Cat5 or Coax

Cat5 or Coax
Links: home · search · speed test · login · more ·

Links: Reply New Topic
Forums » AT&T » AT&T U-verse » Cat5 or Coax

anon @ 26th Oct 01:39PM:
Cat5 or Coax

Which is the preferred connection method? Cat5 or Coax? This way I can specify to the installer tomorrow when we get u-verse installed which I want so they don't try and take the easy way out.

Also, we have the standard phone lines in our house. Should we upgrade our lines to cat5 cabling or will our 20+ year old phone lines still be good for u-verse VOIP?
reply

dave006 @ 26th Oct 02:14PM:
Re: Cat5 or Coax

Normally the installer gets to make the call about reusing existing COAX or running new Cat5 or COAX. The installer will test the existing wiring and determine if some or all of it should be replaced. Just have a friendly discussion with the Premise Tech when they arrive and discuss any exisiting issues you may have with your COAX or phone lines.

If you want your whole house custom installed, you can request Cat5 for all TV connections but you might be expected to pay for each drop depending on several factors. This varies by region of the country. If the existing COAX is reused, the connector ends should all be replaced with compression fittings.

Do you have Cable or Sat TV today and do you plan to keep it in parallel for the initial install?

If your existing phone lines are working fine now without noise then they will be fine to reuse for U-voice.

Dave
reply

anon @ 26th Oct 02:52PM:
Re: Cat5 or Coax

I currently have comcast cable. We will be canceling it once u-verse is installed. AT&T is our local phone service. They cancel that once they install VOIP.

I guess I will talk to the guy tomorrow and see how it goes.
reply

Neil420 @ 30th Oct 05:55PM:
Re: Cat5 or Coax

If I get U-verse, I would like to keep my coax for OTA. If I cancel U-verse, I would use the cat5e for networking or sending HD video using an HDMI to cat5e adapter.
reply

rpeAMP @ 2nd Nov 05:42PM:
Re: Cat5 or Coax

It seems that there are much fewer issues with Cat5e installs than with coax (HPNA) installs. Often, there are stories of techs having to come back out to residences to replace bad coax connectors, cables or crimps because of signal loss or picture quality issues.

However, that's not to say that an HPNA install won't work just fine. It really depends on the quality of your existing cabling and whether or not the installer/tech cares enough to ensure that each connection and cable run is up to spec.

I have a Cat5e install with no problems.
reply

FattyAcid @ 2nd Nov 05:54PM:
Re: Cat5 or Coax

It's all about the quality of the coax and termination.

To one of my receivers, which I moved since it was installed, I decided to do a little experiment. I'm running 25 feet of RG6QS -> F-connector barrel -> 25 feet RG6 -> F-connector barrel -> 25 feet of RG6 that has some nicks in the coax (old cable) -> receiver (Moto VIP 1200). So a total of 75 feet of RG6QS/RG6 and two F-connector barrels. Works great! PHY Rate is 112 mbps and SnR is 38-39 dB. No pixelation/freezing of the TV.

However, when I put two more F-connectors and two more 25 foot lengths of RG6--so a total of four barrels and 125 feet of RG6--I got a PHY Rate of 80 Mbps and periodic pixelation/freezing, especially on recorded and HD content. Only live SD was watchable.
reply