Future-proofing cables which are under the floor... what should I add?

mayflower232 · 07-12-2010, 12:33

I have recently taken the decision to re-decorate my bedroom and this includes the laying of a new floor. As a result I have access to the void below my floor in which to lay cables. The main permanent connection I want to make is that between my HDTV and my iMac, as well as removing the V HD Box and DVD player away from the TV as to have it properly wall mounted/floating. While the floor is up I want to future-proof and therefore I would like some advice on what cables you would recommend laying.
Im thinking along the lines of a USB 3.0 and HDMI, but does HDMI remove the need for any separate sound cables, as I am just thinking future wise if I was to set up surround sound whether it would plug into the V HD Box or a separate cable from the TV?

Help would be really appreciated,
Mayflower232

ceedee · 07-12-2010, 14:05

I'd just lay a length of nylon rope (or steel wire, if you're worried about rodents!) now so that I'll be able to pull any cable through whenever I upgrade my setup in the future.

mayflower232 · 07-12-2010, 14:43

Out of interest, I also have a VM cable coming through the wall at the other end of the room. I quite fancy moving this to the other side closer to the TV. While the floor is up it would be handy to hide the cable under it. Is there a way I can get this done for free or is it a matter of charging for some form of installation? Its only a 6 meter run and the re-mounting of the wall box.

progers · 07-12-2010, 15:21

Like ceedee's idea, I'd lay say three lengths of plastic conduit but separated, with pull cords so you could add in extra services as required seperated to avoid interference

MovedGoalPosts · 07-12-2010, 15:47

With most leads like HDMI being ready made, you'd need to ensure your conduit is a good diameter.

The VM cable feed would only get altered, relocated, extended by VM if you pay a fee. No other reason for them to come to site to do that. You could do your own cable extension, but that is not recommended as get it wrong and you'll affect your service quality and you do need a proper cable quality wring , not just any old aerial co-axial.

The biggest issue is technology keeps moving on. 5 years ago few of us would have heard of HDMI. Chances are a cable you install now would be redundant in a few years time. So how future proof are you seeking to be?

mayflower232 · 07-12-2010, 16:16

I think it looks like HDMI and USB 3.0 are going to be the ones along with some pull through wire as suggested. To save me paying virgin to move the VM cable, what is the name of the cable type as I feel pretty trusting of myself to do a decent job. I hear you can get it from Argos?

damien c · 08-12-2010, 09:26

The cable that they use is RG6 internal which is White in colour or Black for external use which would, be your best bet seeing as it is going under the floor.

You would then need some RG6 F's and a Compression tool for crimping the connector's on to the end of the cable, but you would also need a cable stripper that will allow for 2 different cut's in the cable 1 to remove the outer cover, and then another to remove some of the coax material on the inside allowing for a stinger to be created, using the copper in the middle of the coax cable.

As for laying the cable's you should lay a USB 3.0, HDMI or 2 dependent on how many you need or may need, then I would also lay a Optical sound cable for connecting to a Surround sound speaker setup if you ever did one and also a Ethernet cable or 2 incase you need them for a future TV or game's console etc.

mayflower232 · 08-12-2010, 17:03

In terms of surround sound, if I lay an optical TOSlink to the area I may in the future place an amp, what cable do I need to lay from the amp to the speaker positions? Is it phono, digital or that thin red and black cable?

Thanks for all the help so far guys

**Chris** · 08-12-2010, 17:11

Regarding the VM coaxial cable - don't waste your money on RG6, f-plugs and a crimper. Satellite-grade coax with moulded f-plugs on either end will do the trick nicely and will save you the time and expense of crimping yourself.

However, to reiterate Rob's warning, be careful if you are doing DIY on your VM cabling. It is possible to mess the service up by changing your cable length, using substandard cable or not attaching the f-plugs correctly.

damien c · 09-12-2010, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Regarding the VM coaxial cable - don't waste your money on RG6, f-plugs and a crimper. Satellite-grade coax with moulded f-plugs on either end will do the trick nicely and will save you the time and expense of crimping yourself.

However, to reiterate Rob's warning, be careful if you are doing DIY on your VM cabling. It is possible to mess the service up by changing your cable length, using substandard cable or not attaching the f-plugs correctly.

To be honest what you said is wrong, sorry to say as a Ex-Installer for the Virgin Tv and Broadband you do need to use RG6 and the Crimping tool's for the F connector's.

The reason is that the Sky cable will cause issue's with the signal noise on the cable that is required, the Sky type cable and normal Aerial cable is substandard for Virgin service's, and if you use it and have a fault and a engineer come's out and determine's that the fault lies, with the cable then you will have to pay for a new cable etc as far as I am aware.

The reason that Virgin would rather have you phone them and arrange a engineer to fit a new point, is because of the cable aswell as the Attenuator's or Simulator's that could be required.

Not only as what I have said above but, the connector's are also of a higher quality aswell and, the cable has more to it than just a simple stinger it has the coax core aswell as the metal braiding around the outside of the coax which also transfer's, info etc and the Sky cable is just not good enough to do it.

I know this because I bought a Monster Power Center and it came with some cable's, with F's on the end and I tried them and they were dropping the level's on the box but as soon as I put the normal RG6 cable back on it the level were fine again and no longer, had any stuttering or issue's when watching film's or using the broadband.

Hence why I never tell people to do the cable extension's themselve's unless they can get hold of the RG6 and connector's, the cable is not that expensive I think it is about Â£50 for about 200m and the F's are about Â£10 for a pack of 50, the Cable Stripper Tool is about Â£20 and the Crimper is about Â£35, not to expensive really considering that will allow you to make potentially 25 cable's.

As for the speaker cable it would be just normal audio speaker cable, but I would invest in some decent cable for a crisper sound quality.

The optical cable would just be a normal Toslink cable, so that is fine speaker cable is as above.

mayflower232 · 09-12-2010, 10:47

So regarding speaker cable would it be right of me to install some of these around the room?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Speaker-Cable-...item5884786950

Or should it be these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SPEAKER-WALL-O...item51966c29c2

In terms VM cable I was thinking... we have a V+ box in the lounge and two VHD boxes. Would I be able to ring up and cancel the box in the room being re-wired and then ring up a few days after and request the VHD box as a new order, meaning that it would be down on their system as a fresh re-install. I could then get them to install the cable where I need it.

What is VMs policy if you want the service in a new room? Surely if I was to say I wanted to move VM to a new room and they decided to charge I could just threaten to end and then re-instate the box as a new order?

Also is installation free for a customer such as myself who has 50MB, V+ HD, VHD X 2 and a home phone with them?

**Chris** · 09-12-2010, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by damien c

I know this because I bought a Monster Power Center and it came with some cable's, with F's on the end and I tried them and they were dropping the level's on the box but as soon as I put the normal RG6 cable back on it the level were fine again and no longer, had any stuttering or issue's when watching film's or using the broadband.

My understanding is that any change to the cable will change the signal levels (hence why VM installers come armed with attenuators etc.) However, surely the change in signal level is only a problem if it shifts outside the normal operating range? It's quite possible a sat cable with moulded F-plugs would do the job without affecting the signal level badly enough to ruin the service. Certainly I think we have had plenty of people on this forum over the years who have used it without any problems.

Quote:

Hence why I never tell people to do the cable extension's themselve's unless they can get hold of the RG6 and connector's, the cable is not that expensive I think it is about Â£50 for about 200m and the F's are about Â£10 for a pack of 50, the Cable Stripper Tool is about Â£20 and the Crimper is about Â£35, not to expensive really considering that will allow you to make potentially 25 cable's.

Sorry, but that's really bad advice. Why would you recommend someone spend Â£115 buying kit to do a job a Virgin tech would do for, IIRC, about Â£90?

The OP doesn't need to do about 25 cables, he needs to do maybe 1 or 2.