Which type of coax for NTL Set-top box

[brdevine]

I am in the process of having an extension to my house built and one of the things I want to do is run a length of coax from the point where the NTL cable comes into the house to two additional rooms. I'm not sure what type of coax is needed for this - I've read CT125 on some sites and RG59 or RG6 on other sites. I wondered if anyone knows the definitive answer or can recommend the best coax to use.

The electricians will be in this week for initial cabling so I want to specify exactly what is to be run and where before the plasterboard walls go up.

Can anyone help?

[IAmATeaf]

I've used CT100 but you won't go wrong with CT125, it's just a higher grade cable. The most important thing/feature of the cable is to make sure it's double screened with a solid core insulator between the 2 screens.

[brdevine]

I've used CT100 but you won't go wrong with CT125, it's just a higher grade cable. The most important thing/feature of the cable is to make sure it's double screened with a solid core insulator between the 2 screens.

Thanks for the info. I've just spoken to the electricians this morning and they have told me that NTL do not like anyone other than NTL engineers to fit internal cabling that will connect to the NTL cable. :( Seems like I'm stuffed if that is the case as the plumbing and electrical connections are being roughed out this week.

[IAmATeaf]

Well I did my own and didn't have any probs. The only real problem you may have is that the screw type F connectors aren't waterproof whereas the ones that NTL install are so if the connections are outside then you may have problems after a few winters, to counter this I just put some insulating tape over the connector once it was screwed into place.

[brdevine]

Well I did my own and didn't have any probs. The only real problem you may have is that the screw type F connectors aren't waterproof whereas the ones that NTL install are so if the connections are outside then you may have problems after a few winters, to counter this I just put some insulating tape over the connector once it was screwed into place.

I phoned NTL this afternoon, and the customer service guy said that if I fit my own cables then I'm effectively breaking my warranty. If any faults develop then I will need to pay for NTL to rectify them. Understandable if I'm going to open up the cable modem or set-top box, but I'm just plugging a different piece of passive cabling into the boxes. :?:

I spoke with the builder today and we are both in agreement that an NTL engineer isn't going to take the time to channel a coax cable through studs in the walls, under floorboards, and through brickwork.

The electricians are going to be fitting CAT6 networking in the rooms, so they should hopefully be more than competent enough to run some coax through the rooms.

Cheers again for the feedback. :thumbs:

[Azathoth]

This place sells a few types of coax rated for NTL, SKY usage and they also explain the different types of cable and there advantages/disadvantages.
http://www.mediachannels.co.uk/cableandfittings.htm

[brdevine]

Seems a bit odd that that website says that CT100 cable is the best when other sites seem to suggest cables such as CT125, RG6 and RG11 are far superior. :shrug:

[DeadKenny]

Technically you're not supposed to fit anything to their network that isn't approved, but NTL don't know their arse from their elbow, especially the engineers they send out, so I wouldn't worry about fitting your own extension :D.

One thing though is if you are thinking of splitting the cable you need a "cable" splitter that's rated for the right frequencies. Regular TV splitters may not be suitable for the two-way nature of cable, especially if you have broadband through it. NTL gave me one of these...

http://www.deadkenny.co.uk/images/splitter.jpg

Remember a splitter will reduce your signal, in both directions. That can affect things and if your signal is borderline you could end up with disconnects. Annoying especially for broadband.


Also, don't leave any connectors unterminated and that includes any other sockets they may have installed or an FM socket you perhaps don't use. You need terminator caps as this reduces noise on the line. On this matter it's been said that your neighbours doing the same or having crappy installs can affect your connection. I'm sure that's why mine was so bad and they couldn't resolve it (hence I quit).



P.S. Do you need your cable to really terminate elsewhere in the house? Are you connecting just to one box (set top box) or to two (STB and cable modem perhaps)? Is the STB near the entry point anyway? You could just have all the NTL kit by the entry point and use a router and CAT5/6 cable to whatever PCs you are connecting to. Obviously more of a problem if you have a STB connected to a TV and that's elsewhere in the house.

[brdevine]

The current set-up in my house is a STB and a cable modem. There is already a splitter being used to connect the STB and cable modem to the incoming feed, and I also have an old splitter that the engineer left when he relocated my cable modem connection. At the moment, everything is in the lounge, but when the house extension is complete, the cable modem will be at the opposite end of a room to the STB - the separation being around 8 metres.

I already have a wireless router, but I feel this seems to be prone to "atmospheric noise" which is why I'm going down the route of fixed network connections.

I might follow your suggestion of connecting the cable modem to the CAT6 cabling as I should be able to patch this in to a router and thereby keep the cable modem next to the STB. This would probably involve having to get NTL out to move the connection outside the house around to the extended part of the house where the TV will be.

At some point I would hope to get another STB from NTL to hook up to a plasma TV, but I reckon this will involve NTL splitting the incoming signal 3 times - just not sure what effect this will have on the signal quality.

[DeadKenny]

At some point I would hope to get another STB from NTL to hook up to a plasma TV, but I reckon this will involve NTL splitting the incoming signal 3 times - just not sure what effect this will have on the signal quality.
They might pull an extra line, but only if you're lucky and they have spare capacity. You need to get proper engineers out though and not the usual contract monkeys they use who will typically just do the easiest thing to get them out of there and onto the next job.

When I got my cable installed in my flat the monkey installer actually just split the cable from the flat downstairs! No wonder I had a nightmare with signal levels. Only found out when I tried to get a 2nd phone line installed and they realiased they'd just nicked the spare copper for the 2nd line from downstairs too!. After 4 call outs from monkeys who didn't know what they were doing, they eventually pull a proper line (coax and copper for phone), but didn't bother connecting the coax, just the phone! Took a while for them to connect the coax too when I complained about my broadband problems. :oh-hum:. Though still had further problems after that. Gave up in the end and went back to BT and got ADSL (and I'd long since ditched NTL telly for Sky anyway).