Taperssection.com

Gear / Technical Help => Cables => Topic started by: achalsey on February 09, 2013, 05:17:05 PM

Title: Digital Cable (RCA) - Longest safe distance before failing?
Post by: achalsey on February 09, 2013, 05:17:05 PM
Whats the conservative estimate to the longest length a digital cable can be before it starts not working?  From my one experience taking a digital patch, 19' is too long.   :P

Title: Re: Digital Cable (RCA) - Longest safe distance before failing?
Post by: H₂O on February 09, 2013, 06:32:04 PM
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF#section_2

10 meters

I presently have a run in my house (using a RG6 cable TV run in the middle) that is easily 25 feet and it works fine
Title: Re: Digital Cable (RCA) - Longest safe distance before failing?
Post by: audBall on February 09, 2013, 09:36:20 PM
^ Second the 25 footer. I've used one in the house with no issues at all.
Title: Re: Digital Cable (RCA) - Longest safe distance before failing?
Post by: F.O.Bean on February 09, 2013, 10:55:27 PM
Sweet, I was wondering the same thing. Im getting a LONG Coax digi cable and getting a digi soundcard and running my DAT>WaveLab 6.0 ;)
Title: Re: Digital Cable (RCA) - Longest safe distance before failing?
Post by: achalsey on February 11, 2013, 02:46:56 PM
Huh, interesting.  Thanks for the info.  Not sure why a 19' didn't work then.  It was a cheap cable though...
Title: Re: Digital Cable (RCA) - Longest safe distance before failing?
Post by: DigiGal on February 11, 2013, 04:59:32 PM
Quote from: achalsey on February 11, 2013, 02:46:56 PM
Huh, interesting.  Thanks for the info.  Not sure why a 19' didn't work then.  It was a cheap cable though...


Generally, the higher the sample rate the shorter the workable cable length.   

Stability can be improved by using a low-loss 75 ohm cable with impedance matched connectors.  S/PDIF signals should not fall below 0.5 Vp-p measured with a terminated load.
Title: Re: Digital Cable (RCA) - Longest safe distance before failing?
Post by: achalsey on February 12, 2013, 01:06:28 AM
While I don't really know what that means, I sort of get the general idea.  Thanks for the responses.  Will know what to point to in the future when getting a dedicated digital cable made.