Would you bother putting in Coax for new structured wiring?

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AzaK

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#157151 21-Nov-2014 09:32

Hi guys. Not sure of the correct forum to place this in but here goes.

I'm doing a renovation and the sparky has done his prewire so I'm at the structured wiring point. I know I want ethernet in the rooms and the odd HDMI, but I'm struggling to decide whether I should bother with coax. For our needs it seems useless. We have a VF TV box which is HDMI out and I'll matrix split that to wherever. Same can happen if we get SKY and we stream all our movies etc from our media centre. Our children are 2 and 5, so no requirement for TV's in their rooms for MANY (if any) years and I really don't know the way the tech is going for the future. Maybe everything will just be over cat6?

So I guess the question is if you were adding new structured wiring at this point in time, with no need yourself for coax, would you even bother? And if not, would you compensate with anything else, like an extra ethernet port?

Thanks
A

SumnerBoy

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#1180588 21-Nov-2014 09:35

I would - not that expensive - and means you can use it for either UHF/SAT feeds to separate decoders in those rooms, or use as a back feed channel from you central decoders.

AzaK

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#1180591 21-Nov-2014 09:41

Thanks Ben. What's the typical plug used in coax in the rooms? This sort: http://stcp5793-59.ashop.com.au/p/887280/clipsal---mech-f-f-type-white-30-series-30pfmwe.html

Or the old RF style?
A

timmmay

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#1180593 21-Nov-2014 09:41

Run conduit where you might want to put things in future, including a few from the ceiling cavity to under the house. When I renovated a room I also put a big piece of plywood behind the wall so I could mount a TV there later easily, and I put conduit in so I could hide cables running down the wall.

SumnerBoy

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#1180594 21-Nov-2014 09:42

Yep that is the one - pretty easy to make up patch cables with the appropriate crimper to patch from the wall to your decoder/TV etc.

nzconan

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#1180712 21-Nov-2014 12:55

I built 12 months ago, and haven't regretted putting coax in to all TV points (including ones in my Kids 7 & 5 rooms) .. even though I also have numerous Cat 6 points to each room and stream my TV around the house over a 4x4 HDbaseT single wire (cat 6) matrix all running from a cupboard in the centre of the house so don't really need the coax.

We also find we are streaming (from Netflix mostly) these days (finally said bye to Sky this week after realising no one has watched anything that's not on free to Air for the past two weeks) ... my bigger issue was after I built I found I couldn't get UHF Freeview :( but do get it over the satellite .. now wishing I had purchased a dual tuner Samsung when I upgraded.

In short the Coax and fittings for them are relatively inexpensive, but allow for options including Freeview and in any structured wiring system it is the options and changeability that you are looking for. I'd say add them.

nickb800

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#1180723 21-Nov-2014 13:13

I can see where the OP is coming from, but I'd still run at least one RG6 coax to each of your potential TV spots in the main living areas, since it doesn't cost much. If so desired, you can duplex UHF and Satellite on one RG6. RG6 distribution might be obsolete and replaced by Cat6 in some form in the next ten years, but may as well have some flexibility in the meantime. You could use one of your Cat6's as a draw wire for RG6 in the future, but why not just put it in now.

Regarding conduit, IMHO conduit to wall mounted TVs is a great idea as it lets you feed pre-made HDMI cables etc, and likewise floor-to-ceiling. For your average structured cabling outlet, its probably easier and cheaper to just run more Cat6 and RG6 than you think you will need rather than conduit for the future

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chevrolux

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#1180819 21-Nov-2014 15:07

2x Cat 6 & 1 RG6 to each point is more than enough.

4x Cat6 & 1 RG6 to the main TV/AV location.

SumnerBoy

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#1180822 21-Nov-2014 15:09

chevrolux: 2x Cat 6 & 1 RG6 to each point is more than enough.

4x Cat6 & 1 RG6 to the main TV/AV location.

Agreed, although perhaps 2xRG6 to the main TV/AV location to allow for easy backfeeding if required.

chevrolux

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#1180982 21-Nov-2014 18:07

SumnerBoy:
chevrolux: 2x Cat 6 & 1 RG6 to each point is more than enough.

4x Cat6 & 1 RG6 to the main TV/AV location.

Agreed, although perhaps 2xRG6 to the main TV/AV location to allow for easy backfeeding if required.

Na no need to back feed. Waste of cabling. Better off to relocate equipment if needed but I can't think of a scenario where you would need to back feed.

No point back feeding from a Sky decoder because you have to watch the same channel, better off with multi-room. No need to back feed Freeview because you can just put another decoder at the location required. Other than that what else has an analogue output these days?

Aredwood

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#1180987 21-Nov-2014 18:33

Another use for RG6 - FM broadcast radio. My UHF only freeview aerial easily picks up FM radio as well. Means I get good reception of my favourite low power Fm station in the garage. (half dug into the side of a hill, underneath the house) Even though the signal goes through a 5 way splitter as well.

floydie

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#1181365 22-Nov-2014 17:48

no point running conduit in a single story house unless its on an outside wall and access in the ceiling is difficult. just drill out the nogs and install some blue packing tape and staple to the bottom plate and up onto a roof truss etc. that way you can just pull down what ever you need. just put in nogs in the walls at 600 spacing where you want a tv.
i ran 1xrg6 2xcat5 to the bedroom/family room TV's and i ran 2xhdmi 3xrg6 4xcat5 and 2x4core screened to the main lounge tv

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SumnerBoy

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#1181366 22-Nov-2014 17:53

chevrolux:
SumnerBoy:
chevrolux: 2x Cat 6 & 1 RG6 to each point is more than enough.

4x Cat6 & 1 RG6 to the main TV/AV location.

Agreed, although perhaps 2xRG6 to the main TV/AV location to allow for easy backfeeding if required.

Na no need to back feed. Waste of cabling. Better off to relocate equipment if needed but I can't think of a scenario where you would need to back feed.

No point back feeding from a Sky decoder because you have to watch the same channel, better off with multi-room. No need to back feed Freeview because you can just put another decoder at the location required. Other than that what else has an analogue output these days?

For some back feeding is the only option if you want sky in another room. Multi room is not all that cheap so for the cost of running a second RG6 it makes sense in case you decide to go that route. Better to have it and not use it, than not and wish it was there at some stage in the future.

Just my 2c.

Handle9

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#1181378 22-Nov-2014 18:00

I don't know why you wouldn't run the cable. I'd be running one more than I thought I need to every location. The thing that really costs min is the terminations. Run the cables but only terminate what you need. If nothing else they're decent draw wires.

floydie

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#1181550 23-Nov-2014 12:07

cable is cheap.
you can get cat 5 and even some cat 6 for $150 for a 300m roll and RG6 is around the 60cents a meter if bought by the meter. its the labour that makes it $. just get in there with some advice from your sprky and go nuts.

AzaK

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#1181761 23-Nov-2014 20:51

Thanks everyone. You've all convinced me to run some coax (and a bit more cat6) but I'll just keep most of it behind the wall for now until needed.

Cheers
Aaron