Crestron cables: DM Ultra, Cresnet, HDMI and USB

Which Crestron cable should I use for AV signals?

• DigitalMedia Ultra: twisted pair cable for DigitalMedia links, as non-plenum type CMR or plenum type CMP, on 500 ft (152 m) or 1000 ft (304 m) spools. DM 8G+ receivers such as the DM-RMC-4KZ-100-C reach 100 m at up to 4K on it.
• DM Ultra patch cables: DM-CBL-ULTRA-PC leads in eight lengths from 0.45 m to 15 m.
• HDMI: CBL-8K-HD certified HDMI 2.1 cables rated at 48 Gbps, from 0.5 m to 6.7 m.
• USB-C to HDMI: CBL-4K-USBC-HD active converter cables at 18 Gbps, in 1.8 m and 3.6 m lengths.
• USB: USB-C to USB-C cables at 5 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1) or 10 Gbps (Gen 2), with DisplayPort Alt Mode and 60 W or 100 W ratings, plus USB-A to USB-C and USB-A to Micro-B leads.
• Audio: the CBL-AUD-TBLOCK5-12 is a 3.6 m stereo balanced cable with 5-position 3.5 mm terminal blocks.

Crestron uses the same cables in its own kits: the UC-B70 conferencing kit, for example, includes two CBL-8K-HD-6 and one CBL-8K-HD-9 HDMI cables, with a DM-CBL-ULTRA-PC-20 and a CBL-CAT5E-7 as its Ethernet cables.

What cable do Cresnet and Zum control wiring use?

Cresnet is Crestron's 4-wire bus for control and power, connecting lighting modules, dimmers, shade controllers, thermostats, keypads and touch panels to the processor. Runs can be home runs, daisy chains or a mix of the two.

• Cresnet control cable: white non-plenum cable on 304 m spools or in a 152 m box, white plenum cable on 304 m spools, and Cresnet High-Power cable in non-plenum white or teal.
• Distribution: the C2N-HBLOCK terminates standard 4-wire Cresnet, Cresnet High-Power and RJ11 modular cables at one point, the DIN-BLOCK connects up to 12 Cresnet cables in parallel on a DIN rail, and the CNRJ11 converts 4-wire cable to an RJ11 Cresnet connection.
• Zum Link: orange plenum CAT5e for in-room wiring between Zum wired load controllers, keypads and sensors, with up to 32 devices on a chain.
• Zum Net: purple plenum CAT5e for LAN wiring, which daisy-chains up to 20 Zum Net devices back to a ZUM-HUB4.

How is DigitalMedia Ultra cable terminated?

Crestron makes matching shielded connectors and crimp tools for DM Ultra cable:

• Plugs: DM-CONN-ULTRA-PLUG-20 shielded RJ-45 connectors, 20 per pack, fitted with the DM-CRIMP-ULTRA-PLUG tool.
• Angled connectors: DM-CONN-ULTRA-RECP-XA-20 shielded connectors angled at 45 degrees, fitted with the DM-CRIMP-ULTRA-RECP-XA.
• Keystone jacks: the DM-CONN-ULTRA-RECP-20 pack of 20 shielded CAT6a jacks, with one termination tool, for the DM-RPP-K24 patch panel or any keystone wall plate, on DM 8G+, HDBaseT and 10GBase-T cabling.

Both crimp tools work with a linear termination module, which Crestron states eliminates split and crossed pairs, and both accept several cable diameters. Each tool is listed for its own connector, so check which connector the existing cabling uses before ordering more. The keystone jack has a die-cast metal housing with 360-degree shielding and terminates the cable shield automatically.

What should I check before ordering cable for a Crestron system?

• Distance: DM Essentials extenders need CAT5e or better, such as DM-CBL-8G or DM-CBL-ULTRA, for up to 40 m at 4K or 70 m at 1080p. DM 8G+ products reach 100 m at up to 4K on DM Ultra cable.
• USB extenders: the USB-EXT-3 and USB-EXT-3S need CAT6a or CAT7 cable, while the USB-EXT-2 runs on solid-core CAT5e or better.
• PoE cameras: Crestron specifies shielded CAT5e as a minimum for PoE to its 1 Beyond PTZ cameras, to meet CE requirements.
• USB-C power: match the cable rating to the load. The PSU-MIDSPAN-USB-1 injector supplies up to 100 W, and Crestron lists the 100 W CBL-USB3G2-C-C-3 and CBL-USB3G1-C-C-6 for it.
• Routes: DM Ultra and Cresnet cable come in plenum and non-plenum versions and Zum cables are plenum, so check what each cable route in the building requires.
• Tables: the FT2 FlipTop is Crestron's cable management system for tables, in sizes from 202 to 1400, as ELEC or MECH versions with a pass-through lid.