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Netpecker
join:2002-02-10
Naperville, IL
| reply to ILpt4U
Re: Wiring requirement for UVerse?
So do you have to run COAX or CAT5 from the NID?
I have a 2 story house on a cement slab (no basement or crawlspace), so running new cable is hard/impossible to do right. I have AT&T DSL now, and there is a phone jack right by my computer and one of my TV's. Can the RG be located there and hooked up via the phone jack?
If so, I have a COAX connection near that location that runs to the other TV. Could that work to take the signal from the RG to the other TV?
I really want to try UVerse, but I am leary of the wiring requirements.
Thanks in advance. | |
ILpt4U
Premium
join:2006-11-12
Lisle, IL
 ·AT&T Yahoo
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·magicjack.com
| said by Netpecker  :So do you have to run COAX or CAT5 from the NID? I have a 2 story house on a cement slab (no basement or crawlspace), so running new cable is hard/impossible to do right. I have AT&T DSL now, and there is a phone jack right by my computer and one of my TV's. Can the RG be located there and hooked up via the phone jack? If so, I have a COAX connection near that location that runs to the other TV. Could that work to take the signal from the RG to the other TV? I really want to try UVerse, but I am leary of the wiring requirements. Thanks in advance. It would depend. What kind of phone wiring is serving that phone jack right now? And is it a "home run" from the NID to that jack? Or does the line go to some inside wiring room/distribution point/panel?
If it is Cat 3, 5, 5e, or 6 wiring, it is usable IF IT IS or CAN BE MADE a home run. If it is quad or untwisted phone wire, then a new home run of either RG 6 Coax or Cat 5/5e/6 will be needed to serve the RG.
Is wrapping the house on the exterior an acceptable alternative for the home run? Some people do not want the wire on their house, and that is understandable, yet others are ok with a neat wire-wrap job.
As far as the coax between the TVs, if it is RG-6 or good quality RG-59 (and passes our HPNA tests), AND we can find any and all old splitters, boosters, and/or barrels, then yes we can use the current coax between that coax jack and the other TV.
What part of Naperville are you in, if you don't mind my asking? Naperville had been one of the towns that was fighting U-Verse by not granting Public Right-of-Way Permits for the VRADs. Has this changed? Is the service available to you now? | |
Netpecker
join:2002-02-10
Naperville, IL
| wow.... thanks Joe.... you are over my head on a lot of these questions.
My house was built in 1997, so it's fairly new. The NID is in good shape. I researched the wiring before getting DSL back in 2003 when I was looking at putting a filter in the NID instead of each jack.
I have no clue if the wiring is a home run or if it is Cat 3, 5, 5e, or 6. Any easy ways to tell?
I would love to talk to someone like you, and do an assessment, before placing the order. I am VERY happy with my AT&T (formerly SBC Global) Elite DSL package and don't want to screw with it.
I do not want external wiring run, nor am I excited about poking more holes through my siding. If a "good" installer would perform the wiring, I would be fine with any option. In my experience, you never know what you're gonna get until they get here. If I could use my existing phone/COAX cabling, I would order now.
I am actually in Aurora city limits (corner of North Aurora and Eola). I haven't updated my DSL reports profile since moving from Naperville to Aurora. I have been getting tons of U-Verse offers in the mail, so I assume I am eligible. | |
ILpt4U
Premium
join:2006-11-12
Lisle, IL
·AT&T Yahoo
·AT&T U-Verse
·magicjack.com
2 edits | Easy way to tell if you have a home run: Attempt to follow the wire from that jack that your DSL uses back to the NID, and see if there are any splices or junction points where other phone wire breaks off.
As far as how to tell if it is Cat 3 or better, I'd say the easiest is to take the jack off the wall and look at the wires that serve the jack. If there are wires that are blue, blue white, orange, orange white, green, green white, and maybe brown and brown white, etc etc, you have twisted pair wiring (which is good). If you have wires that are green, red, black, and yellow, then you have Quad wiring (which is no good). If you have untwisted wire, which could be red and white or any color, that is really no good.
You could snap a close up picture or two of the wiring that serves the jack, too, and post it. I'd let you know if it is Cat 3 or Cat 5/5e/6 (I can't really easily tell a visual difference between Cat 5, 5e, and 6). Also post a close up picture or two of the wiring inside the customer side of the NID (The customer side of the NID can be opened with a regular flat head screw-driver).
If you want to talk to someone who does low voltage wiring, look up low voltage electricians in the phone book  (As a union tech, we are not supposed to do side-jobs, as it takes work away from union brothers and sisters).
As far as the Coax being acceptable, the tech on install day would have to test it out.
You could always place the order, it is free install (or at least was), and then be there with the tech, see what he is thinking and how to run the wire, and if it does not meet your expectations, tell him to get out and then call and cancel. I do not think there is a penalty for canceling because the customer did not approve of the installation...
I'd take care of you at your install, but unfortunately, I could not get a local garage (Lisle) and instead have to commute all the way up to McHenry County for my location. As a result, I will soon be moving to Crystal Lake... | |
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