How to Distribute Cable TV
Cable television is used in millions of homes. Noted for increased programming options and more consistent picture quality over conventional television antennas in most cases, cable TV signals are frequently routed throughout the home. If this is the case in your household, certain procedures should be followed to ensure maximum picture quality at every set.
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Things You'll Need
- Active or passive splitters
- RG-6 terminated coaxial cable
- Drill
- 1/2 inch diameter flexible drill bit
- Standard screwdriver
- Fiberglass fish tape
- Electrical tape
Instructions
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1
Locate the incoming cable feed from your cable television provider. This is normally in the basement or lowest level in most structures.
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2
Determine the quantity of televisions and computers (if cable broadband service is used) that will share the incoming cable feed. If any of the feeds exceed 200 feet, use an amplified or powered splitter.
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3
Screw the incoming cable feed into the "RF IN" threaded coaxial leg on the amplified or standard unamplified splitter. Screw each device's cable feed to the splitter's "RF OUT" threaded legs.
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4
Locate the coaxial cable's jack in each room above the basement or lower level where the cable feed comes into the structure. Remove the plate from the wall using a standard screwdriver.
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5
Drill down through the hole in the wall formerly concealed by the cover plate with the 1/2 inch diameter drill bit. Use a drill bit of sufficient length to punch through the footer stud under the coaxial plate, until it penetrates into the basement.
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6
Slide the fiberglass rod through the cable jack's hole, through the footer and into the basement. Secure the cable to the end of the rod with electrical tape.
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7
Tape the corresponding coaxial cable to the rod in the basement. Slowly and carefully retract the rod and coaxial cable through the hole in the footer.
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8
Remove the tape from the end of the rod. Screw the coaxial cable to the back of the coax jack. Screw the plate to the wall. Repeat the process for every jack that requires installation.
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Tips & Warnings
Never stack splitters. This process involves adding splits after the first. Remember that each split removes 3 decibels of signal from the original feed. Stacking splitters is additive. Once you reach 12-18 decibels of loss, in many cases the picture is not recognized by the tuner or cable box.
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
