I have a 1300sqft basement garage with unfinished ceiling. There is a bunch of coax cable hanging down together with cables for the phone jacks in every bedroom and kitchen. I've always hated them looking unsightly. We don't have cable tv and the phone jacks have not been used for probably decades. I'm finally going through the upstairs and renovating each room. Is there any need for phone lines these days? We are in the suburbs and everyone I know just has cellphones. The phone jacks look unsightly coming out above the kitchen counters where I'm about to tile. Is it reasonable to remove the phone lines? The coaxial cable comes out through holes drilled in the floor. I pushed them below the subfloor and laid a floating LVP floor over the holes. I could drill at a later date and push them back through however is coaxial cable also going the way of the dinosaur? Everything we use now is wireless. I'm keeping the data line to the wireless router of course.
Phone lines and coaxial cable- outdated?
- Thread starter s14kev
- Start date
Bigbandguy
Well-known member
You are more likely to need the coax than the phone lines. Those do tend to be going by the wayside as wireless setups linked to one base are common even when landlines are still used. They also now make wireless setups that link via bluetooth to your cell phone. Either way phone wires gone.
Not as sure that wifi will completely take the place of coax for cable...probably happen eventually but in some situations the wire is more reliable. YMMV .
Not as sure that wifi will completely take the place of coax for cable...probably happen eventually but in some situations the wire is more reliable. YMMV .
RWorth
Well-known member
Telephone is definitely history, and if you've already pushed the coax threw the floor I'd scrap that as well. Not that hard to put it back in if you need it.
The coax, I would leave.
The phone lines would be gone in my book except for maybe one central jack. I believe with the newer transition of 911, even if you don't have phone service (but still hooked in) you can still dial 911 if you have an emergency. I'd have to ask the wife about that to be sure.
The phone lines would be gone in my book except for maybe one central jack. I believe with the newer transition of 911, even if you don't have phone service (but still hooked in) you can still dial 911 if you have an emergency. I'd have to ask the wife about that to be sure.
aandpdan
Well-known member
It depends on the coax.
If it's RG-59 dump it. It's not good for anything but OTA tv/fm and it's not great at that.
RG-6 quad shield, that's a keeper.
If it's RG-59 dump it. It's not good for anything but OTA tv/fm and it's not great at that.
RG-6 quad shield, that's a keeper.
At my house, I trashed all but two of the land-line runs. The two that remain are connected to a magicJack. It's only like $30 a year, and a "real" phone is more comfortable to use than a cell phone if you have a long phone call to make.
The coax- around here Spectrum TV has a Roku app that has a better picture (in my opinion) than their cable box. Plus, you have to RENT their cable boxes. So I get a better picture with the Roku, it connects wirelessly, and I don't have to rent it? Done deal. I haven't cut out the coax, but I don't plan on ever needing to run any more of it, since I use wireless Rokus.
The coax- around here Spectrum TV has a Roku app that has a better picture (in my opinion) than their cable box. Plus, you have to RENT their cable boxes. So I get a better picture with the Roku, it connects wirelessly, and I don't have to rent it? Done deal. I haven't cut out the coax, but I don't plan on ever needing to run any more of it, since I use wireless Rokus.
A**holes Garage
Banned
Cat 6
TheSt|G
Well-known member
Coax can be converted to ethernet via adapters, so it can be pretty useful in old houses where it is prewired with coax.
http://www.mocainyourhouse.com/moca-products
http://www.mocainyourhouse.com/moca-products
on our new house built in 9/17, I had RG6 coax and Cat6 network pulled strategically into every room. When the electricians came back to do plates they used Telephone jacks... I made them come back out and remove those and give me the Keystones and did the punch down myself... I asked them who even has a land line these days and needs telephone jacks thought their house? I can see one if you have DSL but in every room? They said people ask for them. I told them did it not clue them in that they were using CAT6 cable for a telephone jack? Clueless...
Hub
Hub
I'm running Cat for a phone system. I work from home more and more and need business lines w/ extensions. Door phones etc. Not every room -- but wireless and cell is not a good option for professional phones.
Jon_E
Well-known member
I wired my house (ca. 2005) with coax in strategic locations, anticipating cable which never materialized. I use none of it. I also put phone jacks all over the place. We still have a landline but all the handsets are cordless so only one jack gets used. Cell phone reception at my house is spotty and I have not investigated getting any sort of booster or antenna for cell phones. Plus my youngest kids don't have cell phones so they use the landline. I also have Cat 5 data wiring in a few locations but only one computer uses a wall jack and everything else is wifi. Fifteen years ago while planning the house, I really never thought about other devices such as TV and game consoles using data jacks.
If I were to do it all over again, I'd wire one phone jack in a central location, skip the coax and run data lines (Cat 6) all over the house. It's nice to plug the TV into the data jack instead of depending on wifi for a connection.
If I were to do it all over again, I'd wire one phone jack in a central location, skip the coax and run data lines (Cat 6) all over the house. It's nice to plug the TV into the data jack instead of depending on wifi for a connection.
bczygan
Well-known member
Ripped it all out here.
Only coax is to the rooftop antenna for local TV.
Bill
Only coax is to the rooftop antenna for local TV.
Bill
highland_hunter
Well-known member
Ideally I would put Cat6 in as many locations as possible. Twofold is either you can use as phone, streaming to a network enabled television, and or simple ole' wired network connection. This comes in handy for "smart home" connections as well. I'm not a huge fan of wireless due to the many shortfalls in security for most people. My wifi network is a non-broadcast SSID and there is a separate guest network that does not have access to any devices on my "home" network.
As for coax, I would select strategic locations which can be used for cable, satellite, OTA local, FM, etc.
As for coax, I would select strategic locations which can be used for cable, satellite, OTA local, FM, etc.
We removed all of the phone wiring/jacks but one. The coax to each room is gone now too, with just a single line from the antenna to the TV.
We live in a more rural area and didn't have access to (or willingness to pay for) cable/satellite TV/internet bundles, otherwise we might've deleted it all. Everything seems to be trending towards wireless. Having wires that go unused in every room seems silly.
We live in a more rural area and didn't have access to (or willingness to pay for) cable/satellite TV/internet bundles, otherwise we might've deleted it all. Everything seems to be trending towards wireless. Having wires that go unused in every room seems silly.
nh_yota
Well-known member
Keystone jacks are the way to go. You can have multiple jacks (phone, ethernet, coax) within the same single gang plate, which is what is done in commercial installations.
Old 4-conductor phone wiring is obsolete and has been superseded by Cat6 cable which can carry analog phone service or digital ethernet.
I ripped out all of the old 4-conductor phone wiring out of my house and haven't replaced it with anything yet because I use cordless phones with a single base station that connects to my VoIP cable modem. I have a few home runs of RG6QS that all connect to the same amplified splitter in my basement near the service entrance.
If I were wiring a new house or renovating my house I think I'd go with a two Cat6 runs and one RG6QS run for each room because wire is cheap and you never know what you need.
Wireless has come a long way but hardwired is still the best connection for most equipment. My rule of thumb is that you hardware things that don't move and you use wireless for things that do. Wireless is great but it is still susceptible to interference and jamming, which is something you don't want for security/surveillance systems.
Old 4-conductor phone wiring is obsolete and has been superseded by Cat6 cable which can carry analog phone service or digital ethernet.
I ripped out all of the old 4-conductor phone wiring out of my house and haven't replaced it with anything yet because I use cordless phones with a single base station that connects to my VoIP cable modem. I have a few home runs of RG6QS that all connect to the same amplified splitter in my basement near the service entrance.
If I were wiring a new house or renovating my house I think I'd go with a two Cat6 runs and one RG6QS run for each room because wire is cheap and you never know what you need.
Wireless has come a long way but hardwired is still the best connection for most equipment. My rule of thumb is that you hardware things that don't move and you use wireless for things that do. Wireless is great but it is still susceptible to interference and jamming, which is something you don't want for security/surveillance systems.
Doug Arthurs
Well-known member
I run my business from home. The only cable I use is a ethernet from the router to the server in the basement. Everything else is cell phones and wireless tv included. One day I will get out the ladder and pull the ugly sat dish off the side of my house. If the next guy want it they can put it back.
unlvrebel
Active member
Coax only. If you need a landline it can come through coax (cable provider).
I am in the gut and rebuild process for a house my mom will live in. I am planning to run coax to each room in case she wants TV down the road. I may even set it up for a dish somewhere just so it is nice in the end.
I am also running Ethernet to the same areas as well as near the seating area in the living room just in case. It is easy to do when you have it open. If your house is easy to fish though some of it could be put in later and still end up nicely done.
When the house is open it is hard to get what you want where you want but not do to many well just because projects. lol
I am also running Ethernet to the same areas as well as near the seating area in the living room just in case. It is easy to do when you have it open. If your house is easy to fish though some of it could be put in later and still end up nicely done.
When the house is open it is hard to get what you want where you want but not do to many well just because projects. lol
kwschumm
Well-known member
Regarding phone lines, you may not need them but code probably still requires them.
nmk_61802
Well-known member
I'm old school. If I can put wires in I do, nothing beats their reliability. If going new, I would use Cat 5e or 6 and not phone line.
I do find that I am moving away from hard phone lines to cell phones and BT bases, but I still prefer wired network.
Full disclosure, I cut the cord and stream HD feeds thru my network to each TV and did not like the lag thru wireless.
I do find that I am moving away from hard phone lines to cell phones and BT bases, but I still prefer wired network.
Full disclosure, I cut the cord and stream HD feeds thru my network to each TV and did not like the lag thru wireless.
Augus7us
Well-known member
You could probably fix this by purchasing a new router. I have a single router covering 3 floors that provides enough bandwidth for multiple video games, streaming tvs and computers/phones. With kids all these things get lit up at once.
To the OP if you may sell your house in the near future I would probably keep both. There are more people than we think out there that do not use all the new tech. Especially in the rural areas.
I just bought my house last summer and started remodeling it. My pops brought this to my attention when I told him I was going to remove and mud over the old phone jacks. After talking to him I was having a conversation with my neighbor who's in his early 40's and he doesn't mess around with any tech or internet stuff. In a decade or two this will not be the case. While I doubt you'd lose 10's of thousands on a sell, it could be a factor if its a tough market and your buyer is old school and dead set on having a phone line.
Food for thought, considering everyone replying to this thread at least uses the internet
-Clint
Slednut
Well-known member
If you want G.fast you'll need them.
My house was built in 64. One of the first projects I completed when we moved in was removing all the phone jacks. The NID is still on the side of the house but the wiring is gone.
Second project I finished was RG6 & cat6 in every room. I don't remember if there was any 59 outlets, but there were a few jumpers mixed in with what was left over.
Still haven't pulled the satellite off the roof.
Second project I finished was RG6 & cat6 in every room. I don't remember if there was any 59 outlets, but there were a few jumpers mixed in with what was left over.
Still haven't pulled the satellite off the roof.
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
I have to have a hard line phone up here - we lose power too often, and my work requires it anyway... but that's about the only reason you need it, unless you have problems with VOIP service.
ford33
Well-known member
Cat 6 install. Remove old telephone lines. Cable remove if it is RG59.
nadogail
Well-known member
My alarm system provider requires a working landline telephone connection.
I carry a iPhone in my pocket.
I carry a iPhone in my pocket.
mobiledynamics
Well-known member
alarm talks over cell radio....
I Still keep a landline at home. Granted, it's coverted from Fiber. Maybe in time, cell tower capacity may be incredibly better, but in times of situations ~blackout, 9/11, etc~, cell towers were super maxed out where a landline still had bandwidth to make a phone call. I only keep one@home just because....
I Still keep a landline at home. Granted, it's coverted from Fiber. Maybe in time, cell tower capacity may be incredibly better, but in times of situations ~blackout, 9/11, etc~, cell towers were super maxed out where a landline still had bandwidth to make a phone call. I only keep one@home just because....
Stumble
Active member
Vonage VOIP phones are awesome, can be easily relayed to your cell phone, and even your computer. Then you can buy and one of a hundred wired or wireless headphones.My law firm made the switch to these things. while back and they are awesome.
I would absolutely drop coax into every room, and probably Cat-6 into every room. But a traditional phone line... Pass. Worse in the current housing market phone lines, or the wall plates really, actually are seen as a negative. They can reduce the value of a home on the market.
LifeLongWNYer
Well-known member
In my opinion, a hardline ( POTS to some ) is a necessity as far as telephone communications. # 1: fire/security alarm systems need it. Sure, an internet phone "works" but every time the cable goes down, so does your phone, and that means that your alarm panel can't get the message out, until the I-net is restored. Also, the cellular transmitters do work on most newer alarm panels, but in times of emergencies, when the cellular network is overloaded, your alarm panel may not get a dial tone for hours.
Also, the I-net phone lines need power, not only at your house, but at all those grey boxes on telephone poles between your house and the interface point.
I have no connection to the telephone industry, but a simple dial tone on a pair, is the most reliable utility that there is.
.
Also, the I-net phone lines need power, not only at your house, but at all those grey boxes on telephone poles between your house and the interface point.
I have no connection to the telephone industry, but a simple dial tone on a pair, is the most reliable utility that there is.
.
As I am remodeling each room in my home. I am running a 1.5" smurf tube down into the basement and label it. In each room it goes to a dbl gang box with a plain cover. Also using the smurf tubes for speaker wire runs, security camera runs.
Yea, got a ton of smurf tube at an auction. Gargamel must have killed and skinned an entire village.
Yea, got a ton of smurf tube at an auction. Gargamel must have killed and skinned an entire village.
Crazyjake8493
Well-known member
Coaxial cable isn't going anywhere, but I don't see much phone cable anymore. If you do need a landline, you can run multiple cordless phones off a single base station.
kwschumm
Well-known member
Well, as mentioned, if you prewire for network all of those cables can be phone lines if desired. So... two for one. The last house I built in 2000 had no phone lines but it did have 64 network drops. So with one patch cord a phone could be hooked to any of 64 locations in the house and shop.
(Yeah, 64 was overkill, but it was a nice setup!)
(Yeah, 64 was overkill, but it was a nice setup!)
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
s14kev, yep Cat 6..
We have both wireless and hardwired infrastructure..
It works well.
We have both wireless and hardwired infrastructure..
It works well.
laser3kw
Well-known member
if everyone in the suburbs jumped off a bridge would you also?
Use the existing telco wires to pull cat5e or cat 6. If you have "permanent" laptops or computers or even media streamers, you will have much better service via LAN vs Wifi.
I just switched my Firestick to LAN, stopped the buffering!
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
My situation as well. We live in a valley, and the closest cell phone tower is 1/2 mile away and above our grade. So we have to have a land line to go along with our cell phones.
My iPhone can use the calling over WIFI feature, but that doesn't always work either for some reason. It will drop calls or have a bad connection just like it does when using regular cell connections.
The cost for the land line phone hook up is dirt cheap because we have FiOS, and it is included in our triple play package.
So at least until they put a tower down here in the valley, I will keep the land line so I can talk to people and not have the connection get cut off all the time like the cell phone does.
Jim
larry4406
Well-known member
My 2000 sf ranch has an unfinished basement and was built in 1987.
I removed all of the old telephone and RG59 during renovation.
I have new RG6 quad shield from the roof antenna to TV, new cable to the Comcast gateway/router and family uses WiFi connection on all devices. Only older desktop and printer is Ethernet to the router.
Verizon NID is still outside with buried copper to it but we do not have a land line. All 4 of us in the house have our cell phones.
I removed all of the old telephone and RG59 during renovation.
I have new RG6 quad shield from the roof antenna to TV, new cable to the Comcast gateway/router and family uses WiFi connection on all devices. Only older desktop and printer is Ethernet to the router.
Verizon NID is still outside with buried copper to it but we do not have a land line. All 4 of us in the house have our cell phones.