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Doing renovations what kind of cable needed for tv and computer before walls completed??

I have cable tv and internet but want to add new cabling to an area under renovation and need to know the best type of cable to use before the walls are closed in. Thanks

Public Comments

1. You wanted cables that are rated "in wall installation." Just visit the link. They have VERY high quality cables at a VERY good price. They have anytype of cable you can imagine and just what you are looking for. http://www.monoprice.com
2. Run RG6 for cable or satellite (run dual RG6 for Satellite so you can hook up the two feeds for DVR), Cat 5 E for Ethernet computer and phone line to all rooms. You can buy in bulk from the Lowes and Home Depot
3. Randy: As a cable TV engineer for 30 years, and having been involved in spec'ing thousands of outlets, so I can tell you that your question is dead-on correct, but the answer might surprise you. Basically, you can plan for today and install cables that are correct now, or you can plan for the unknown tomorrow and be future-proof. Here's how: On each wall in each roof (including the kitchen!), install double-gang outlet rings. Screw (not nail) them into studs and cross-studs. Feed the rings down from the attic with straight 1" ID schedule 40 rigid conduits (conduits are often called sticks). The bottom of each stick should be fixed to a framing stud just above the level of the double gang rings. Fix each conduit several places going up to the attic. Each conduit should extend at least two feet above insulation layer in the attic. Once your cables (see below) are pulled through, and you've left an extra 1/8" poly line inside the conduit for future pulls), each stick end should be sealed with removable caulking (expanding foam, for example). From the attic, place a min. ID 2" schedule 40 riser down to a point inside your garage near the cable/telephone entry point. Again, after stuffing the wires AND a 1/8" poly line, seal the ends with removable foam. If you do these simple steps now, you'll 'future-proof' your home to permit the very easy installation of *any* type of future cables. You'll simply pull the new cables swap out the wall plate(s) to meet your particular location needs (don't forget to replace the 1/8" poly line each time you pull). Having said the important stuff, above (and having done this myself), I use RG-6 qual shield cables for cable TV; CAT 6 cables for data, and additional CAT 6 cables for telco (I use a different color sheaf [GRAY] for the telco CAT 6 cables compared with the data cables [BLUE]). Using a high quality "F" connector, the RG-6 cable terminates into an F-81 barrel connector going through the wall plate. The CAT 6 cables (2 per location, if you please), terminate in RJ-45 "101" type connectors in the wall plate using the "straight through" wiring configuration. The other CAT 6 cables for telco terminate into RJ-11 "101" type connectors (again, two per location). Identify each outlet with a consistent code (i.e., 09D01 for the first data outlet in room #9, 09D02 for the second, etc...09T01 for telco, etc.). The marking should be in permanent ink or adhesive cable tags. Both ends get tagged. Keep a map of the outlets by location and number (Excel is very good for this). I terminate all data and telephone cables into 19" rack outlets, RJ-45 for data, and RJ-11 for telco, to permit easy jumpering and outlet changes. Is all of this overkill? If you're planning on having a first-class installation that will be future-proof and easy to live with, then the answer is no. You'll find that the added cost of doing it right, how, is very little more than doing it wrong. You'll also find that buyers will appreciate your efforts, and that will help you recoup your cost when you sell your home. If you need to cut back on cost, then BY ALL MEANS keep the conduits in your plan, but eliminate the jumper panels. Just keep long enough cable tails so that you can add a panel later if you'd like. Good luck with your installation. Jonathan L. Kramer, Esq., FSCTE TelecomLawFirm.com