How many coax cables to run

[Mayhem Muppets]

Building a new house and the guys installing the cable were in today. I told them I wanted two coax cables ran to every television box, I got to thinking should I have them run anymore? Not sure what I will do in the future or how I would use the boxes.

[kucharsk]

Building a new house and the guys installing the cable were in today. I told them I wanted two coax cables ran to every television box, I got to thinking should I have them run anymore? Not sure what I will do in the future or how I would use the boxes.

People in other threads have said if you're building you might as well have four runs of RG-6 and four runs of Cat 6 UTP run to each room to "future-proof" things as much as possible.

Two of each should be considered the bare minimum.

Example - say you want an antenna connection and a DISH connection in the same room, but you also want high speed internet from your local cable company and want the cable modem in the room. That's three runs of coax right there.

[scooper]

And all of it should be "home-runned" to a closet with power as well. Well labeled as well (what's the good of having them when you don't know which is which ?)

[flatus]

Well labeled as well (what's the good of having them when you don't know which is which ?)

Yes. If need be, go buy the contractor a label maker.

[coldsteel]

And, if possible, use 2" conduit or PVC pipe to enclose the cables.

[Mayhem Muppets]

Can I ask why 4 runs of cat6 to each box.
I'm actually planning on doing 4 runs of cat6 to each television in case I decide to do a hdmi switch later...
Was planning on keeping the equipment local initially.

[scooper]

Can I ask why 4 runs of cat6 to each box.
I'm actually planning on doing 4 runs of cat6 to each television in case I decide to do a hdmi switch later...
Was planning on keeping the equipment local initially.

More like 4 runs of cat 6 to each room - two on one wall and two on another. But all 4 to one location works also. In any event - NOW (during construction) is the best time to get this done, so go to town...

[Mayhem Muppets]

Sorry I meant why 4 coax to each television?

[scooper]

Sorry I meant why 4 coax to each television?

No -4 coax to each ROOM - 2 on 1 wall, 2 on another (alternate location)

This way - 1 coax for DBS /cable, 1 for distribution.

[BattleZone]

What scooper is saying is that you may need to move things around in the future, and if you at least have 2 full sets of outlets in the major rooms, that will be much, much easier to do.

Also, try to figure out any media-heavy locations and put extra stuff there.

[Mayhem Muppets]

Would you ever need more than two coax at one location?
I have two tv jacks in almost every room each with 2 coax cables (4 per room). Is that good? A friend of mine said he wishes he had 4 coax to his main television so he could watch a show and record another. Won't most of the DVRs let you do that with just one single line?

[scooper]

With 2 coax at each location where you might put a TV - you're good. Just complement it with the Cat 5 / 5E / 6 UTP and you will be golden !

[4HiMarks]

Don't forget speaker wire for surround sound setups, too.

[NightTimeHD]

Don't forget speaker wire for surround sound setups, too.

And Cat-6/Cat-5 for Ethernet. :)

Just about everything electronic is now connecting to the net but definitely television related components.