Watching television but not satisfied with its location? Installing a different path for your coaxial cable to run can allow you to enjoy television and increase your broadband experience to any other areas at home, but how does rerouting work? We have researched the right procedure that you need to know to start.
You can reroute a coaxial cable with simple tricks that allow you to do the job with a cleaner, finer, and more professional. To start rerouting, follow these steps:
- Determine how much coaxial cable you'll need.
- Use a suitable cable and splitter.
- Disconnect the original coaxial cable from your device.
- Run the coaxial line to the desired room.
- Twist the connectors onto both ends of each wire.
- Place the cable connectors' tips into the splitter's available output jacks.
If you still have more questions about how to reroute a coaxial cable, don't worry. In this guide, we will discuss the topic in greater detail. We'll also show you some excellent products to help you execute this job flawlessly. Keep reading to learn more.
Step-By-Step Guide
Relocating an existing coaxial cable in the house seems like a lot of work. The following steps may help you do the magic. You'll definitely want to check out the products below, which can help you get the job done with ease and finesse. Let’s get started!
1. Determine How Much Coaxial Cable You Will Need
The length of the required coaxial cable is determined by the distance between where you will reroute the existing one and your desired location. You can use a cable length meter cable tool to assess your required coaxial cable.
Click here to find the cable length meter tool on Amazon.
2. Use A Suitable Cable And Splitter
There are two kinds of coaxial cable: those with a 75 Ohm resistance and those with a 50 Ohm resistance. 75 Ohm cables are commonly used for video signals, whereas 50 Ohm cables are widely used for data and wireless communications.
A coaxial splitter is a little piece of electrical equipment intended to be connected to a coaxial cable and used to separate signals. Splitters are devices that allow multiple devices to be connected to a single coax line.
For illustration, you may have a cable Internet and television subscription, bundled in one plan, and you would like to connect a TV and a computer or laptop to the same coax line.
Every splitter includes a connector for connecting to the divided coax line and several ports for connecting other devices such as broadband, telephones, and television sets.
Coaxial splitters are available from various hardware and electronics retailers, and you may also order them directly from electronics manufacturers.
As a general rule, select a coaxial splitter with just enough ports for the specified application.
Click here to find this available splitter on Amazon.
3. Disconnect The Original Coaxial Cable From Your Device
Remove the coaxial cable and your device from the wall. If you're going to use a brand-new line, you should use cables that match the color of the ground plane. Move away from the wall and any objects that might get in your work.
4. Run The Coaxial Line To The Desired Room
The new coaxial cable should be installed in the intended new place by running it down the wall until it reaches the top of the baseboard. Be careful not to rip the socket out of the drywall as you pull the cord until none is left.
Place the first staple where the cable wire meets the baseboard with the Arrow staple gun and Arrow crown staples. Secure the staple and confirm that it does not puncture the coaxial cable.
Lastly, make sure there is enough space on both sides of the cable for the staple to go through and secure to the baseboard. Continue in this way until you reach the desired new location.
Click here to find the Arrow staple gun on Amazon.
Click here to find the Arrow crown staples on Amazon.
5. Twist The Connectors Onto Both Ends Of Each Wire
Once the coaxial cable is rerouted seamlessly, take the cable connectors, twist the coaxial connectors onto both ends of each wire until it is tight, and crimp it with a crimping tool.
Click here to find this crimping tool on Amazon.
6. Place The Cable Connectors' Tips Into The Splitter's Available Output Jacks
To provide a solid path for the signal, insert the cable connector's tip directly into the splitters' available output jacks. Most people tighten these connections with their fingers, but this is insufficient. Rather, use a 7/16-in. wrench, turn the nut an extra quarter turn to tighten the connection.
Click here to find this wrench on Amazon.
How Much Does It Cost To Reroute A Coaxial Cable?
Because running cable through walls is time-consuming, one of the most significant cost factors is the distance the line must travel to reach the outlet. Furthermore, the more cable you require, the more you will pay.
Rerouting a coaxial cable outlet can save you money if you have the required electrical and do-it-yourself skills because you only pay for supplies like connectors, splitters, coaxial cables, and tools, not labor. Labor costs range from $50 to $100 per hour, while parts cost $5 to $50.
Installing a new coaxial cable route will cost more than replacing an existing one due to the additional work involved.
Rerouting a coaxial cable from an existing outlet to another location where you want to attach a device might also be a cost-effective option if the original line is still in good operating condition.
How Far Can You Run Coaxial Cable?
Spooled coaxial cable lengths range from 50 to 1,000 feet. It is recommended to run a coaxial cable shorter distances to cover the installation range while maintaining good quality signal strength.
The longer the coax cable you use; the more signal loss you will experience due to a few factors:
- Loss Due to Resistance: The copper core is the conductor in your coax cable. Despite being an excellent conductor, copper has some resistance. This implies that some electrical energy must be lost in the form of heat. Naturally, the longer the cable, the more resistive material your signal must pass through, resulting in more significant energy loss and, consequently, signal loss.
- Dielectric Loss: A dielectric material is “an electrical insulator that can be polarized by an applied electric field.” While copper is an imperfect conductor, it is also an imperfect insulator. All insulators are dielectrics, but a material is called a 'dielectric' when it can be polarized, which is responsible for dielectric signal loss.
Does Coaxial Cable Carry Power?
Yes, a coaxial cable can hold power effectively if the cable's core conductor is solid copper. It cannot, however, carry the same amount of current that a wall outlet can. While it would function briefly, taking 110 volts and up to 10 amps will result in excessive heat buildup and cable failure. It's simply not designed for it.
For example, DIRECTV satellite equipment uses a power inserter that sends 29 volts at 1.4 amps through a coax cable regularly. If you contact the center conductor, this is enough to cause a tingle, but touching the outer connector should never result in a shock.
How Long Does Coaxial Cable Last?
An electronic designer member of a well-known website forum confirms that a coaxial cable of modern design and quality construction should be useful for years, at or near specified performance if not physically damaged.
Still, just like any other cables, the coaxial cable will degrade over time and need to be replaced to maintain the signal quality.
In Closing
After reading this article, we hope that we were able to help you with the step-by-step procedure for getting your coaxial cable rerouted. We would love to see how your work turned out! Let us know in the comment section below.
If you find this article helpful, be sure to check out these other posts that may interest you:
How To Hide Wires On Desk (6 Under-Desk Cable Management Solutions)