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Wesley Tucker

Wesley Tucker is a lifelong southerner whose politics are objective, whose sports are many and whose avocations range from aviation to anthropology to history and all forms of media. With a master's degree in mass communications from the University of South Carolina College of Journalism, Tucker has been a writer for more than 30 years, with work ranging from news reports to feature stories.

Cable access wiring is simple because coaxial cable (whats used for television transmission) is a single wire with insulation and an all-weather outer coating. The single wire means theres no need to worry about a wrong connection or using the wrong type of cable. Coaxial cable is the same and fittings, connections and jacks have the same specifications. If you want to wire your house for cable dont worry about getting the right kind because there is only one. You also dont have to worry about electricity or other hazards because coaxial cable carries no current.

Whether you have in-ground cable service or a satellite, the first thing to do is get the cable inside. There are two options: drill a hole or find an adequate opening. Drilling means having a special drill bit that will penetrate brick (if you have a brick home) and long enough to reach through to the interior. Most of these bits are about 10 inches long. You can also get grommets to fit around the cable to make a tight waterproof seal where the cable enters the building.

Once inside you should make an effort to make the cable as unobtrusive as possible. A black cable running across the floor doesnt look good and you dont want anyone tripping or snagging the cable. A good way to wire cable in the house is around the edge and underneath wall-to-wall carpeting. This way keeps the cable out of sight and easy to install. When the cable comes into the house, cut it about 6 inches long and crimp a threaded fitting to the end. Cable crimping tools are easily found in all hardware and electronic stores. Attach a male/male adapter to the cable end. This is a small metal fitting with threads on both sides. It is sort of a two-sided screw. Then attach your cable and run it to the cable or satellite converter box or directly to your cable ready TV.

If you bring the cable in downstairs and want it upstairs, your choices are the same: drill a hole or find an unobtrusive way to run the cable up the stairs and to the television. Carpeted stairs make this easy just like with the carpeted room installation. If not you might have to drill a hole in a wall and run the cable through the space up to the upstairs. This is done with a cable snake, another tool you can buy or rent. Its a long flexible metal probe that looks like a long thin spring. Uncoil it into the hole from the upstairs down to the hole in the downstairs wall. Attach the cable to the snake and pull up and out upstairs. Just make sure you have plenty of cable for this. Once the cable is upstairs, use the grommets to seal and make a more attractive finish to the location where the cable emerges from the wall.

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Coaxial cable is the kind of copper cable used by cable TV companies to connect between their line and cable TV subscribers....

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