Selecting the Right Cables and Adapters

What are Cables & Adapters?

Cables are pre-cut cable assemblies available in specific lengths and most are terminated at either end with connectors that are appropriate for a specific application. Adapters for a variety of audio, video, and control applications are available and offer increased installation options. For information on raw cable types, anatomy, performance characteristics, specifications, and termination, please refer to the introduction of Bulk Cables

How are they used?

Cables and adapters interconnect electronic devices, carrying signals from a source to a destination. They are an important, but often overlooked, component in a display system. Poorly performing cables and adapters can adversely affect an entire system, which is why they are often called the weakest link in any chain of electronic devices.

For the best possible system performance, it is important to consider the construction quality, electrical performance, safety compliance, and handling flexibility when choosing a cable assembly. Installer-friendly features, such as flexibility and durability, translate into reduced installation time and effort. Superior flexibility makes a cable easy to roll and unroll as well as maneuver through tight spots. Durability, on the other hand, makes a cable less vulnerable to stress from frequent and fast-paced jobs, such as in rental and staging applications.

Applications that use short cables for equipment connection seldom represent high signal loss situations. However, quality shortcuts in the construction of the cable can have a significant effect in cables for high resolution or complex connections, such as found in HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort, USB, Fiber Optics, Twisted Pair, BNC, and VGA applications. Some low-cost assemblies do not fully shield the connector termination region prior to molding the connector shell. This often leads to increased noise sensitivity or signal radiation from the cable into other systems. Improper handling of ground connections may create signal reflections or degrade crosstalk between the signal pathways in the cable.

Cables used to connect components over long distances should utilize the best, low-loss cable construction and materials. High definition video signals are much more sensitive to signal loss than NTSC or PAL video signals, and require higher performance cable construction. Digital video and computer graphics or RGB signals also require low-loss materials and Best Practices installation considerations in order to maintain image performance.

For permanent applications, there are specific fire code requirements for your state, county, or city. While your local fire code ultimately dictates bulk cable and pre-cut cable safety requirements, a plenum-rated cable may often be run through open air spaces, such as those found above the ceiling, eliminating the cost of, and need for, electric conduit. Look for fire safety rating codes such as CL2P, CL3P, or CMP, on bulk or pre-cut cables.

Categories

Extron offers a wide variety of pre-terminated cables to meet the needs of every application environment. Most are available in a variety of lengths ranging from 3 feet to 984 feet, or 1 meter to 300 meters. For bulk cable information, see the Bulk Cables section of this catalog.

HDMI Cables

These high-quality HDMI cables provide a wide range of HDMI connectivity solutions for professional AV installations. They are designed and manufactured to stringent standards to provide high performance transmission of HDMI video, audio, and CEC - Consumer Electronics Control signals. View HDMI Cables and Adapters

DVI Cables

These professional-quality DVI cables are ideal for connecting digital video sources to digital signal processing, distribution, and display devices. Extron DVI cable assemblies are engineered and manufactured to the highest standards to meet the needs of single-link or dual-link applications. View DVI Cables and Adapters

DisplayPort Cables

These cables ensure flawless transmission of high resolution DisplayPort signals. DisplayPort adapters and adapter cables offer built‑in active circuitry that enable the integration of DisplayPort sources into new or existing HDMI, DVI, or DisplayPort, or VGA AV environments. View DisplayPort Cables and Adapters

USB Cables

These cables ensure the reliable transmission of video, audio, data, and power signals. USB adapter cables enable the integration of USB Type-C equipped sources that support DisplayPort Alternate Mode into new or existing HDMI or DisplayPort AV systems. View USB Cables and Adapters

Fiber Optic Cables

Extron Fiber Optic Cable Assemblies enable pixel-perfect transmission of AV signals and are compatible with all Extron FOX Series products. They are factory terminated with industry standard LC connectors in a duplex zip-cord or four-fiber breakout cable design. View Fiber Optic Cables

Digital Twisted Pair Cables

Extron offers precision-terminated XTP DTP 22 and XTP DTP 24 Twisted Pair cables to streamline the installation and integration of Extron XTP Systems^® and DTP^® systems. The XTP DTP 22 and XTP DTP 24 cables are designed specifically for use with XTP^® and DTP products to provide optimum signal transmission. These HDBaseT Alliance-tested and verified cables are available with plenum and non-plenum jackets. View Digital Twisted Pair Cables

AV UTP Cables

Our Enhanced Skew-Free™ A/V UTP Cables are exclusively designed for systems utilizing Extron Twisted Pair transmitters, receivers, switchers, and distribution amplifiers. Enhanced Skew-Free A/V UTP Cable incorporates a design pioneered by Extron that eliminates the skew or time delay of signals commonly encountered with regular CAT 5e/6 cable. View Skew-Free AV UTP

These are extension cables with molded, or backshell, VGA 15‑pin HD connectors. They are available with or without audio and in plenum or non-plenum versions. Some cables enable all pins to be passed through for ID bit/DDC – Display Data Channel communications, while others do not. View VGA to VGA Cables

BNC to BNC Cables

These cables are available in single-, five-, or six-conductor versions, and are terminated with 75 ohm BNC connectors. View BNC to BNC Cables

Video and Audio Cables

Video cables are made with Extron SuperFlex RG6 Cable, our lowest loss, highest resolution cable. Audio Cables are terminated with your choice of RCA or 3.5 mm connectors for transmission of line-level stereo signals. Extron also offers Audio Adapters for audio signal interfacing, for example, between RCA and captive screw connectors. View Video and Audio Cables

VGA to BNC or SY VGA Cables

VGA to BNC-5 Female and Male cables use our Mini HR Cable, 75 ohm coaxial cable terminated with five, color-coded BNC connectors on one end and a 15-pin HD male or female connector on the other. For small spaces and high traffic areas, the 15-pin HD connector is also available with a 90° connector angle, enabling low profile, professional-looking cable connections. View VGA to BNC Cables

Control Cables

Our control cables are terminated with 9‑pin D male or female connectors and are used to interconnect RS‑232 controlled devices within a professional AV system such as communications between IN1808 IPCP presentation switchers, DTP CrossPoint^® IPCP presentation matrix switchers, as well as many MediaLink^® controllers and most RS‑232 controllable displays. View Control Cables

Special Application Cables

AV industry professionals regularly design and install systems that have unique signal delivery and control requirements. Special application cables are engineered and optimized for use in a variety of demanding environments, including control and audio cables, AV secondary cables, and configuration cables. View Special Application Cables

Adapters

Adapters are available for a variety of audio, video, and control applications. These products are indispensable for solving differing mechanical connectivity conflicts. Adapters typically feature a different type of connector on each end. View Adapters

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