How to Wire Cable TV
You’ve just found out that cable TV is going to become available in your area. The outside wires have been installed, and the cable company has shown you where the outside cable box will be located. Sure, they can install everything. But you want to run wire to specific places in the house so that you can locate your TVs, computers, and other electronic items that can benefit from the cable signals. So, you’re going to do the inside wiring yourself.
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Things You'll Need
- Coaxial cable (can be purchased at electronics stores, TV repair and service outlets, and other places)
- Cable connectors
- Cable splitters
- Something that will “strip” or trim cable wire coating
- Crimp tool (if using a “crimp” connector—See Step 3 and TIPS section).
- Screwdriver
Instructions
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How to Wire Cable TV
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1
Determine where you are going to want the TV(s), computer(s), and other electronic devices that will use the cable signal to be.
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2
Unroll the cable TV wire as you need it, and begin running the wire from where the electronic devices will be located back to where they will eventually be connected with the cable company’s equipment. (See tips for more information.)
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3
Install your connectors. Trim just enough wire from the cable to ensure that you will get a good connection, but do not remove the coating. Then, insert the stripped wire into the connectors. (See tips for more information.)
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4
Connect the connectors to the splitter(s) by simply screwing or “crimping” the connectors to the openings on the splitter(s). (See TIPS for more information.)
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5
Finish running the cable to the cable company’s equipment, and connect all cable wires to the cable company’s equipment.
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6
Turn on the TVs and other electronic devices; make sure they are receiving a good, strong signal. Make any adjustments you may need.
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1
Tips & Warnings
When running your cable wire, try to keep it as straight as possible. If it must go around a corner or over a doorsill or under furniture or carpeting, make sure it will not be crimped or have a “hard” bend in the wire. This can cause you to have poor cable reception.
Try to drill as few holes in walls, floors, or ceilings as possible. Make sure you know where you need to drill the holes before you start drilling; otherwise, you may find yourself having to patch unnecessary and unsightly holes.
Some connectors are “screw-in” types; the wire is inserted into an opening, which then screws onto the connector; others are “crimp” connectors, requiring only that you push the wire into the connector until it is firmly seated, then “smush” the wiring with a crimp tool so that it will stay secure.
Try to buy a splitter that will hold several connectors, as each splitter used causes the signal to have to travel further to reach its destination. The fewer splits, the better the reception.
Do not make any modifications to cable service, including installing extra jacks or hooking up electronic devices, that will allow you to use cable service and signal without paying for it. This is not only unethical, it is illegal.
On that note, do not allow anyone else to do any of the things mentioned above in order to obtain or use cable service and signal without paying for it. Again, it is not only unethical, it is illegal, and both of you could get in trouble for it.
If you cause any damage to the cable company’s equipment while installing inside wiring, you may be responsible for any charges incurred when/if they have to come and make repairs. So, if you’re not sure of what you’re doing, you might just want to pay a little extra to have them do it for you.
