CCTV Cabling 101: IP vs Coax Security-Camera Wiring

Good cctv cabling is the difference between a security-camera system that records sharp footage for years and one that drops out, loses power, or never reaches the resolution you paid for. This guide explains the two wiring approaches you will choose between – IP cameras over Ethernet and analog or HD cameras over coax – and how to plan runs, distances, power, and outdoor terminations. It is written for owners scoping a project, so the focus is on the decisions that shape cost and quality.

The two ways to wire security cameras

Nearly every camera system today falls into one of two cabling families, and which you pick determines the cable in your walls, how each camera gets power, how far you can run, the recorder on the other end, and the resolution you capture. The first is IP cameras over Ethernet: each camera is a networked device on a single Cat5e or Cat6 cable carrying both data and power via Power over Ethernet (PoE) back to a network video recorder (NVR) or PoE switch. The second is analog and HD-over-coax cameras, which send video down RG59 coax to a digital video recorder (DVR) and take power separately, often through a combined “Siamese” cable.

IP cameras: Ethernet and PoE

An IP camera is essentially a computer with a lens: it captures digital video and streams it over your network, so you wire it like any other network device, and PoE lets that one cable also power it. That single-cable approach is the headline advantage – no separate power circuit per camera, because the PoE switch or NVR energizes the line after a detection handshake. For the full detail on how power and data share one cable, our companion guide Power over Ethernet (PoE) Explained walks through the standards and wattage levels.

Use Cat5e at minimum – Cat6 adds headroom for higher-power cameras and dense bundles – and insist on solid copper, since copper-clad aluminum can starve a camera on a long run. The Ethernet channel limit is 100 meters (about 328 feet) from switch port to camera including patch cords, a single rule that governs both data and power. In return you get high megapixel counts (4MP, 4K, and beyond) and easy scaling – adding a camera is often as simple as plugging into a free PoE port.

Analog and HD-over-coax: RG59 and a DVR

Coax-based systems route a video signal from each camera over its own RG59 cable to a centralized DVR, which digitizes and stores the footage. The cameras are typically simpler and cheaper than IP models. Because coax does not carry power the way PoE does, every camera needs its own power source – most installs use Siamese cable, which combines an RG59 coax core and a two-conductor power lead in one jacket, so a single pull handles both video and power.

RG59 with a solid copper center conductor is the CCTV standard, RG6 handles longer runs, and Siamese variants add the power pair. Coax tolerates longer runs than Ethernet – several hundred feet for RG59 – which simplifies large sites where cameras sit far from the equipment room. Modern HD-TVI, HD-CVI, and AHD cameras deliver HD over coax (though IP still leads at the highest resolutions), and connect to a DVR that must match the signal format.

IP/PoE vs coax/analog: side-by-side

The table below summarizes the practical differences; use it to match an approach to your site, as both are installed every day. Note the recorder row: IP cameras land on an NVR and coax cameras feed a DVR, and the two are not interchangeable without conversion hardware.

Choosing the right approach for your site

Neither approach is universally better; the right call depends on your building, resolution needs, and whether you are starting fresh or extending an existing system.

IP/PoE tends to fit when you want the highest resolution, plan to grow the system, value single-cable installs, or already have structured cabling in place. If you are wiring a new space, fold cameras into the overall plan; our How to Plan a New-Office Network: A Cabling Checklist treats cameras alongside data drops and access points.

Coax tends to fit when you are upgrading an analog system and can reuse the coax in the walls, when runs are very long, or when up-front camera cost matters and HD resolution is enough – reusing existing RG59 with new HD cameras is among the most cost-effective upgrades available. If you are choosing a twisted-pair grade for IP instead, Cat5e vs Cat6 vs Cat6a vs Cat7 vs Cat8: Ethernet Cable Types Compared shows where each grade fits.

Planning cable runs and outdoor terminations

Whichever family you choose, install quality lives in the details of the run:

1. Measure runs before you buy. Map each camera back to the recorder and confirm no run exceeds its limit – 100 m for Ethernet, the manufacturer’s spec for RG59/RG6. Centralizing the NVR or DVR keeps runs within those budgets.
2. Plan power realistically. For IP, total camera wattage against the PoE switch or NVR budget; for coax, plan the power supply and Siamese routing.
3. Protect against interference and surges. Keep low-voltage cabling away from parallel mains runs, and consider surge protection on outdoor runs.

Outdoor cameras demand extra care at the termination, because moisture is the most common cause of exterior failures. Use outdoor-rated cable, and where a connector or splice sits outside, protect it inside a weatherproof junction box or with waterproofing such as a gland or self-amalgamating tape. A drip loop – a downward bend before the cable enters a housing – helps water fall away rather than track into the connector.

Running cable through walls, soffits, and exterior penetrations is exacting work, and a poor outdoor termination will fail in the first hard rain. For a system that has to perform reliably, many owners bring in a professional for the surveillance camera wiring and manage the cameras themselves.

Key takeaways

• IP cameras use Cat5e/Cat6 with PoE to an NVR or PoE switch – one cable for data and power, a 100 m limit, high resolution, and easy scaling.
• Analog and HD-over-coax cameras use RG59 (often Siamese) to a DVR, with separate power, longer possible runs, and lower per-camera cost.
• HD-TVI, HD-CVI, and AHD push HD over coax, so coax is a current option, not just legacy.
• Match the recorder to the cameras – NVR for IP, DVR for coax – and weatherproof every outdoor termination to prevent moisture failures.

Frequently asked questions

Can I run an IP camera and power on the same cable?

Yes. That is the core advantage of an IP/PoE system: a single Cat5e or Cat6 cable carries both video data and DC power from a PoE switch or PoE-equipped NVR to the camera, with no separate power circuit. The 100-meter Ethernet limit applies to both data and power.

How far can I run CCTV cable?

For IP cameras over Ethernet, the limit is 100 meters (about 328 feet) per run, including patch cords. Coax handles more – RG59 reaches several hundred feet and RG6 stretches further – which is one reason coax is still chosen for large sites with cameras far from the equipment room.

Is coax obsolete for security cameras?

No. While IP/PoE leads at the highest resolutions and for scalable systems, HD-over-coax standards (HD-TVI, HD-CVI, AHD) deliver HD over RG59, and reusing existing coax with new HD cameras is a cost-effective upgrade. Coax remains sound for long runs and tighter budgets.

What is the difference between an NVR and a DVR?

An NVR (network video recorder) records digital streams from IP cameras over the network and often supplies PoE to them directly. A DVR (digital video recorder) takes the analog or HD-over-coax signal from cameras on coax inputs and converts it for storage. Your recorder must match your camera type – NVR for IP, DVR for coax.