OT ? wiring CAT5

[capt jake]

oK, I am getting ready to start the wiring in the addition. I am going to run CAT5 and CATV.

Can I run both cables through the same conduit? Also, how far away from and what other precautions are needed when running these near 110V? Theey will both terminate very close to the breaker panel. I am planning on a cable router located in the garage right at the cable box.

I eventually will be running to 7 locations.

Thanks!

[TexasPhil]

Jake,

I have wired several places, including my house and several offices.

I have never used conduit, but in the offices I have used the plenem cable, as required. It is supposed to prevent smoke from passing through the cable from one room to another.... don't know how well that works!

I dont recall the actual specifics, but my rule of thumb is to isolate the power cables. AC power does weird things to signals, CATV and CAT5 are both signal wire. Additionally, these signal wires have almost no emmisions, so they are OK together.

So, I suggest you stay atleast 1 foot away from the power cable. Bundling the CATV and CAT5 is OK.

Conduit is up to you.... it wouldn't hurt, but I am not sure if there are any benefits worth using it.

Something else you may want to consider....

Being out in the sticks, I got Dish Network (which I like very well, BTW), when I first moved out here. I wired my house so all the TVs connect to the Dish Receiver's output.

After years of fighting about what to watch, I installed a second receiver. I then rewired it so both receivers in are the TV room, and I have a selection box that allows me to select which component the rest of the house sees (dish1, dish2, VCR) So the entire house views what is on the selector box. In the TV Room, we also have a A/V Receiver. So the TV room gets 5.1 through the A/V Receiver and can select any of the components (dish1, dish2, VCR, DVD...)

The alternative is a Dish Receiver in each room. I figured that the 3 of us would rarely want to view more than 2 things at a time.

[Bill]

You don't need the conduit. I have seen signal problems if you run the CATV right along with the power in some situations where they are long runs right next to each other. Make sure you "homerun" each cable outlet to the box area in the cellar (and mark them). Don't use any splitters(in-line), it will cut the signal a few db each time and will always cause problems. Put an AMP at the incoming line, after the amp use an 8 way splitter and cap off any unused taps with terminators. Depending on the signal strength, at the pole, you should be ok. Seven outlets is pushing it though in some areas. If you have "great" signal strength, you may not need the amp (and using one would just increase noise anyway) Try it without it first, if you see any snow, toss a 14.5 db amp on it (I've always had good luck with Viewsonics) try to stay away from the Radio Shack ones.

Don't use RG59, use at least an RG6 or more..

You can set up a few a-b switches on the lines, in most cases, so you can just have one Digital box (if you use one) and feed another room. I have set up and used this situation where all the kids get regular cable in their rooms but the digital addition is only in the livingroom and the a-b switch will also pipe it into the parents bedroom, without having to pay for another digital box just to watch it occassionally..

good luck,

Bill

[capt jake]

Cable company said that the signal strength is marginal. Not all 7 outlets will be used, I am just planning ahead for when teh kids move out and we re-arrange. Same can be said for teh CAT5, only about three of those will be used at present.

The conduit will be PVC and only to run vertical from the cable box into the attic above teh garage and then down from that space to the rim joist inside teh garage. The bulk of the cable will be run under teh house, but to get there I have to go overhead in the garage.

In the addition, the cable will run parralel to the 110v for a distance of about 10'.

Any pointers on which version of CAT5 to buy??

[Bill]

As to a specific type, I think it would be dependant on the environment, distance etc. I wouldn't be qualified to say. This link my answer a few questions though, or give you a few things to think about before you get into it to far.

http://www.derose.net/steve/guides/wiring/

My installing days dealt mostly with the Television/digital end of the spectrum, from the pole to the house, through the house, to the computer and/or set(s). I did install cards and modems, but the networking was left up to the customer as he/she saw fit. (and at that point, I was usually glad it was.. :-)

Good luck,

Bill

[capt jake]

Well, Bill, you are certainly qualified to recommend the right CATV cable!! Which one??

The cable guy said to run each outlet all the way back to where the cable inters the house for best signal strangth. At this point he said to install a good quality splitter and possibly an amplifier.

[Bill]

We/I have used all sorts of brands without noticing any recordable difference. You may check with your local cable company and tell them you are doing new construction and need to wire all the rooms yourself and they might just give you a box.(sometimes the cable guy on the street may have a bunch left in a box and will give it up if you ask nicely) Quite a few cable guys will leave you with some to do a room or two, but thats usually "on the side" so to speak. Get at least an RG6 and you will be fine. If you can get hold of RG11 that would be better. Its thicker and will help that signal out. If you intend on making all your own connections after you have run the cable (NO KINKS btw) make sure you do them correctly and they are good and tight. The ONLY metal that you should be seeing at the connector is the copper. No frayed ends etc., signal loss happens with the slightest sloppyness, for lack of a better word. Be careful with the copper, the signal actually travels in such a way that a simple scratch can knock off a few channels. Also, use the correct tool to put on whatever type of connectors you use. Crimping them on, with pliers just won't do. I have often times suggested to customers and to contractors to just run the wire (leaving about 8 inches hanging out of the wall or floor) if they want to, and let us put the connectors on and put in the wall jacks. It just makes sure you are getting optimum signal and we also have signal meters that cost about a grand and that helps pinpoint potential problems. It's not rocket science at the house level, it just helps if you have all the nifty pro grade tools to do it right...

As far as what your cable guy has said already, I guess in my above post, thats basically what I said too.

If you happen to see the cable person ask him or her for some connectors and stuff, I used to always have 1000's in my truck and handing a few out was always good customer relations in my book. Not to mention it saves you money and usually the radio shack equivelant stinks!

If you run into any snags, or if I can help feel free to email me personally and I'll talk you through just about any of it..

Bill

[capt jake]

Very good information Bill!!! Thanks a bunch. I will look for the cable as you describe. I will probablky hire out the termoinations, as i am dealing with both CATV and CAT5. I have done CATV before, but I was never very confident in hte final product!

Thanks a lot!!!!!!!!! I appreciate it!!

[Frank Hagan]

For some reason, I thought "CATS" when I saw the "CAT5" in the subject, and I thought poor Capt Jake had finally lost his mind.

You can try herding cats, but you can't wire them.

[Barry Pyeatt]

And I thought I had eye problems, sheeeeesh! :roll:

[Simon]

You can try herding cats' date=' but you can't wire them.[/quote']

My girlfriend's cat is "wired" - I don't know its natural, or the work of an amateur electrician.

[Frank Hagan]

With my cats, they are "wired" intermittently. Very strange animals.

I did finally run CAT 5 wire for my dialup connection, and it didn't make that big a difference ... until I isolated the rest of the phone wiring. I created a "patch panel" in the garage to "unplug" the existing wiring while I'm on the 'net, and its helped during those rainy days when the dial up only gets a 26,400 connection. Now I "unplug" the other wiring, and my line is clear.

Somewhere I have a problem within the walls of the house, but haven't tracked it down yet.

[Bill]

You can try herding cats, but you can't wire them.

Oh, come on Frank, we were both 9 years old once...Don't you remember that boring day...Down in Dad's area of the cellar, your old Lionel train transformer..... and Fluffy.... :-)

b.

[Frank Hagan]

Don't get me started on train sets! I remember several years asking for a train set, and hearing that I was "too young." Then one year, I asked for a train set and was told I was "too old!" So I never had my train set (until my wife, for my 35th birthday, bought me a train set ... I think she thought I would quit telling the story!)

I did have slot cars, both the little sets and then the larger ones you took to the slot car track in town and paid to run on. That was a great hobby too.

Never did abuse the cat! Had one in the shower with me once (I had brothers with a weird sense of humor), but that falls under abuse of a little brother!

[capt jake]

WOW! such information. I guess I should remove the wires from the cats behindus??? :)

IN the meanwhile; I have run over 500' over both CATV and CAT5e. It was easier that I thought, as it is a retrofit project!

ANy problems with crossing AC with CAT5e?? I had to do that in two spots.

Thanks

[TexasPhil]

If you can put any distance between the AC and the CAT5, it would be best. However, if it is just crossing it and not next to it for a distance, you should be OK. No promises though.

I have a few places where the CAT5 and AC come close and cross, I have not had any problems.

[capt jake]

Phil, your description sounds very similar to mine. Unfortunately, it is in the new addition (remodel) where the office and computers will be. I had existing wiring ,that I had to re-wire, but I couldn't change it's location.

[capt jake]

oK, that PIMA is done!!! Now onto sheetrock, tape and texture, then teh new floors that SWMBO want in by T-Day! :)

Paint is almost done.

Alas I still have to run more wire to re-wire the shop. Bummer, they wire it with 8awg from the shop to the house. At teh connection to hte house it is only 12awg, with a 30 amp breaker. See what I am dealing with/?????

I had to completely re-wire the addition, as it was a real mucked up job. Good thing wiring is an easy thing, unlike the repair work I have gone through. (

[capt jake]

AHHH, I finally have the router working!! I now have a house networked with 8 cat5e outlets. I only have a 4 port router, but I wll fix that soon, maybe with my existing hub??.

I have no idea how to configure the bloody thing, but it is working.

Take care.

[Barry Pyeatt]

Man this is getting too involved for my simple brain, I was just beginning to understand routers for woodworking and now you are throwing in wiring too. :roll:

I'll sure be glad when you are finished with this House remodeling project so we all can get back to boatbuilding. :wink:

At this rate we're going to need snowshoes, hand warmers and ice axes to christen your boat this January.