Which Ethernet cable should the camera run use, and how long can it be?
Buy Cat6 (shielded if it runs next to power), never copper-clad aluminum for PoE. About 100 m over copper; use fiber with converters for a long permanent run.
Lynx has no specific requirement between Cat5, Cat6 or higher-rated network cable. When you buy or replace one, Cat6 is recommended. If it runs in conduit next to power cables, use shielded Cat6.
Copper-clad aluminum (CCA) cable is fine for data only. Don't send PoE over it, because it has higher resistance and runs hot; if you use CCA, power the camera with a PoE+ injector at the camera end. A 60 m CCA run is already at the maximum recommended range for data.
The Vision-series datasheets give about 100 m from camera to computer over copper network cable, and up to 2,000 m over fiber with a converter. For permanent runs over about 300 ft, such as press box to finish line, use fiber with a media converter at each end: see Stadium wiring setup and Installation Resources.
No Ethernet port on the laptop? A USB-to-Ethernet adapter works: give it the static IP address from the networking guide and turn off its power saving so Windows doesn't drop it mid-meet.
Goes deeper
- Choosing a cable — Troubleshoot · Networking · Cabling and PoE
Related questions
- Is my older PoE switch enough for a newer camera? — Check the per-port rating: Vision-series cameras take 802.3at PoE+ (up to 30 W per port). A 15.4 W port can't power a Vision PRO X, so it boots on its injector but not on that switch.
- My camera keeps dropping out (going red) during a meet. Why? — The camera lost its connection to FinishLynx. First make sure only one FinishLynx is looking for cameras and apply the Windows 11 print fix on every Windows 11 computer, then read the BOOT light.
- Where should my camera be located in relation to the finish line? — In the plane of the finish line: for athletics, 7 to 15 feet high, about the same distance back from the track, pointing down at about 45 degrees. The Lens Calculator picks the lens for your spot.