Audio/video/computer networking wiring questions
 

I am getting ready to do some wiring in my house. It's 30 years old and the previous owners had all the phone and video wiring done on the exterior. It looks like crap and the phone lines are shot so I am going to rewire.

I am planing on putting in Cat6 for the computer, RG6 for video and new phone line (cat 3/4?).

I have a few questions for those who are in the know.


- is there an advantage to running dual RG6/Cat6 lines to the rooms as opposed to single lines?

- is phone line Cat3 or 4? Is there an advantage to running dual lines for phone as well?

- What is the best/cheapest way to split the Cat6? I have 3 rooms. I run my desk top off of one Cat6. VoIP runs on a second Cat6, Bluray in the family room uses one so I am thinking I will need a second router right?

- is regular RG6 what the satellite folks use or do they use something else? I was looking at stuff like this RG6

Any other ideas suggestions?

As for the 'splitter' just get a switch. Something like this:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX1964(ME).aspx
Or this:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX1810(ME).aspx

Not recommending the buying location as they're in canada, it was just quick to pull up.
It's better to have more than enough ports, then not enough.

With regard to a network switch or router, you may want to consider getting one that can handle "gigabit" traffic rather than a 10/100 switch.

Rather than running Cat3 for landline phone . . . just run another Cat6 cable for the phone.

OK, I'll keep that in mind. I should have enough cat6 for the phone. What is the advantage of that? Should I run dual lines?

Also, I have noticed copper core and steel/aluminum core RG6. Is there a real world difference?

I'm not sure I know what you mean by dual lines. A single Cat6 for the network and another for phone should take care of those applications.

Why are you running cable for anything but the sat.? Just install a Wireless N router and be done with it.

Partly because I will be in the attic and I once I blow in added insulation my access will be limited. SO I figured while I am up there. just go ahead and wire everything. Also, my understanding is that wired conx will be faster than wireless

Dual and in sets of RG6 to each room, 2 sets of phone lines and 2 sets of Cat6. I seem to recall talking to a guy at work (real wire head) who said he ran 2 line everywhere for added versatility and upgrades with coming technology.

i would run two RG6 lines to every room and bring all of them to a centralized closet for access. See some satellite receivers need two RG6 lines so running two would just be future proofing. even if you dont hook these up leave them behind the wall and on the other end in the equipment closet label all of them. As for the Cat6 run as many as you think you will need for each room one may be fine for the bedrooms but the office you may want more. You will need to run a switch to split the CAT6 so run some sort of switch as for a gigabit switch only get one if you do alot of file transfers in the house from computer to computer otherwise you are just wasting money on something you will never use. What was said earlier about CAT6 for the phone line do it if you but a spool of 1000 feet of CAT6 you should be able to run all if not most of the line for the house.

Try this place out for all your materials

http://www.monoprice.com/products/department.asp?c_id=105

I use them for everything. you should be able to get everything from them, and I have found them to be the best prices on almost everything. If you want it to look really good you can run keystone jacks on the walls and it will look real professional. Well good luck with the project.

I agree with Boom. Satellite TV can't be split, so two direct feeds per location, all run to some central location, can make things way easier. The only think I would add would maybe be an audio cable or two in case I wanted to have a home music system/microphones in each room and another phone line for IR transcievers (remote controls), but if none of that interests you then I wouldn't bother with the clutter.

OK, dual lines it is. What about copper verses copper clad steel. From what I have read, solid copper is better but to me that is like saying a Benz is better than a BMW. Fine, but they are both great cars. So is solid copper really going to make a difference in the real world that I live in?

I'd go solid copper. more flexible.

Powerpig, while 802.11n is fast and convenient, it's not a match for wired gigabit ethernet yet. If the ethernet connection is going to a streaming device, like a bluray player or video panel, wired is the way to go, even at 10/100 connections.

FWIW, satellite can be "split" but not in the traditional way. You just need the manufacturer's digital switching equipment which is relatively cheap and available.

At one of our project sites, I installed a 2 output dish that runs through a series of switches to serve 12 customers simultaneously.

One great reason to run 2 RG6's to each location is the ability to run satellite on one and off-air TV on the other. That's how my home system is run as well as the CAT5 feed to the tuner for streaming movies, youtube, etc...

What do you mean by 'off air tv'?