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How to Install Cable TV in Your Home

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Installing a new cable TV line is affordable, fast, and easy! Cable companies can come and install your cable TV at a fee or you can save money and install it on your own. You'll only require a few tools and parts, and the rest is just running cables. If you're the do-it-yourself type, you'll need to invest in these tools. The tools and connectors will come in handy when you want to repair or install new TV lines in the future. The key is to evaluate your current signal location and plan how you will reach your new location with the new line. Here are detailed steps on how you can install cable TV in your home.

Map out the route

You need to sketch the route that the cable line will take. It should start from the junction box and end where you'll connect your digital cable TV box. In doing so, you'll be able to calculate the amount of cable you'll require for the entire route.

Buy the correct cable

Cheap cables for low-income earners are available that fit the required bandwidth. RG6 is the standard coaxial cable for delivering cable TV or satellite TV signals to television sets. It can run above and below the ground to the outlet where you plug your TV into. This coaxial cable is preferred due to its high bandwidth capability for handling video. Its strong durable long lasting design makes it easy to install and simple to terminate.

Connect the coaxial cable to the junction box

The junction box or distribution point is often located on a "pedestal" emerging from the ground or an overhead utility cable near the area where your cable is to be connected. However, it's important to note that you require permission from the cable company to connect any cable to their distribution point. Cable TV rates comparison is essential before subscribing to any.

Run the coaxial cable to the house's entry point

You can run the cable to the entry point of the house in two different ways. You can run it above ground using a unique aerial cable featuring a molded suspension wire. Screw a couple of hooks on the exposed rafters so that the wire on the aerial cable can be looped and fastened. Preferentially, you could run the coaxial cable underground to its point of entry into the house. If you choose the latter, you need to run it through cable protectors such as PVC piping to prevent it from any physical damage.

Put up your grounding box

Put a grounding spike into the ground near the coaxial cable's point of entry into the house. Tighten a 12-gauge grounding wire to the spike on one end and to a coaxial cable grounding block. This grounds the coaxial shield and diverts lighting strikes. Strip the insulation layers off the coaxial cable while ensuring no loose wires are poking out and connect it to one tap of the grounding block.

Drilling holes in the house

Find any studs in the wall along the route you've chosen to pass the cable line. Drill holes into the wall or floor depending on where you want to pass the coaxial cable. Ensure that you seal the hole after passing the cable with a cable faceplate.

Run cables through the walls using a fish tape

Fish tape helps you pull the cable through walls without having to cause any damage onto the wall. After tying an end of the fish tape to one end of the cable, start pulling the cable through the walls till you reach your digital cable tv box.

Secure the cable onto the wall

Use cable staples to fasten the cable onto the wall. Don't staple them at even intervals as this may lead to double-image. This is because when the cables are stapled, the foam jacket inside tends to get slightly squashed affecting the signal strength.

Connect to the cable box

After running the cable to the television set, follow the instructions of the cable box or modem to carry out the initial configuration. An RF signal meter is perfect for ensuring that enough signal is being transmitted through the cable. Ensure that the cable is kept gradual and hasn't bent especially around corners as it may lead to signal degradation.