I've noticed something similar regarding cable length. Generally, with decent quality cables, length doesn't drastically impact the video quality itself, but beyond a certain point—say around 100 feet or so—you might start seeing some signal degradation or interference. I ended up using a shielded cable to minimize interference issues, and it made quite a noticeable difference. Managing the cable neatly is still a bit tricky, though... zip ties and careful coiling help somewhat.
Had a similar experience when I ran a wired inspection cam down my sewer line—around 120 feet, started noticing fuzzy spots and occasional flickers. Switched to a shielded cable, tidied it up with velcro straps instead of zip ties... easier to adjust later if needed.
Interesting approach with the shielded cable and velcro straps—I can see how that'd make adjustments easier down the line. But honestly, after wrestling with wired cams a couple times myself, I've leaned more toward wireless setups lately. Had a wired one snag on me halfway through a 90-degree bend once... spent an hour just trying to coax it back out without damaging anything. Not fun.
Wireless isn't perfect either, though—signal drops can be a pain, especially if you're dealing with thicker pipes or deeper runs. Still, for most residential jobs I've tackled, the convenience outweighs the occasional glitchiness. Plus, no cable management headaches or worrying about shielding interference.
Guess it depends on your specific setup and patience level. If you're meticulous enough to velcro-strap your cables neatly (props for that), wired might still be your jam. For me though, I'll take the occasional fuzzy wireless feed over another afternoon spent untangling cables from sewer bends...
I've been down both roads myself, and honestly, I still bounce back and forth depending on the job. Wireless is definitely tempting—no cable tangles or snagging nightmares (been there, done that, got the muddy t-shirt). But man, those signal drops can drive me nuts sometimes. Had one job where the wireless cam kept cutting out halfway down a long run under a driveway... ended up having to reposition the receiver like five times just to get a decent feed.
On the flip side, wired setups can be bulletproof if you're patient enough to manage cables properly. Velcro straps are a nice touch—wish I'd thought of that sooner. I've found that using a bit of cable lube helps too; makes those tight bends way less stressful.
Guess it boils down to how often you're dealing with tricky runs versus straightforward residential stuff. For quick inspections around the house, wireless is usually my go-to. But if I'm tackling something deeper or more complicated, I'll still break out the wired gear and just brace myself for some cable-wrangling adventures...
I've mostly stuck with wired setups myself, partly because my mentor swears by them. But honestly, the cable management can be a real headache, especially in older houses with tight bends and awkward angles. Never thought about using cable lube though—might have to give that a try next time. Curious if anyone's noticed a significant difference in image quality or clarity between wired and wireless cams, especially on longer runs?
