Wiring for a house 1

[pabxdude]

Hi all;

been a long time since i did any cabling, and now have a new house being built.

looking at running cabling to all rooms to share voice/data/video.

does anyone know a way i can run cat 6 only and use some type of balun to get a cat 6 for video (instead of running a cat 6 and and RG6).

If possible, who makes such a product.

thanks,

 

[mforrence]

If by 'video' you mean television, you're WAY better off to just run the RG6. Lower cost and less headaches.
Mike

 

[dearingkr]

I concur.
You can run RG-6 less than the cost of the baluns alone.

MCSE CCNA CCDA

 

[buitenhek]

Perhaps the knowledgeable pros could provide the how "toos" of balanced cable hookup for his TV:
1.CAT6- great for voice/data and a third cable for TV with baluns on each end. Does this provide video and sound for the TV? Can it handle Hi-def bandwidth?
2. Which baluns are needed? Do the "good" baluns need their own power?
3. Since RG6 has a shield, should STP cable be used? Is there potential RFI?
4. What problems have you seen?



Regards
Peter Buitenhek
ProfitDeveloper.com

"Never settle for a job well done...always look for cost cutting measures

 

[wires]

If you want to go with AV distribution over twisted pair decide on your baluns FIRST. Most baluns I have seen specify cat5 or cat5e.

If you are seriously considering this I would look at units like Audio Authority's AVX line of cat5 matrix switchers. For what it does it is a good value. Here is a link:

http://www.audioauthority.com/product_details/avx-562

Several other manufacturers make similar products. Check Xantech and Russound or Google for others. I prefer this approach since all the source equipment is located in one place and you can put a TV just about anywhere without a lot of clutter. You will also save on monthly fees for cable or satellite boxes since you don't need one for each TV.

If on the other hand you are trying to save money by not running RG6 that won't happen. Wire is cheap. The devices (baluns etc) to get signals on and off twisted pair run at least $35 per end. No product I am aware of will run RF over twisted pair so distributing CATV is out (you can distribute the baseband signals out of a cable box).

When I wire a house 2 cat5e and 1 RG6 go to each outlet. All rooms get at least one outlet. All cables are home runs and all cables terminate in a easy access location usually near the electrical entrance.

Good luck!

 

[SYQUEST]

I agree with wires, 2 CAT5e & QUAD SHIELD RG6 home run to Structured Media Cabinet, unless you want to set up a backboard somewhere.

Now with HDTV transmissions, the satellite people are going to 3GB bandwidth on COAX. That is one reason most won't use existing COAX and some hardware on service installs.

....JIM....

 

[oldtimerbob]

I would suggest you use a composite cable,that is a cable that has various types of cables in one and can be ordered as to what you need, or project be used in the future, such as a couple of cat5e's,a RJ 6, etc.

Contact your local cable suppliers,such as Graybar or get a good cabling contractor.

Good Luck,

Has been in the cabling business for about twenty years and is now the Sr PM for a cabling company located in the Los Angeles area.

http://www.globusinc.net

Also a General Class Amatuer Radio Operator.

 

[jet042]

I've seen the cables oldtimerbob mentioned called Siamese cable as well. We use an RG59&14/2 setup for our security cameras.

 

[adamandamy]

You may also want to consider fiber. In my area we have a telephone/internet/cable company that delivers fiber to the prem but also needs a fiber drop to each televison. Not sure if this will become the norm but it's a lot easier to run in new construction versus old.