Last Updated on February 20, 2022 by
In recent times it’s challenging to live in houses without a coax outlet. If in such a situation, the first thing is to call a technician to fix it. Alternatively, consider using Fiber optic cables or a Wi-Fi connection to receive tv signals.
What Should I Do If There Is No Coax Outlet In My House?
Shoddy people would advise you to go for illegal means. After all, all you need is an internet connection. With this, you can access all cable channels even without a coax outlet. Instead of going against the law using unnecessary shortcuts, consider ethernet as the best option.
People whose houses lack coax outlets turned to using ethernet as an alternative. Both options provide high-speed internet and signals. They can also handle high bandwidth. It is easy to transform coaxial cables Tv wires to an ethernet backbone. Most people who live in older houses with no coax outlets use this option.
Converted Ethernet signals work the same as coax wiring. They also have similar stability with high and reliable speeds. They also reduce latency levels, creating more precise signals. One good thing about these converters is that you do not spend on additional wires. Their set-up is less expensive, fast, and reliable.
What Is A Coax Outlet?
A coax outlet, also known as a coaxial cable, is an electrical wire transmitting radio frequency signals from one point to the next. People used them to connect satellite facilities to homes and businesses. Most people prefer them for their easy installation process and durability.
A regular coax cable is round in shape with an exceptional thickness. It has an interior insulation layer that differentiates it from other cable types. The most common coax cable sizes are the RG-11, RG-59, and RG-6. You also find them in different colors such as brown, white and black. The table below is a guide of different sizes of the coax outlet available;
| Coaxial outlet | Inside diameter | Outside diameter |
| RG-59 | 0.242’’ | 6.15mm |
| RG-6 | 0.275’’ | 6.90mm |
| RG-62 | 0.272’’ | 6.25mm |
| RG-11 | 0.405’’ | 10.30mm |
| RG-13 | 0.405’’ | 10.30mm |
The coax outlet has some pros and cons. Some of its pros include
1. High expansivity; they expand whenever there is a need.
2. Easy to install; their make is less complex. It makes fixing, wiring, and installing easier than other cable types.
3. High capacity; coax cables can hold up to 10Mbps in capacity
4. Relatively cheap; they are less expensive, making their replacement and installation affordable.
5. Coax outlets have high resistance to EMI making them suitable for use in most households.
Long-lasting; its durability is why most people prefer the coax outlet above others.
The outlet is also associated with other advantages, such as its electromagnetic nature. Unlike different cable types, a coax outlet carries signals close to metallic objects without interruption on its transmission. For this reason, they provide a solid and reliable signal to your tv.
The one downside of the coax outlet is that they have a single cable. If one transmission line fails, it affects an entire network. That transmission interruption for the whole network due to disruption of one line is a significant drawback.
How Much Is The Installation Cost For A Coaxial Outlet In A House?
For people who know how to install coaxial outlets, the cost tends to be lower. It is even lower when you have electrical power in your home. Also, newer buildings involve less labor and time than older houses. You can use other alternatives for older homes, such as Wi-Fi, to receive television signals.
When calculating the cost for coax outlet installation, you must include the labor cost. Electrical fixing labor prices range between $50-$100 every hour in most states. The longer they work for you translates to higher installation costs. Some technicians charge a call-out fee. Even if they worked for less than an hour, you still get to them their hourly charges and a call-out fee.
Materials are the other biggest consumers when installing coax outlets. Some materials needed include connectors, faceplates, and a coax cable. The three cost around $60. However, the costs differ. For instance, installing a new coax outlet is more expensive than replacing it. The reason is that, during replacement, you do not buy all materials.
Some houses are larger hence require a longer coax cable. A longer line translates to more labor and time spent. All these raise the total installation cost. You should note that a shorter coax outlet is better than a long one. At 50ft, signals tend to be stronger than at 100ft. At 100ft, the strength of the signals drop by at least 30%
What Are The Uses Of Coax Outlets?
Cable companies use coax outlets to deliver cable tv to clients. It allows you to view cable tv signals in your home with a better transmission. Nowadays, almost all modern homes come with these outlets in each room. Electricians connect them from the wall to the customers’ televisions.
People also connect the coax cable/outlet to the TVs cable box. You could also attach it directly to the antenna for better signal reception. Other digital converter boxes come with coax outlet ports. In this way, you insert the coaxial outlet into the converter instead of the television.
Coax outlets are default types. For this reason, they tend to be compatible with almost all household electronics. After connecting them to your television, they offer a protective shield. They shield the tv from external interferences that could disrupt transmission. With this, they also enhance the picture quality.
Where Do You Fix The Coax Outlet In The House For Your Cable Tv?
There are many ways to have a coax outlet dropped into your home. The primary source of coax outlets is either Comcast or Xfinity. These are the direct supply companies. They have poles similar to those supplying power on the streets. Whichever company you choose, they run the cables from the poles to your home. You can have them running underground or above. It depends on how you prefer them.
Once they reach your home, an electrician passes the cables through the wall hooking them to splitters. In this case, new houses have the upper hand. The installation process is more straightforward. People install them when doing the general house wiring. If the house is old and with no cables, there could be a slight problem. It requires some demolishing and destruction of your home. The best thing is to go for alternatives such as a Wi-Fi connection.
Which Is Better Between The Coax Outlet And Fiber Optic Cable?
A Fiber optic cable works the same way as a coax outlet. They both carry audio, video, and other data types for better viewing.
The first thing to consider is durability. In this case, coax outlets last longer than Fiber optic cables. They are also easy to install, which makes them most people’s choice, especially for household uses.
Consider using Fiber optics in places where faster data transfer is necessary. For example, universities and businesses have high data transfers than a typical home. The problem with the coax outlet is that many people share it. Due to this, there tends to be an on and off fluctuation in their transfer speed. Such incidences act as drawbacks to any business relying on that connection.
When considering the connection distance, Fiber optic cables are better. They transfer data for longer distances without needing a repeater. On the other hand, after 100ft distance, coax cable starts losing its signals. However, residential areas do not have that much data to transfer to long distances. That is why you find Fiber optic cables in commercial centers than in residential areas.
The other thing is cost. Fiber optic cables are more expensive than coaxial outlets. The same case applies to their installation process. Even after installation, charges and maintenance prices of Fiber optics are higher.
Do Smart TVs Need Coaxial Outlets?
The most common use of the coax cable is to ensure your tv receives free airing using the antenna. Even the smart TVs have come with antenna ports for coax connection. With the presence of this port, it means that you can connect to the outlet. However, it is not always necessary. Some televisions use a Large Area Network (LAN). You can avoid using it unless you want to view the free-to-air channels.
Smart TVs give you a wide range of choices. You could connect a set-top box, an HDMI, Fiber optic cable, or the coax outlet. They all depend on what you want to watch. Some people go for ethernet and Wi-Fi options.
Conclusion
If your house lacks a coax outlet, you can have electricians come and install one for you. A newly built home is less expensive than an older one. If you do not want to walk down that path, you should consider other alternatives. For instance, Fiber optic cables are a good choice. They are fast and reliable. Connecting to the internet via Wi-Fi is also a good option. Your cable tv connects almost the same way with the coax cable.
