Cable TV Signal Over CAT5

[kpierce]

I have a CAT5 drop into a room in my house and would like to know if it is possible to run both networking and/or a Cable Signal TV signal through this line?
thanks

 

[MDS]

Cat5 wiring has 4 twisted pairs and only two pair are actually used for 100 Base Tx (100 mbps). So technically you could use only the two pair for the network and the other 2 pair for something else (like a 2-line phone).

I really don't know if you could use 2 pair for cable tv; however, I would NOT recommend splitting up the multiple pairs and using them for dual purposes. In the future, if you move to gigabit ethernet you will be screwed because it uses all 4 twisted pairs. If that is no concern, then maybe you could do it if someone else knows for sure if you could wire cable with two pair.

 

[Sleestack]

In some of our hotels, we are running internet, HDTV and telephone over a single CAT5 cable. It requires a specialized routing device, but if you are really interested, I can get the info. for you.

 

[RLA]

Hello
I have used shielded CAT 5 successfully for VGA and component runs up to about 50ft with no baun or matching transformers

 

[kpierce]

RLA,
Could you tell me how to do this? This is just an older TV I have put in a bedroom. Don't want to spend much if anything to just get a signal to the TV. Right now it has rabbit ears, just want to be able to watch the news without the fuzzy signal.

thanks
kendall

 

[RLA]

If you have shielded cat 5 all you have to do is terminate 1/2 of one pair to the + pin on the RCA and then terminate the other 1/2 and the shield wire to the shell, this should yield a good clean signal up to about 50 ft @ 480i no problem. You can do the same with solder “F” connections.

Here is one that I built out of scrap parts in about 20 minutes to get around a fire block that was located in an interior wall without doing drywall work.
The small size of the wire allowed me to fish through and then terminate once I was clear of the block.

The cable is 45ft long and has no signal loss or ringing to 720p @72Hz Notice the black RCA it has the solid green as the positive, white/ green negative terminated to the shield along with the shield wire. Its not the prettiest cable but its hidden and has been very reliable and durable.

 

[kpierce]

Thanks for the information and picture. However, I should have been more specific. I am running coax as one end (Comcast), so I am sure if I understand exactly how that would work.

 

[RLA]

The picture was only an example three runs of composite equal component.
In your case you would only use one pair and the shield. If you want to terminate RCA you can then use an adapter or quick connect to make it an
"F” connection to screw onto or push onto the input terminal post on your cable box or TV.Another possibility is to solder the CAT 5 wire onto a single "F" jack wall plate that has female "F" connetion on the exposed side and the solder lugs on the wall side.
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/video_cables.html

 

[MDS]

Thanks for the information and picture. However, I should have been more specific. I am running coax as one end (Comcast), so I am sure if I understand exactly how that would work.

Coax is a type of cable. If you already have a coax cable (rg-6 or rg-59) then you already have what you need for cable tv.

Perhaps you mean you want to use a cat5 wire and crimp on the F pin connector like the type that is used on a coax cable for cable tv. If that is the case, then you can do what RLA said. His example picture was for RCA connectors, not F pin, but it should be similar. I still wouldn't do it if you have any plans whatsoever to use that cat5 for networking, but it's your call. I would suggest alot more research before attempting it though - if you are unfamiliar with the different types of cables and connectors, get an installer to do it.

 

[RLA]

I was under the impression that he had a drop of CAT-5 in the room and not
RG-6 or 59 and that is why he wanted to utilize the wire that was pre-existing in the room.

MDS is correct if you plan on using he CAT-5 for networking you can't split the pairs they need to stay intact. If this is the case you should run a drop of RG-6 in the room.