Your actual mileage depends on connector quality, ambient temperature, and EMI in the... Read more...
Can You Use 12G SDI Cables With a 3G Camera?
Yes. We’re done here. Okay fine, I'll keep going. This question lands in my inbox like clockwork, and people treat it like some forbidden mystery when it's really just physics being polite. The dead-simple answer 12G-SDI cables are backward compatible with everything. 3G, 6G, HD-SDI, that dusty SD-SDI rig your uncle won't let go of. Plug it in. It works. A 12G cable doesn't have a brain. It doesn't look at your signal speed and throw a tantrum because you're only feeding it 3 gigs. It's rated to handle 12... Read more...
Which Cameras Use 12G-SDI?
This is the list you bookmark. If your camera’s on it, you need 12G cables. No wiggle room. What 12G-SDI actually means 12G-SDI (SMPTE ST 2082) pushes 11.88 Gbps over a single cable. That’s enough for 4K/UHD up to 60fps, DCI 4K (4096 × 2160), large format resolutions at full bandwidth, HDR without compromises, and high frame rates without splitting signals. No quad-link spaghetti. No dual-link headaches. One cable. Full fat signal. Cinema cameras running 12G-SDI RED (current generation) DSMC2 (late models): RED MONSTRO 8K VV, RED GEMINI 5K DSMC3... Read more...
Which Cameras Use 3G-SDI?
Short answer: most of them. Still. 3G-SDI has been the load-bearing wall of professional video for over a decade, and it’s not going anywhere overnight. Here’s the full picture. What 3G-SDI actually is 3G-SDI (SMPTE 424M) runs at 2.97 Gbps. That gets you 1080p up to 60fps (clean and reliable), 2K at lower frame rates, and 4K technically, if you’re willing to play games with quad-link or accept compromises nobody wants to make. It’s the standard that carried us through HD and got us into 4K. Still baked into the... Read more...