OT(?) Coax wiring extensions

[elniniol999]

looking at putting new coax sockets into the bedrooms in my flat.

I assume the way to do this is to get a booster box and plug in the main coax and then just reroute coax from the booster to the faceplates around the flat yea?

couple of questions tho, im doing this primarily for terrestrial signals rather than satellite so im just wondering which tpe of connectors to use - screw type ones like for sat or plug in type like for crappy old aerial? if i was to use screw type ones is it just a case of changing the connector on my patch coax to plug into the tv? or are these cables completely diff in design??

so after choosing the type of coax, i need to decide whether to do the wiring the hard but tidy way or the easy but scrappy way - do i use conduit on the wall above skirting or do i start cutting holes??

i have plasterboard all the way so im just wondering how easy in theory it is to run the cabliong behind the plasterboard then feed it through holes in each rooms wall?? is this particularly difficult? any suggestions on the best way to do it?

oh and one last thing, anyone got any god ideas as to where to hide the booster box? as its going to have to be in my living room i think... im thinking the only option is to consruct a small box for it and leave it in the corner...


cheers for any suggestions

[BGonaSTICK]

OK, first off, I have to say that I don't know much about terrestrial over and above the basic stuff.

You certainly can't do any of what you suggest with satellite cables and signals, i.e. booster boxes and splitters etc. Satellite distribution is a bit more fiddly.

The coaxial cable itself can be identical. Get a good quality double-screened digital cable like CT100. It'll do all this kind of cabling.

You can also freely interchange the connectors and even buy converters, so fill your boots with whatever you fancy.

Personally, I'd keep it simple and standard.

As far as the decision as to whether to carve your flat up or run some trunking etc. that's really down to how much time you have, how good your redecorating skills are and how fussy you are on the look of the thing when it's finished.

With most internal plasterboard walls it's possible to drop a cable down inside them from the loft, and fish it out at the bottom via a small hole, but this can actually be more frustrating than fishing for real fish!

Finally, it's quite common to have any booster/splitter boxes in the loft space. Failing that, maybe you have a cupboard or something you could use?

Have you considered the use of a digisender?

A good one could be £80, so while it's not cheap, it's very easy!

STICK

[elniniol999]

i knew satellite distribution was a bit more complicated than that.. prob shouldve said that! oh welll

dont really wanna go down the digital sender route because im wanting a wired ethernet connection to each room too so one way or another ill be running cables.

being in a 1st floor flat i dont have a loft space - really got behind the walls and thats about it i think. im not bothered about cutting holes in the walls. just concerned at how difficult it may be to feed the coax 10m behind plasterboard and manage to find it again.

anyone think of any tools that might be able to hepl me do this?? and any sites that have good value booster/spliiters?

ta

[BGonaSTICK]

Get behind the walls then

As for tools, I've done it a few times with no more than a bent coat hanger and a stud/cable finder

I usually put an inch diameter hole every few feet to track its progress. Pollyfilla is cheap 8)

Vertical drops are much easier than trying to feed it horizontally.

[elniniol999]

dont think i have a 10m hanger lol... is there any tools that act like a 10m hanger?

[BGonaSTICK]

That's why you make a hole every few feet to see where the cable's at

What about taking the skirting board off and running it behind that, or introducing a nice new plastic 'dado' rail?

Seriously, there are some pretty good trunking/'raceway' products on the market these days designed to imitate cornices/coving/skirting/architrave etc.

Also try searching for 'fishing chain' 'pull cord' and 'pull string' WRT cabling. These are the tools that cable retrofitters use.

Good luck. It's a tough job!