Can I use UTP cables instead of COAX for cable TV? Will soldering a coax connector to the UTP wire do it?

Question

Planning to "future-ready" my home. Aside from internet & phone system, would like to know if UTP structured cabling can be used in lieu of Coax for cable TV, RCA cables for other video & audio.

Answer 1

No. This only works if you have expensive devices on either end to encode and decode the analog signals into and out of digital.

You can buy "smart home" cable that bundles 2 quad shielded RG6 coax, 2 Cat5 network cable, and an optional fiber-optic cable in a single thick cable.

However its a stiff, thick bundle. I actually found it easier to wire separate coax and network runs in my home.

Make sure to run network behind your home theater gear and phone lines.  Many devices these days want internet access.

Answer 2

You can definitely use high performance twisted-pair cabling (UTP, STP, FTP and variants) as an alternative to coaxial cable as well as other line-level A/V cables including HDMI. Cost savings, if any, and performance will depend largely on the type, quality and quantity of twisted-pair cabling, including the type of active or passive hardware used at each end, as well as the application.



Twisted-pair cable (incl. HDMI) is BALanced and coaxial cable is UNbalanced. Furthermore coaxial cable, such as RG-6, RG-59, etc., which is commonly used in residential applications, has a characteristic impedance of 75Ω whereas twisted-pair cable has a characteristic impedance of 100Ω. Substituting twisted-pair for typical coax-based video applications will require the use of a high quality passive (broadband) video balun, preferably with a frequency response that extends down to DC, or an active matching network. (The latter is sometimes referred to as an extender, “link,” or transceiver by some manufacturers.)



When installing twisted-pair cable for high definition video applications you should use Category 6 (CAT6) at the very minimum—or better yet Augmented Category 6 (Category 6A or CAT6A)—twisted-pair cable or better, such as Belden 10GX, 4800LX, etc., designed for high performance Integrated Building Distribution Network (IBDN) cabling applications. Keep in mind that the overwhelming majority of structured cabling, including CAT6A, is limited to cable runs no longer than 100 m or 328 ft for 720p and 1080i video and roughly 50 m or 164 ft max for 1080p video. Simply put cable runs should always be kept as short as possible while maintaining sufficient slack.



“All-in-one” hybrid cable should be avoided; the disadvantages easily outweigh the advantages especially if you need to upgrade any one of the individual cables in the future.



The following are a few points worth noting.



You should begin the cabling process by creating a Structured Cabling Plan as a supplement to your Electrical Plan.



Always label your cables and connections.



Make every effort to carefully route line-level cabling on the opposite side of the same wall cavity or further from all AC power circuits (typically 100 VAC and higher.) You should always try to route line-level cabling and AC electrical wiring perpendicular to each other in order to minimize the risk of introducing noise and interference into your electronic equipment via the cabling. As always careful planning can greatly minimize any aggravation and headaches down the road.



You should ALWAYS test pre-terminated cables before installation.



When installing premises cabling you must be careful that you do not exceed the manufacturer’s minimum cable bend radius specification.



In compliance with your local codes and ordinances I highly recommend installing riser-rated (preferably halogen-free, aka low smoke zero halogen or LSZH) 1½-inch nonmetallic corrugated flexible conduit/raceway, aka “innerduct,” wherever you may (foresee the) need to install low-voltage cabling. If your budget permits I recommend at least two or three ‘drops’ of innerduct evenly spaced along each wall of the room.



If or when you’re working with exposed wood wall framing, i.e., no gypsum drywall installed, it’s very important that you ALWAYS install nail-plates (aka Nail Stoppers) wherever you drill holes in wood wall framing for the purpose of routing cabling or conduit that will be carrying wire and cable. Nail-plates are intended to protect all wire and cable in the conduit from being pierced and damaged by nails and screws that will be fastened to the wall framing.



Simpson Strong-Tie Nail Stoppers

http://www.strongtie.com/products/connec...



######## TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES ########



Planning Your Cabling Requirements for the Future

http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages/gknot.ht...



What You Can Do With a Single CAT5?

http://www.spectrumelectronicsolutions.c...



Video and UTP

http://www.belden.com/pdfs/Techpprs/Vide...

Broadband Video over Twisted-Pair Cabling

http://www.belden.com/pdfs/Techpprs/Vide...

Using Category 5/5e/6 for Audio and Video Applications

http://www.belden.com/pdfs/Techpprs/Cat5...

Broadband Video over Category 6 UTP Cabling

http://www.belden.com/pdfs/Techpprs/WP_N...

Category 6 Cabling Questions and Answers

http://www.belden.com/pdfs/Techpprs/What...

IBDN System Design and Applications

http://www.belden.com/pdfs/techpprs/DI.p...

Belden Technical Information

http://www.belden.com/03Products/03_Tech...



Belden IBDN Training Brochure

http://shelby.websitewelcome.com/~belden...



Siemon Network Cabling Standards Guide

http://www.siemon.com/us/standards/



Extron Twisted-Pair White Papers

http://www.extron.com/company/archive.as...

UTP Technology White Paper

http://www.extron.com/company/article.as...

UTP Technology White Paper (PDF)

http://www.extron.com/download/files/whi...

Twisted-Pair Wire and Skew

http://www.extron.com/company/article.as...

Extron’s Twisted-Pair Transmitters and Receivers Solve Connection Challenges

http://www.extron.com/company/article.as...



Learning the CAT6A ROPES

http://www.cnsmagazine.com/issues/ISarti...



HDTV Over Cat5 Technology Opens Door to New Applications

http://www.hometoys.com/htinews/aug05/ar...

Balanced Signal Delivery for an Unbalanced World

http://www.hometoys.com/htinews/feb05/ar...

Interview - Structured Cabling Solutions

http://www.hometoys.com/htinews/apr00/in...



Video Baluns - Some Designs Give the Product a Bad Name

http://www.etslan.com/Video%20Baluns%20-...



CIM - The Myths and Realities of Shielded, Screened Cabling

http://cim.articles.printthis.clickabili...



What’s the Matter with HDMI

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/w...

Understanding In-wall Speaker, Video and Audio Cable Ratings

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/i...



Cabling What You Don’t Know Can Kill You

http://www.wireville.com/news/Cabling%20...

Cabling Safety in Multi-Story Structures

http://www.wireville.com/news/Cabling%20...



Wire Management and Life Safety Articles

http://www.hhrobertson.com/ls_docs.cfm



Structured Cabling Association

http://www.scausa.org



Guide to Low-Voltage and Limited-Energy Systems

http://www.mikeholt.com/documents/lowvol...



######## PRODUCT RESOURCES ########



Calrad Electronics Passive Video Baluns

http://www.calrad.com/download/Video%20P...



Communications Specialties

http://www.commspecial.com



Energy Transformation Systems

http://www.etslan.com



Extron DVI & HDMI Extenders

http://www.extron.com/product/listbytype...



FSR Twisted Pair Products

http://www.fsrinc.com/twistedPair.htm



Gefen HDMI and DVI Cable Solutions

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/cables/hdtv_dvi...



Intelix LLC

http://www.intelix.com



Key Digital FAT CAT Series CAT5 Balun Devices

http://www.keydigital.com/IW_Products.m4...



Knoll Systems - HDMI Baluns

http://www.knollsystems.com/prod-hdmibal...



Kramer HDMI over Twisted-Pair Transmitter & Receiver

http://www.kramerelectronics.com/indexes...



Magenta Research Cat’s i HDMI Extension Kit

http://www.magenta-research.com/cgi-loca...



MuxLab VideoEase Connectivity Solutions

http://www.muxlab.com/products/products....



NVT Twisted-Pair Based Video Transmission Technology

http://www.nvt.com/products.html



NITEK UTPLinks

http://www.nitek.net/utplinks_xp/index.h...



Octava HDMI / DVI Extender

http://www.octavainc.com/HDMI%20extender...



Siemon TERA® Video Patch Cord

http://www.siemon.com/e-catalog/ECAT_GI_...



Vigitron Video Balun

http://www.vigitron.com/products.htm



VimaSoft - Video over CAT5 UTP Transceivers

http://www.vbaluns.com



Visions Televideo Technologies

http://www.vtti.us

________________________



CommScope

http://www.commscope.com

CommScope SYSTIMAX Support and Documentation

http://sx.commscope.com/eng/support_docu...



Mohawk Cable

http://www.mohawk-cable.com



Molex Premise Networks

http://www.molexpn.com



Leviton Commercial Network Solutions

http://www.levitonvoicedata.com

Leviton Integrated Networks and Controls - Wallplates

http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpSc...

Leviton Structured Cabling Wallplates

http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpSc...



Siemon Network Cabling Solutions

http://www.siemon.com



ICC

http://www.icc.com



Liberty PanelCrafters

http://www.panelcrafters.com



HellermannTyton Cable Management Solutions

http://www.hellermann.tyton.com



Carlon Product Brochure Index

http://www.carlon.com/Brochures.html

Hal-Free Riser-Gard® Nonmetallic Corrugated Flexible Conduit

http://www.carlon.com/Master%20Catalog/F...

Structured Cable Management Systems Handbook

http://www.carlon.com/Installation_Train...

Installation & Training

http://www.carlon.com/InstallationInst.h...

 

Answer 3

UTP will not work well for a COAX replacement. But COAX is now not the future. Your cable or satellite needs that today (and more than likely the future too.) What you really need to ask your self is what are you going to do for Hi-Def signals like HDMI? You may want to consider running PVC pipes in the walls so that you can restring easily in the future. But be careful of the fire inspector, some places frown on this.