Forum Discussion

bajanelite123's avatar
bajanelite123
Joining in
23 days ago

House extension, new coax

I'm currently having a major house extension added to my property. I want to both move the location of my Internet Hub and have coax cables installed to all the new rooms. The extension is currently at the studs with electricians and plumbers coming in the next few weeks. 

How do I proceed getting coax installed and the Hub moved? Looking on here, there doesn't seem to be a good answer. I have a few options. 

  1. Installed coax cables myself, moving the Hub and installing coax cables in each of the new rooms. I like this solution the best but I've seen on here it is not recommended as it messes with the signal from the cabinet. If I go with this option, can an engineer rectify this problem after install?
  2. Install conduit for a later Virgin engineer to install. This method is also a good solution and means I can delay the Virgin engineer until the construction is over. However, I've seen that some engineers don't like installing in conduit and that if a power line, or other cable, runs near the conduit it could give interference (though this can be easily accounted for). Will Virgin engineer run my cables through conduit? The cable from the outside connection to the new Hub location will obviously be a little different as it will need to be routed under the house entire the extension conduit starts.
  3. Have the Virgin engineer install coax while the build is at the studs. This is basically the first option but they do everything. If they can do this, this will probably be easiest (maybe conduit is easier?) and their will be no issues as its all their equipment. The only negatives here is if the Virgin engineer can/will install coax while the build is at the studs and if my contractor will allow this as its obviously harder with health & safety (though can be accommodated).

Can I get some guidance on what to do. All the options have downsides, and it's heavily dependent on what the individual Virgin engineer will allow.

11 Replies

  • roy247's avatar
    roy247
    Hero
    23 days ago

     I very much doubt that Virgin will install cables under anything that's not been built they need access to the cable's in case there's a problem.

    You could put trunking in with pull cord's, you can't install your own coax cable, you also can't have 360 coax connected boxes in all the room's there was a maximum of 1 main box and 2 mini boxes.

    You might think about cancelling any multiroom boxes you have and then start again after your build is complete, new multiroom customers get streaming boxes (now called Apollo) which don't need a coax connection so just connect by wi-fi if you don't get ethernet ports in every room.

     

    • bajanelite123's avatar
      bajanelite123
      Joining in
      22 days ago

      I still have the original TiVo boxes, Virgin don't think I'm worth the upgrade as I can't switch even if I wanted. I'm having a coax to every room, doesn't mean I will use them all at once. Sounds like installing my own, I don't know why you say I can't physically do this (I can), is the easiest solution. I don't want a Virgin engineer to drill holes or run cable along skirting board if I have access to the studs so it can be done properly now. 

  • nodrogd's avatar
    nodrogd
    Very Insightful Person
    22 days ago

    VM are not going install coax to locations that do not service a piece of kit they are installing, as adding more splitters & points affects the performance of your incoming services.

    So, if you are having a hub & a V360 they will install 2 points only. Additional TV boxes no longer require coax.

    • bajanelite123's avatar
      bajanelite123
      Joining in
      22 days ago

      I'm having one in every room so I can change the room layouts at a later date and not be a hassle, not every room will have a TV in it. Sounds like my first option, installing it myself, is the easiest. 

      • nodrogd's avatar
        nodrogd
        Very Insightful Person
        22 days ago
        bajanelite123 wrote:

        I'm having one in every room so I can change the room layouts at a later date and not be a hassle, not every room will have a TV in it. Sounds like my first option, installing it myself, is the easiest.

        If you think installing VM coax is as simple as installing a TV antenna distribution system, think again. VM re-uses radio spectrum that is used outside it's cables, hence any ingress of these signals will cause noise that could affect the entire network segment if it gets back to the street cabinet. VM uses it's own spec coax. Ignore all those claiming to sell it, or having "approval" from VM. They don't. Also, as VM operates a "closed" network where only their own kit is issued, they have a right to refuse to connect anything that is non-standard, or that would be detrimental to service performance of your own or your neighbours connections. 

  • Adduxi's avatar
    Adduxi
    Very Insightful Person
    22 days ago

    I would also suggest along side the ethernet sockets in the rooms, I would look at putting a couple of PoE WIfi Access Points in.  Now is the time to do these things as it is a nightmare afterwards.  Use good Cat 6 cables, solid copper cored and it will be good for 2.5Gb and even 10Gb on short runs.  Do not be tempted by cheaper CCA cables.

    • bajanelite123's avatar
      bajanelite123
      Joining in
      22 days ago

      Yes, I already have at least one Cat 6 running to each room. Waiting on the solution to my current question until I install them in the extension as I may need to do coax at the same time. 

  • jpeg1's avatar
    jpeg1
    Alessandro Volta
    22 days ago

    You cannot install your own coax because you cannot obtain the special type that VM use. The coax you can buy online or from a DIY shop is not suitable because it doesn't have the same grade of screening and can introduce noise. This is regardless of any claims for it. 

    If you install something different, the VM technician may refuse to connect to it. 

    • bajanelite123's avatar
      bajanelite123
      Joining in
      21 days ago

      Virgin use triple screened (shielded) coax. You can buy better quality (ie copper not aluminium) online. I do agree that those on eBay claiming to be Virgin cable are probably not triple screened. 

  • goslow's avatar
    goslow
    Alessandro Volta
    22 days ago

    I would suggest that installing your own conduit with a pull rope is your best bet in a new build situation while you have all of the walls open. This allows you to install new cable in the future and also carry out future modifications/additions as technology and your equipment changes.

    Your conduit should be in as long and straight a run as possible and well secured along its route (to prevent the conduit moving when cables are pulled through). Try to avoid sharp bends and turns where the cable can get stuck. Inspection elbows can help with this and intermediate inspection boxes along long runs.

    Flexible conduit can be useful as it can often be installed in one continuous length (with no joins to snag the cable) but it needs to be well supported along the route. 25mm diameter will give you greater capacity for future expansion than 20mmm and should make pulling cables easier. Use proper electrical conduit rather than alternatives such as garden hose, pond hose, waste water pipes etc.

    Ideal Yellow 77 is good for pulling difficult cables on long runs

    https://www.screwfix.com/p/ideal-yellow-77-wire-cable-pulling-lubricant-950ml/44462

    As others have mentioned, put in Cat 6 ethernet cables while you have the walls open and fit them in pairs at each location (to allow for future expansion). If you have the option, bring all the cables back to a central location/cupboard where you can co-locate all of your home network equipment, security devices, smart home tech etc.

    The days of VM services over coax cables seems to be in decline so the long term future of any coax cable installed now may not be that great. Fitting conduit does, however, give you the option to install in the future when/if it is ever required.

    A decent electrician should know what to install and how to install it for any VM tech to use in the future.