DIYbanter - View Single Post - Does anyone run cable tv wire through the house anymore?

Don Y[_3_]

On 11/9/2015 7:31 PM, wrote:
Hello all. Finishing my basement. My wife wants a 50+" tv on the basement
wall ..."whenever I'm done." We're NOT trying to make a "media screening
room" with perfect seating and acoustics. Just a big tv with some comfy
sofas.

My question is, is it worth the effort to extend the cable tv wire to this
location from the main floor tv/cable/dvr box? Or are today's tvs and
perhaps a dvr box upgrade so fantastic that I can just as well do everything
via my local wifi network in the house? I haven't stayed current with the
latest A/V tech and I just don't want to go through all the trouble to run
the cable wire for nothing.

You can do a lot with "wireless". But, that means you are *depending* on
wireless! As the ether gets more congested with signals that *can't* find
copper/fiber paths from here to there, you may discover quality or even
connectivity suffer (or, have to be "upgraded" over time just to accommodate
more uses you've tried to address "without wires").

Also, wireless has to coexist with any/every other wireless user nearby.
If you're alone on a 4 acre spread, this might not be an issue. OTOH,
if you're in a townhouse with a neighbor on the other side of a stud wall...

I wired the house (retroactively, after it had been standing for a decade
or so) with phone, CATV and network. I don't want to *rely* on a wireless
technology (or even powerline carrier) as the basis for these things but,
rather, fall back on it if I find myself in a situation (later) that can't
easily be addressed with "wires".

[Why wire a home for phone? Doesn't *everyone* use a cellphone?? What about
the folks who don't??]

Originally, I planned on just doing *everything* "over ethernet". But, that
puts other prequisites in place that I -- or a future homeowner -- might not
be happy with. So, I ran phone, CATV and network to every location that might
need/want it (notable exception is the two countertop phone/network locations
don't include CATV -- if I want a TV on the kitchen counter, I'll have to
serve video over the network!)

In this case, that means two drops in each bedroom (because you don't
want to "force" the phone/TV/computer to reside in a specific location
chosen with one particular furniture arrangement that could change over
time: "Let's try moving the bed onto THAT wall, instead"), four in the
living room, three in the family room (one wall is essentially glass)
three in the dining room, one on each of the front and rear porches,
etc.

Once you've got things "exposed" to the point where you *can* run wire,
then you're really only saving a little bit of labor and a little money
(wire is cheap). OTOH, once you've *finished* the work/remodel, opening
things up to *add* wire is a real PITA!

Moral of story: run any wires you *think* you might need/want, now.
At the very least, a CAT6 drop so you can bring the network into the basement
(CAT5 if you want to save a few pennies on wire).

Related follow up question: my wife wants surround-sound and is asking me to
install speakers in the walls and ceiling. Is this sort of thing done
anymore? or strictly a 1990's thing? Again, I don't want to install
something that is obsolete or even regrettable.

Again referring to my "everything over ethernet" comment, above, I chose
to locate speakers in certain places where I expected to want them in
the long run. E.g., the four corners of the kitchen (up high, near the
ceiling), two on the back porch (again, up high so out of the way),
and the four corners of the family room (up high, yada yada).

I did *not* install any in the living room as its a "less informal"
place (double negative?) and felt that the presence of permanent
speakers there would compromise how the room was used, etc.

But, instead of wiring them *to* a piece of "stereo equipment"
(or HiFi or multimedia or...), a single network cable brings the audio
program to each speaker (individually). Sort of like "internet
radio" but without the (visible) computer -- instead, the computer
is installed *in* the Jbox to which each speaker connects (it's REALLY
tiny!). I also deliver power to those little computers over the network
cable.

So, I can pipe "music" into any of those locations from a "multimedia server"
located in a closet. Because their power is sourced down the network cable,
I can power each "speaker computer" on or off without the need for a
power switch *on* the speaker. Or, a volume control knob, etc.

Because they are fed from a server, I can just as easily pipe the audio
content of a TV show through them. So, locate the "TV screen" wherever
that might be convenient and omit the need for *more* speakers just
for the TV.

I also have a pair of speakers located in the ceiling on different ends
of the house. These are hard-wired (via "speaker cable") to a computer
that handles my HVAC needs. Their primary purpose is to act as the
*doorbell* for the house as they are just trying to cover "general areas"
and not targeting a specific media listening/viewing environment.

[Eventually, I'll let them be used for a "paging" sort of function]

Experienced opinions greatly appreciated. Online references and guides
appreciated too. Thanks Theodore

Most important issue is to realize that just because it's low voltage
cable, doesn't mean the Code doesn't apply! By way of specific example,
running typical "lamp/zip cord" ("speaker wire") in the walls is verbotten.
Lamp cord is STF1 or STF2 but you need CL2 (or CL3) certified cable to
comply! And, you can't just tack up cable wherever you deem it fit
(esp CATV!)

[If you opt for running network cable, make sure you buy Riser (CMR)
cable at the very least. I buy it in 1000ft boxes as its more
affordable that way. You'll also have to learn how to crimp the
terminations -- such fun! : ]