Sky+ Virgin Cable - Are the cables the same?

abdulh

Hello,

I am in the process of a complete refurb of our house. we are getting the electrics done and will be replastering. I want to add other cabling including a Cat5e Network, TV Ariel and Sky/Virgin cable.

My question is about the last option, I have Sky at the moment but the house can get Virgin Cable so I want to keep my options open with the sockets in each of the rooms.

Is the actual cable for Sky and Virgin the same (i.e. can I have the same cable going to each room and then switch it between the Sky Dish and Virgin connection in the loft) or are they different in which case I will need two sets of cables in each room.

Thanks

BTW I have found this forum incredibly useful.

sloth

the actual co-ax going around the house will be the same whether it is carrying sky or cable. just make sure you buy a decent co-ax so you dont lose the picture quality as you distribute it

i would suggest this as it gives you two cables to every outlet so if you have sky+ or want to add it in the future it gives you a bit of future proofing. if you are running all the cables now you may as well do properly and save having to add more later

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/45807/Electrical-Supplies/TV-Range/Coaxial-Cable/Labgear-Black-Shotgun-Coaxial-Cable-Sky-1000m?cm_re=SEARCHPROMO-_-SKY%20CABLE-_-45807

otherwise just use this to give you one feed to each outlet

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/94205/Electrical-Supplies/Cable/Coaxial-Cable/Labgear-RG6-Satellite-Black-Coaxial-Cable

abdulh

Thank you very much. We have sky+ at the moment and will be having it installed in the new house. The aim is to run wire from every bedroom/living room + kitchen to the loft, that way we can connect/disconnect certain rooms from the sky dish as needed.

Could you explain how the first link gives me two cables to each outlet? Is it physically one wire or two? Sorry if this is a stupid question.

sloth

the first link is called 'shotgun' cable and it is basically 2 lenths of cable stuck side by side. just makes things a bit neater/easier for sky+ but there is nothing to stop you running single cable twice of course

if you are planning on doing what you say i would go for one of these also. i have one and they are very good. stops you connecting and reconnecting all the time like you said you were planning as that will not do the connectors etc any good. also allows you to pipe the sky around the house, although any tv can only watch what the main tv is watching

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/69457/Electrical-Supplies/TV-Range/Amplifiers-Distribution/Labgear-Home-Distribution-Unit-8-Way

edgex

or have proper trunking fitted, then cables can be ran through it whenever you want