Help needed with a home structured wiring enclosure

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Mastiff07

16 posts

Geek

#191596 9-Feb-2016 21:24

Hi all

I am in the planning stage of putting together a structured wiring setup in my home. I'm thinking to build an open rack/cabinet to house 19" components. This will be wall mounted in a small room. I've come across some 6RU server rails in the states (here http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Kitchen/Raxxess-Rack-Rails-Pair-Black-6-Space/0670429014195) but can't find anything similar in NZ. I thought I could get hold of some longer rails and cut them to size but the only ones I could find were too long and pricey. Anyone know where I can pick up some L-shaped server rails locally? New or second hand, long or short.

Another thing I need help with is how to connect the coax cables inside the cabinet. The setup will have 7 coax cables but only 3 of these will be used initially. I don't want to connect all of the cables to a splitter and end up sacrificing signal strength. Is there a tidy way of terminating the coax cables in the cabinet without plugging them all into a splitter?

Thanks

LennonNZ

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#1488429 9-Feb-2016 22:15

Connect all the Coax up. 3 or 7 or more won't make much of a difference (When done right). This is to all my outlets in the house.. 5 TV's connected.

Mastiff07

16 posts

Geek

#1488603 10-Feb-2016 10:03

Thanks LennonNZ. I suppose the the important thing for me in your comment is "When done right". If I connected 5 cables to a 6-way splitter then connected a 2 way splitter to the last point on the 6-way, would this be doing it right? Or at least minimize signal loss?

illicit

553 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1491094 12-Feb-2016 12:37

If you have two runs that are reasonably shorter than the others - they would be best on the 2way split so as not to lose more signal.

Ideally - put in an 8way splitter

Mastiff07

16 posts

Geek

#1491352 12-Feb-2016 19:41

Thanks illicit. Putting in an 8 way splitter would look a lot tidier but I don't know what signal strength I get at the moment and if splitting it 8 ways will have much more of an impact on the amount of signal getting to each TV than having the signal split 7 ways. Would it make much of a difference?

Also, are all splitters made equal or are their any brands I should avoid?

Thanks

richms

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#1491362 12-Feb-2016 20:08

Digital is really forgiving of weak signals. Worst case, you have to stick a distribution amp in but I would get the 8 way and just try it.

Also not all ports are equal on splitters, there are often just cascaded inside them, so you may find that 2 ports on a 6 way have more signal than the others. But you would still be better of with an 8 than a 6 with a 2 hanging off one of the stronger ports since you would still have the additional connector losses of going between 2 splitters.

Richard rich.ms

Mastiff07

16 posts

Geek

#1491365 12-Feb-2016 20:24

Great, thanks richms. I'll give an 8-way splitter a try and see how it goes. Do you know of any brands that are better than others or any that should be avoided?

Thanks

k1w1k1d

1489 posts

Uber Geek

#1491369 12-Feb-2016 20:45

I know this is fairly expensive, but how would this solve your distribution problem?

http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=NETMMT1012&name=Matchmaster-10MM-DDA28-2x8-Digital-Distribution-Am

Hatch

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Hatch (affiliate link).

Jase2985

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#1491402 12-Feb-2016 21:19

or one of these

ST23DDM8 SIGNET DIGITAL TV Distributor, 8way, powered, amplified $151. 56

Mastiff07

16 posts

Geek

#1491778 13-Feb-2016 20:47

Thanks k1w1k1d and Jase2985. I was hoping to avoid a powered splitter because I'll only have 3 TV's connected. I'm only putting 7 points around the house for future-proofing. I think I'll see how things go with a non-powered 8-way splitter and If I end up with too much signal loss I'll replace it with a powered one.

Thanks

jnimmo

1097 posts

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#1491784 13-Feb-2016 20:55

Do you think you're likely to ever use 7 TVs at once - you could always just get a smaller splitter, connect the ports you're currently using and have some spare. Don't have to all be live if no plans to use immediately

Mastiff07

16 posts

Geek

#1492690 15-Feb-2016 15:17

Now that you mention it jnimmo that's what I'll probably end up doing. My initial thought was to have everything connected in a neat and tidy way. Not thinking that some cables could be left disconnected in a neat and tidy way.

Thanks