IRIG-B / SMPTE Time Code cabling

Types of time code

• IRIG-B: 100 pps, AM-modulated (B-DC) or pulse-width (B-PW). Used in industry and defence.
• SMPTE Linear Time Code (LTC): 24/25/29.97/30 fps, audio-frequency AM. Standard in broadcast.
• PTP: digital over Ethernet — a different world, see NTP vs PTP.

Cable choice

• Short (<10 m): standard BNC coax, RG-58
• Medium (10-50 m): shielded RG-59 or RG-6
• Long (>50 m): add a TCA100 amplifier or use a fibre converter

Connectors

• BNC (broadcast standard)
• TNC or N for outdoor / industrial
• No RCA in professional installations

Ground loops

• Time code systems are sensitive to ground loops — use isolation transformers wherever audio-level IRIG passes through different grounds
• Avoid linking to audio mixers on a different ground

Amplification

• TCA100: 1-in / 8-out time code amplifier, signal restoration + isolation
• Place the TCA100 close to the receiver, not the transmitter (the signal degrades along the way)

Test procedure

1. Generate time code at the source (NTP100-TC)
2. Loop-back test directly out of the source (reference level)
3. Measure at the receiver side — signal level should be 50-100% of the source
4. No drops, no drift over 1 hour

Delivery by Daylight

We can pre-quote the cable budget (BNC cables, connectors, panel mounts). Give us the routing distances.

Contact: Daylight bv.