Wiring for Cable/Cable Modem: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Nov. 3, 2009 1:11 p.m. John Brown MegaDork

I have decided to take a stand at home and get cable TV and a cable modem package. I have two TVs and will be installing a wireless router to a PC for use when the Mrs gets her MiniLaptop for Christmas.

The house had cable poorly run previously (drill holes in floor push wire) I want to build an entry bridge where the cable will come into the house and route cables under the floor to the rooms getting service.

Will I need to run two wires to the room getting the internet and cable TV box or can I run a single wire to a multi tap cable jack?
Nov. 3, 2009 1:19 p.m. PubBurgers Dork

Should be able to use a multi-tap. Ours was set up like that before we dropped cable.
Nov. 3, 2009 1:32 p.m. mistanfo Dork

Make sure that when you run the wire, that you make every corner a nice large radius. sharp bends will KILL the signal strength. Random channels can disappear, potentially the portion of bandwidth that the internet signal runs along could also be affected. This is from spending many years working in Consumer electronics, with customers buying new televisions for their new homes, and complaining that a couple channels didn't come in. Generally, I was able to find the offending cable, though occasionally, I could only determine that it was within a wall, and would have to run an entirely new cable.
Nov. 3, 2009 1:45 p.m. EastCoastMojo SuperDork

I would try not to have more than one splitter in line before the modem.
Nov. 3, 2009 2:01 p.m. Kia_racer Reader

I used to have cable/modem. The splitter works great. watch your shows and surf the webernet.
Nov. 3, 2009 7:21 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

Use high quality splitters and line. But you are better off running independent lines to the modem.

I went through a few months of flaky internet that was finally cured by running a dedicated line to the modem.
Nov. 3, 2009 8:01 p.m. patgizz Dork

i ran my own lines before cable company came out, then they just hooked up my stuff to the new line from the street in a box outside the house. those guys suck at the running of wire otherwise. the guy who did my parents house just shot holes through drywall in between rooms to run wires.
Nov. 4, 2009 6:51 a.m. Vinz Clortho MegaDork

The pole where the cable will come in is about 4' from the house, I bought a weatherproof box for mounting inside the skirting at the corner near the pole. I also picked up a premium 1:6 splitter to bring the signal in to the house and I am running conduit to the center of the trailer and run individual lines to each outlet. The only variance is where the lines go to the master bedroom where two lines will share one conduit and one dual outlet face plate versus a single outlet plate.

I will finish the hard wiring sunday as long as it isn't raining.