New House Install, Cable Modem ?'s

[soonerfann]

My wife and I are moving into a new house this week. It is of course pre-wired with RG-6 for cable, with a distribution box in the master closet. I plan on installing the PVR508 in the living room and 301 in the master bedroom. What are my options for installation. E* is giving me the free installation, so I'll be using their man. Will they hook into the dist. box that sends all of the coax to the rest of the house, or is it best to run all new coax so that the signal is only split 2 ways as opposed to 5 (5 outlets in entire house)?

My other concern is about a cable modem. I know this concern has been raised before, but I don't feel it was answered very well. Cox unfortunately will be my only choice for cable modem and they will need to install using coexisting wire in the house. Would it be best to run the satellite on 2 new RG-6 like I posed earlier? If not, how would they install if the E* guy already has tapped into the dist. box? Would the signals be allowed to coexist, or would they interfere?

The more I think about this, the more I say, run 2 new wires to to receivers and leave already existing wires to Cox. Am I right?

Thanks!

John
soonerfann@cox.net

[boba]

It sounds like you are going to do what you want no matter what the answers are so I suggest you talk to the installer when he gets there and make your decesions on his input. He is a "professional installer" and he will be there physically so he can see your situation. You will have to evaluate the suggestions based on your wallet and your desires.

[soonerfann]

Boba,

I needed suggestions, otherwise I would not have posted on here. What do you think?

John

[scooper]

The runs for your Dish receivers have to be unbroken (except by barrell connectors) from the dish down to your receivers. Your Dish installer should know this and run cable accordingly. IF possible (depending on how your existing cable is run), he MAY use some of your existing cable run.

As far as the cable modem is concerned - let the pro do the install for that as well - he'll probably run a dedicated run of coax only to the cable modem location.

See, soonerfann, the big problem with your post is that you provided insufficient information for us to make a "good" recommendation. It really depends on what exactly "cable ready" on your house really means.

[waydwolf]

    In the vast majority of instances, satellite and cable installers are totally mutually exclusive areas. The satellite guy is very unlikely to understand upstream, downstream, etc. while the cable guy is not likely to be familiar with transponders, the satellite frequency band, etc.

    As someone who does both, I have to strongly recommend that you have the Cox installer run a dedicated line for the modem and not attempt anything fancier than that. You could do a diplexor, but you could also make ice cream with a pit, straw, and metal shields like the ancient Romans did in the desert, but the question is, why do anything you don't really have to?

    I also STRONGLY recommend that YOU MAKE the satellite installer ground at the exact same place that Cox Cable does, if they do it right: metal power conduit at the outside meter, or cold water between the foundation and the water meter. DO NOT allow the satellite installer to install his own ground rod. ONLY licensed electricians may do that. Many satellite installers I know are still making the dumbass mistake of buying those four foot ground rods and installing them. It can screw up your household electrical system, cause shock, fire, death. Following electrical codes is not an option, it is a moral imperative.