CATV/Antenna/SAT

[broconne]

I posted this over in wiring closet, but then realized it probably belongs over here, so sorry for the double post.

I am trying to figure out what to have ready for move in and still a bit unclear on what I need/should have for TV distribution here. I am also trying to lay out what goes in which can and how much space to leave so I can figure out what size cans to buy. I want to go with the can approach instead of the plywood approach.

For telephone, I snagged some OnQ stuff from ebay - so I think I am set there.

Here are my requirements for CATV/Antenna/SAT

Here are my requirements.

Cable TV
(1) On move-in support 2 Series 3 TiVos and one Cable modem.
(2) In the future support 1 or 2 cable boxes for Sage.
-- Can I do that with a 1x6 Passive Video Module? It doesn't mention CATV only satellite. Do I want 2Ghz? Do I need to pair it with a video engine? Or a bi-directional amp? What is the difference?

Antenna -- to be placed in the attic
(1) Future support for an HDHomeRun for Sage
(2) Potential to distribute HDTV directly to some TVs.
-- I know I can put the HDHR next to the antenna - but I would prefer to keep all that stuff in the basement. Do I just duplicate the setup I have for CATV?

Satellite
(1) Future support for two R5000 Dish boxes for sage.
-- I really have no idea here.. Do I need a multiswitch? Or do I just need the same splitter setup I have for Antenna/CATV?

Security
(1) Hopefully I can distribute this via sage in someway...

 

[AceCannon]

OTA HD antenna needs one RG6 run to the central area. I ran an rg6 to the attic in case I ever needed this. Also would be potentially good for sat radio.

DirecTv ( I assume Dish is the same) - for my setup I needed 4 runs of rg6 from the dish location to the central closet where the multiswitch was then mounted. The four runs feed the multiswitch which then has up to 8 outputs. I ran a 5th rg6 from the roof for a potential future OTA antenna just in case.

Security - I ran a single run of cat5e to each security camera location and plan to use baluns for signal and power (or IP cams, obviously)

 

[broconne]

OTA HD antenna needs one RG6 run to the central area. I ran an rg6 to the attic in case I ever needed this. Also would be potentially good for sat radio.

That is my plan too. What are you going to hook that up to for distribution?

DirecTv ( I assume Dish is the same) - for my setup I needed 4 runs of rg6 from the dish location to the central closet where the multiswitch was then mounted. The four runs feed the multiswitch which then has up to 8 outputs. I ran a 5th rg6 from the roof for a potential future OTA antenna just in case.

Which multi-switch did you choose?

Security - I ran a single run of cat5e to each security camera location and plan to use baluns for signal and power (or IP cams, obviously)

Same here on the wiring. What are you going to use to distribute and view that?

 

[DavidL]

There is also a newer multiswitch for DirecTV that also has an OTA feed. The switch mounts at the antenna(s) and a single cable goes to a splitter near the receivers. Note that only newer receivers can use the single wire mode. Older receivers require two more cable feeds coming from the switch.

I think the model is smm-8 or swm-8 or something like that....

 

[AceCannon]

OTA HD antenna needs one RG6 run to the central area. I ran an rg6 to the attic in case I ever needed this. Also would be potentially good for sat radio.

That is my plan too. What are you going to hook that up to for distribution?

I have no need for OTA signal as of now since all my HD locals are via DirecTv. If I was planning to use it, I would split the RF signal with a regular coax splitter in the closet since all my tuners are in the rack.

Which multi-switch did you choose?

Whichever one the DirecTv dude screwed into my plywood. I can check when I get home, but I presume it isn't one of the new "SWM" switches since those supposedly can supply two tuners with one rg6 run (assuming compatible tuners). But I did not care since the multiswitch is in the closet with the rack, hence all the tuners. The 4 rg6 runs from the roof populate the multiswitch. There are 8 outputs from the multiswitch to feed 8 tuners (most DVR's have two tuners, of course). I can say that this multiswitch must be newer than the one in my old house because the new one does not require external power.

Security - I ran a single run of cat5e to each security camera location and plan to use baluns for signal and power (or IP cams, obviously)

Same here on the wiring. What are you going to use to distribute and view that?

Not sure yet. It falls low on my current priority list. I've punched down all the cat5e runs onto a 96-port patch panel (Monoprice) in the central closet (along with all the other cat5e runs in the house). I could somehow get the cams converted into component video and feed through the Extron matrix switch. Or I could feed all the baluns into a standalone cctv DVR or PC cctv video card, then view over the LAN on touchscreens and PC's (more likely, esp given the internet ability).

 

[broconne]

For standard CATV Distribution
Does anyone use the onQ 1x6 Passive Video Module I linked in the first post? For cable (internet and digital(sdv)) is 1ghz Ok? Or do I need a 2Ghz distributor? Is a passive module usually fine or do people need to couple those with video engines or other amplifiers?

Is 1 Ghz fine for Antenna?

 

[royalj7]

Broconne,

I've used a good bit of Onq's stuff, but never anything larger than 1x2 that's passive, I actually prefer Leviton's splitters when I have a Leviton/CV can. For Qnq, I would use the 2x6 amplified module, 363468-02 part number. It's 2ghz and unity gain which means there is no loss from the incoming signal. Another way to do it if you have the space is using a single port amplifier, like the 364523-01, and then feed a passive splitter, like the one you mentioned. Does the same thing but takes up more space and a one more connection point. I would go with 2ghz because some digital cable systems (I don't have satilite some I'm not sure about them) have some of their more advanced features like VOD on frequencies higher than 950mhz (about what a 1 ghz splitter goes up to).

 

[broconne]

Broconne,

I've used a good bit of Onq's stuff, but never anything larger than 1x2 that's passive, I actually prefer Leviton's splitters when I have a Leviton/CV can. For Qnq, I would use the 2x6 amplified module, 363468-02 part number. It's 2ghz and unity gain which means there is no loss from the incoming signal. Another way to do it if you have the space is using a single port amplifier, like the 364523-01, and then feed a passive splitter, like the one you mentioned. Does the same thing but takes up more space and a one more connection point. I would go with 2ghz because some digital cable systems (I don't have satilite some I'm not sure about them) have some of their more advanced features like VOD on frequencies higher than 950mhz (about what a 1 ghz splitter goes up to).

I had been looking at OnQ just because I bought the telephone distribution stuff from eBay already. However, I only spent about $25 on it - so it isn't like I am exactly locked down into OnQ. I could just dump the telephone stuff and switch over to Channel Vision and Leviton. Which Leviton/CV would you recommend for CATV distribution? Likewise for Antenna and Sat? Does the channel vision C-0437 telephone distribution support security system seizing the phone line? From the pictures I don't see a separate security port.

 

[sic0048]

You can also mix and match manufactures when it comes to structured wiring products - at least different systems. In other words, if you want to use OnQ for your telephone structured wiring devices and Channel Vision for your RG-6 distribution and Leviton for your network distribution, etc that isn't a problem. You might not want to use two different manufactures for the same system (ie telephone, cable, network, etc) - at least not without checking to make sure they would work together. But the truth is that these structured wiring products aren't exactly rocket science. It's just that they are designed for ease of use more than anything else.

 

[broconne]

You can also mix and match manufactures when it comes to structured wiring products - at least different systems. In other words, if you want to use OnQ for your telephone structured wiring devices and Channel Vision for your RG-6 distribution and Leviton for your network distribution, etc that isn't a problem. You might not want to use two different manufactures for the same system (ie telephone, cable, network, etc) - at least not without checking to make sure they would work together. But the truth is that these structured wiring products aren't exactly rocket science. It's just that they are designed for ease of use more than anything else.

I guess it is more of an enclosure issue. I didn't think the onQ stuff fit into an enclosure besides onQ.. Or at least not without some serious effort.

 

[sic0048]

Your right, not all manufactures use the same hole layout for their panels. But there are a couple that work together (I just cannot think of them right off hand). Even if the devices don't fit, you can either drill a new hole in the can to make it work or mount the device on a mounting bracket so that it will fit.

Either scenerio is pretty easy to make work IMHO.

 

[dutchyn]

One thing I considered when wiring the attic was how to penetrate the wires through the roofing. I selected the CommDeck product, replaceing a couple of attic vents with their roof mounts. I recently added microwave internet, and it was trivial: all the RG6 terminate at a block just inside the CommDeck opening -- I added the antenna without compromising my roofing/building envelope, and without entering the attic.

 

[felixrosbergen]

In my opinion your best bet is a CV enclosure.

A CV enclosure will take CV module and Leviton modules without any drilling needed. Your typical ELK security mounting plates and such all work fine as well. The CV enclosure will not take CV modules without modification.

A Leviton enclusre needs some extra holes drilled for CV modules and needs significant holes drilled for OnQ modules.

An OnQ enclosure will only take OnQ stuff as far as i know.

I own a 42" Leviton and don't own OnQ and CV, but I do have all 3 types of modules in my enclsure and make the above conclusions from examining the pin spacing and pin shape/size.

The CV phone distro module you show looks to be to support line seizing. I have http://www.audio-discounters.com/c-0432.html but i think you already have you phone punched down somewhere and want to patch it do a distro right?

 

[broconne]

In my opinion your best bet is a CV enclosure.

A CV enclosure will take CV module and Leviton modules without any drilling needed. Your typical ELK security mounting plates and such all work fine as well. The CV enclosure will not take CV modules without modification.

A Leviton enclusre needs some extra holes drilled for CV modules and needs significant holes drilled for OnQ modules.

An OnQ enclosure will only take OnQ stuff as far as i know.

I own a 42" Leviton and don't own OnQ and CV, but I do have all 3 types of modules in my enclsure and make the above conclusions from examining the pin spacing and pin shape/size.

The CV phone distro module you show looks to be to support line seizing. I have http://www.audio-discounters.com/c-0432.html but i think you already have you phone punched down somewhere and want to patch it do a distro right?

I assume you meant above that a CV enclosure will not take OnQ modules without modification.

Nope, I was linked to the wrong thing. So I would need to get the Channel Vision C-0432 1 In / 8 Out 110/RJ45 Telecom Distribution Module instead of what I linked to. Does the one you have support line seizing?

 

[pete_c]

I wired for CATV/OTA/Satellite. I put an antenna in the attic. We use DTV/Tivos (a couple in the house). Cable for internet but still use it for some TV's.

Kind of over did it a bit with the RG6. Home run went to adjacent wood panel to Leviton 42" cabinet.

IE: wife is addicted to her Tivo. The unit is in the family room but "broadcast" into the kitchens two LCD's / Laundry room LCD.