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Entertainment wiring help please

galute

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Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Messages
629
Location
Bald Knob AR
I am at the point in my shop build where I need to run the wiring for a TV which will be satellite (most like dish network), speaker wires for sterio and possible outside antenna and internet (dsl thru phone line only option). This stuff will all be run inside the walls with plug in boxes where needed. I have no idea what type of cables or wires I need. Anyone have any advice or a good place to research this? Thanks for any help.
 
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cain

Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2011
Messages
10
Here's a simple breakdown:

Satellite: RG6 wire. Will need to run to satellite receiver. Depending on what kind of TV you are putting in the garage depends on what goes from the SAT box to TV. Most likely HDMI cable if its HD.

Speaker Wire: 16/2 speaker wire will work for each speaker. 16/4 if Single Stereo.

Network: Cat6 or Cat5e. Either need one run for each device or one and hookup to a switch.

Antenna: RG6

I have a Structured Wiring can in my garage that acts as a junction box for low-voltage between the garage and house.

Edit: Didn't realize this is my first post ever. Wow!
 

Delta74

Well-known member
Joined
May 6, 2011
Messages
320
Location
Peachland B.C. Canada
hey cant help much with your wiring sizes, but maybe can help with a little tip that I have found works well in the past, between your boxes consider running Drip irrigation tubing, its dirt cheap, flexible works as a great conduit to pull wires later,and comes in 100 foot rolls as cheap as 10 bucks, HD sells it in 1/2 and 3/4 inch sizes, and if you wanted to secure it to the boxes you can use liquid tight fittings from the electrical section, again 1/2 and 3/4 inch sizes.

Just a note, this is NOT code legal for power, but for speaker wires or other such little projects it works well and would save trying to fish wires thrue a wall later, anyway will include HD links so you have a picture of what I am talking about. good luck, hope the tip helps either you or someone else in the future.

100' 1/2" tubing.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/DIG-Corp-1-2-in-x-100-ft-Poly-Drip-Tubing-B36/202306118?N=5yc1vZbx57

1/2" liguid tight fittings that fit snugly into the tubing.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Carlon-1...ing-LN43DA-CTN/100404119?N=5yc1vZbohkZ1z113et

good luck.
 
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G

galute

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Messages
629
Location
Bald Knob AR
Here's a simple breakdown:

Satellite: RG6 wire. Will need to run to satellite receiver. Depending on what kind of TV you are putting in the garage depends on what goes from the SAT box to TV. Most likely HDMI cable if its HD.

Speaker Wire: 16/2 speaker wire will work for each speaker. 16/4 if Single Stereo.

Network: Cat6 or Cat5e. Either need one run for each device or one and hookup to a switch.

Antenna: RG6

I have a Structured Wiring can in my garage that acts as a junction box for low-voltage between the garage and house.

Edit: Didn't realize this is my first post ever. Wow!

Just the information I was needing, thank you.
 
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G

galute

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Messages
629
Location
Bald Knob AR
hey cant help much with your wiring sizes, but maybe can help with a little tip that I have found works well in the past, between your boxes consider running Drip irrigation tubing, its dirt cheap, flexible works as a great conduit to pull wires later,and comes in 100 foot rolls as cheap as 10 bucks, HD sells it in 1/2 and 3/4 inch sizes, and if you wanted to secure it to the boxes you can use liquid tight fittings from the electrical section, again 1/2 and 3/4 inch sizes.

Just a note, this is NOT code legal for power, but for speaker wires or other such little projects it works well and would save trying to fish wires thrue a wall later, anyway will include HD links so you have a picture of what I am talking about. good luck, hope the tip helps either you or someone else in the future.

100' 1/2" tubing.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/DIG-Corp-1-2-in-x-100-ft-Poly-Drip-Tubing-B36/202306118?N=5yc1vZbx57

1/2" liguid tight fittings that fit snugly into the tubing.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Carlon-1...ing-LN43DA-CTN/100404119?N=5yc1vZbohkZ1z113et

good luck.

Great idea. I think I will run a couple of these extra just in case I need to make changes later. Thanks.
 

wssix99

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 2, 2011
Messages
5,156
Location
Chicago, IL
Be sure to get RG6 Quadshield and go with Cat6 instead of Cat5. Those choices will future-proof your wiring as best as can be done at the present time.
 

Speedy Petey

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Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
1,430
Location
NY State
I hate to be the voice of cynicism, but you have no idea of even what kind of wire to use for these things, do you know where to run them, and are you going to be able to terminate all of them?? The Cat5 and RG6 require specific terminations, some can be done DIY with no special tools but they are inferior connections IMO.
If I were you I'd start watching YouTube tutorials.
 
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rev1

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Joined
Sep 30, 2009
Messages
92
Location
Oklahoma, Oklahoma, . . .
Depending on the length of the run, I'd run cat5e instead of cat6 to save dollars. If a short run then the savings isn't much so step up to cat6. I also use a structured wiring "can" for low voltage stuff (speaker wire, cat5e for phone, ethernet, and infrared & RG6) in the house but not necessary for a separate shop. For wall plates, TV mounts, etc. check out Monoprice.com
 

Tyberius

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Joined
Nov 26, 2013
Messages
312
Location
Wilmette, IL
I hate to be the voice of cynicism, but you have no idea of even what kind of wire to use for these things, do you know where to run them, and are you going to be able to terminate all of them?? The Cat5 and RG6 require specific terminations, some can be done DIY with no special tools but they are inferior connections IMO.
If I were you I'd start watching YouTube tutorials.

It isn't rocket science. (Well, I guess technically it is ;) )

You don't have to terminate any of your connections when roughing it in. Often times, I'll run redundant cabling and leave it unterminated to save cost, or run separate drops for extra workstations that may or may not be used ever, those can be unterminated as well. If you have a pipe bender, I would run some empty conduit for your possible locations and fill it later.

Never run your information cable in parallel to your electrical cable. If you must, keep it many feet away, the further the better. Crossing the electrical at a 90 degree is ok. Always, always, always make home runs to your cable closet. Never daisy chain for any information cable. (Even if you think you are "only" going to use it for POTS, never daisy chain)

There are two ways to make an RJ45 connection. Pick your method for your site and follow the wire map. Keep the pairs gently twisted as much as possible to the punchdown, as the twist is what makes the speed. The twist also makes the connection more secure, as it keeps the wires in place.

As far as what type of UTP: Cat5(e) vs Cat6, use whatever you want. Cat6 has a channel inside the cable jacket. This channel keeps the wires in place. The position of the wire inside the jacket determines how fast the cable can transmit. Cat5(e) and Cat6 can transmit at the same rate out of the box. Over time, because of the special channel, the performance of Cat6 will be maintained. If you are putting it behind a wall or in conduit where it will never move and making good solid jacks, Cat5(e) is fine. Cat6 is also larger and will fill a conduit more. That is something to consider.

UTP is very versatile. It can carry audio and s-video, as well as data. You can use it to drive any speaker you are likely to have at home, but by then you should just spring for proper speaker wire, unless you get the UTP for free.

The proper size of speaker wire will be determined by the length of the run and the speaker and amp, but generally the thicker the better for sound quality. Some basic minimums: Less than 50 ft -> 16 gauge, more than 50 -> 14 gauge. Try to keep the front channel runs to the same length. Fancy oxygen free stuff will not degrade as much over time.

RG6 quadshielded will be required by your cable installer, or else he'll want to surface mount and install his own. Rebroadcast signals can be handled by whatever else you want. If you want a home security system, for instance, you can use cheaper RG59 for that circuit.
 

MFortie

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Joined
Aug 9, 2010
Messages
901
Location
San Diego County
Cabreful with the assumption UTP will carry 'everything'; video signals can require shielded cabling to maintain higher resolution.

Also, HDMI is limited to 50', including patch cables to maintain 1080p. Any further would require SF/UTP, a transmitter/receiver, etc.

Lastly, CAT6 cable is almost as narrow in diameter as CAT5e was (about a quarter inch.)
 

Tyberius

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Joined
Nov 26, 2013
Messages
312
Location
Wilmette, IL
ok.....since no one has asked, apparently I'm the only dummy here! What is POTS......UTP......and SF/UTP ?

Plain Old Telephone Service

Unshielded Twisted Pair

Screened Twisted Pair (one type of shielding, basically a Faraday Cage around the cable)
 

elav

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Joined
Nov 12, 2008
Messages
122
I am at the point in my shop build where I need to run the wiring for a TV which will be satellite (most like dish network), speaker wires for sterio and possible outside antenna and internet (dsl thru phone line only option). This stuff will all be run inside the walls with plug in boxes where needed. I have no idea what type of cables or wires I need. Anyone have any advice or a good place to research this? Thanks for any help.

There is a lot of good advice here but there is a lot of additional information to consider. When I wired my house I found that Home Tech has an amazing knowledge base (no association other than being a happy customer). Running your various points to a structured wire box will allow you to change a given plug from a phone line to an Ethernet line done the line. In addition if you are going to have satellite tv in more than 1 location you will want to consider a multiswitch. The other thing is that you can purchase multi-cable (4 bundle typically with 2 coax and 2 Cat 5e, or 6 bundle with 2 coax, 2 Cat 5e and 2 fiber optic cables) and run this bundled wire to locations. Fiber optic seems a little overkill but could be used for audio distribution.
 
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