AboutEric Miller Expertise I have over 10 years worth of experience in the telecommunications industry. I can give helpful information on virtually all aspects of telecommunications from residential installations to full size commercial installations. I have extensive experience in working with telecom media from CAT3 cable to fiberoptic cable. Be forewarned, hardware and software is not my thing, but I will give it my best to answer your questions.
Experience I have over 10 years worth of telephony experience, most of it in installation. I have extensive experience working with dial tone. I also have extensive knowledge in the installation/termination of all low-voltage cables, from CAT3 voice grade cable, to outside plant cable, to fiberoptic cable. I have used all types of test equipment ranging from CAT5 cable testers to OTDR's. I have experience in working with digital keys systems and PBX's.
Education/Credentials I have been BICSI certified. I have held certifications in digital key systems, voicemail, and other external equipment. I have held numerous certifications covering the installation of low voltage cable, including fiberoptic cable.
Expert: Eric Miller Date: 1/10/2008 Subject: cable/digital phone/internet from TimeWarner
Question I'm rehabbing a house with all new wiring, include cable and phone. I'm planning on signing up with TimeWarner's cable/phone/internet package and have several questions. Should I install phone wire and jacks as though I have an old fashion system? (BTW, the wall are all open now, drywall to come in a few weeks). TWC doesn't seem to want to talk until we sign up for service, but I'd like run wiring in the walls if I can. In the past I just put a combo box every where I might want phone and/or cable. Is this what I should do? Also, I'd like to change the locations of the cable/phone boxes on the outside of the house. Would like to put them near the new electrical panel. Can the these wires come in through the mast? Sure would be neater. And finally, I'm looking for excellent quality, both for TV and internet... any recommendations one the brand/specs of wiring??
Thanks!!!
Answer Hi Cindy-
Your situation is one that I'm sure many people run into when rehabbing older homes. With advances in technology and different service options in makes sense to bring the infrastructure inside your home "up to snuff" so to speak.
To answer your question, I would definitely install regular phone cable with the cable coax, and let me tell you why. In case your ever fed up with Time Warner's broadband service and wish to have regular telephone service connected, the telephone service provider will have to install phone cable, probably at a highly inflated price. With it installed, you won't have to fork out the cash since it's already in the wall.
Now, with your cable/phone/internet package you can go several different routes. First, since I've got a broadband network at my house, let me tell you how I've got mine configured. I've got five different locations (jacks) in my house where I've got regular telephone cable, coax cable for TV, and ethernet (CAT 5) cable installed. All those cables (15 total) run back to a central location near where my services enter the house. Typically they are near the electrical panel. I've got a media network center that can be picked up at Lowe's or Home Depot that contain termination panels for each type of cable. At that central point, I've got my cable modem and a wireless router. The incoming cable from my cable provider is split with a 4-way splitter, one leg going to my cable modem and the other legs going to my "station" coax locations. From there I've got a ethernet patch cord from the modem to my wireless router. The router has got 4 additional ethernet ports that I've connected patch cables to going to the "station" cables inside my media center, essentially giving me 4 "hot" data connections on top of my wireless connection. I still use regular dial tone service so I've got a main cable coming in from the phone box outside "looping" to my "station" telephone connections.
Now each installation is unique and cost of material and equipment will dictate which method of installation you choose. I would definitely run regular phone/TV coax/CAT 5 cable to each location in the house. That way you have flexibility in which methods of technology you choose to employ. Plus, it's ten times easier (and cheaper) to install as much as you can now with the sheetrock off.
No matter how much planning you do, service providers will do whatever is most easiest for them in regards to giving you service. Usually, they will put their house connections as close to their facilities as possible, even though it's totally on the opposite side of the house or building where you want them to be. I would do this. Install a main coax cable and a main telephone cable to where your electrical entrance is. Unfortunately, local codes, as well as the NEC, and the fact the mast belongs to the electrical provider, prohibit you from installing telecommunications cable inside the main electrical mast. It's a safety issue. Just leave your coax cable and phone cable hanging on the outside of the house WHERE YOU CHOOSE TO INSTALL THEM. Time Warner won't like it, but if you've got your cable in place BEFORE they get there, they will install the connections there. I should probably give you a few "DON'TS" that I'm sure your aware of. When installing your phone cable, it is OK to loop it from box to box, but DON'T loop your data cable or coax cable. Doing that will seriously degrade your signal and services. Don't install your cables through the same holes in the wall studs as your electrical. The electrical cable emits EMI (electromagnetic interference) which can induce and travel on your cables. Drill new holes at least a foot away from the electrical romex.
As far as specs for wiring goes, regular coax cable (RG-6)for TV and CAT 5 cable for data connections are probably as good as anything there is on the market for the DIY'er. There are fiberoptic cables that can be installed, but that gets way expensive and is usually seen in the commercial/government market.
To sum it up, each install will be different. If you choose to go with a router connected to a cable modem, be sure to run your data cable to where your router will be. Running regular phone cable to each box will save you the time and expense off having someone else do it later. You don't even have to connect it to a jack, just leave it unterminated inside the box. Don't take no lip from Time Warner about the location of your outside terminal location. Tell them that is where you want it.
I hope I was able to help. If I can answer any more questions, or you need more info, do not hesitate to let me know. Thanks for the question!
