The wiring of the TV cable in an apartment - an important stage of TV connection. It provides not only a functional component, but also an aesthetic one.
A qualitatively laid line provides a continuous clear signal, and a few simple methods will help to remove, disguise, hide the wires so as not to spoil the overall picture of the environment. In addition, it is important to provide for all components of the television line, thereby ensuring the connection of additional devices without having to redesign the structure.
Contents
Rules of laying cables and the sequence of operations
Coaxial cable combines two functions - signal transmission from the receiver to the display device and protection from external electromagnetic radiation. In order to provide the best signal quality, the laying of the antenna cable must be implemented competently in order to maintain these characteristics.
First of all, it is necessary to make a small scheme of the length with a minimum number of adapters and joints. Already at this stage it is necessary to provide a method of masking, because this affects not only the design, but also the necessary strength of the protective coating. In a private home, part of the conductor may be located outside. Therefore, when choosing a suitable model, special attention should be paid to its density and the presence of a moisture-proof layer.
Laying of coaxial cable in branched systems is carried out by means of plugs, summers, splitters, sockets, etc. The more of them, the greater will be the signal attenuation. To eliminate this problem, you need to choose only quality products.
After the layout of the television cable in an apartment or private house, all the necessary equipment is purchased. Then proceed to the installation, which begins with the connection directly to the antenna, the institution to all points of connection, checking and decorating. The process requires adherence to several rules:
- It is not recommended to bend the wires and leave them where they can be easily damaged;
- the distance from the electrical wiring should be at least 10 cm;
- if the outer sheath is deformed, it is necessary to replace the damaged section or seal it with plastic, otherwise the protective screen will begin to corrode and the signal will be spoiled;
- when laying into a joint with subsequent termination, it is necessary to place the conductor in the protective channel;
- if the cable length from the receiver to the decoder exceeds 40 m, it is necessary to install a signal booster;
- To facilitate further maintenance, all wires should be described by attaching plastic tags to them.
How to lay a TV cable in the apartment by yourself
For laying a cable for TV in the apartment, you can use the services of professionals, but to cope with the process yourself is acceptable. The main thing in this case - try to install as few connecting elements as possible, to keep the wire intact, all fastenings to carry out reliably.
Laying a television cable can be of three types:
- "pass-through", in which the signal is transmitted in series from one outlet to another;
- "star" - the main conductor is brought into the apartment, and at the selected point from it a branching is done in all the rooms;
- mixed network, which includes both types.
In the beginning, a cable is laid from the collective antenna or cable TV trunk, which are located in the entranceway and on each floor (often the splitter is hidden in a special cabinet). When installing the access point there is one input, a connector for the next floor and the number of outputs corresponding to the number of apartments. If the apartment has an individual antenna, the wire is connected to it via a plug.
After the cord from the outside is laid, you should lay the trunk, designed through all the rooms. In this case, it may be necessary to extend the network, which is implemented as follows:
- Through an adapter in the form of a barrel with two outlets, where screwed F-type plugs;
- Through cable extender, which on one side is equipped with a socket for connecting a conductor, and on the other - a thread for screwing the plug from the receiver or socket;
- by twisting, which is the cheapest and simplest, but unreliable, because there is too much risk of the central core coming into contact with the shielded layer, breaking at the slightest deformation and loss of signal.
Television cable wiring begins and ends with the installation of an F-plug. This part fully meets all requirements. The product is available in straight and angled versions and is suitable for all types of signal. The following steps are required for installation:
- cut the cable so that the end is flat and perpendicular;
- expose the central core by pulling off the sheath and cutting the metal braid, exclude the possibility of contact of the core with the shield;
- To put on the stripped element and to screw on the plug so that the rod was shown on the back side not more than 1 mm, and the cord body was tightly entered into the sleeve of the connector.
Masking of TV cable in the apartment
Once the preliminary laying of the TV cable through the apartment is done, you need to decide where you can hide the construction so that it does not spoil the appearance of the walls and floor. A reliable and high-quality way is to make a hole in the wall at the finishing stage and get an even surface. But sometimes there is no such a possibility, and the wallpaper is already glued or the house is rented.
You can choose one of the best ideas on how to hide wires from the TV: it is recommended to cover the cable on the floor with a specially designed for this purpose skirting board, the wires will help to hide a competent decoration, a box or a plastic channel.
Tucked into the wall
The best way to implement the method from the functional and aesthetic side, when the cables are still at the stage of repair - to pull through and drown them in a recess in the wall - in the hole. Then level the surface and make the finishing. This process requires an investment of time, effort and a preliminary scheme of equipment installation.
The work will require a drill or punch (if the walls are concrete), a grinder, painting tools, plaster putty or putty. First, the longitudinal recesses are cut along the length of the conductor. Then a section of the wall between them is hollowed out so deep that all the cords will fit there. There should be room for quality and reliable termination. All the necessary branches and connectors are installed, fixation is carried out with clamps and self-tapping screws. Only after checking the performance of the line holes are caulked.
Even if the finishing work is completed and the question of how to hide the wires from the TV on the wall, this method is applicable, but it will require more sensitivity, since the final stage will need to restore the original appearance of the wall - to recreate the structure or glue a strip of wallpaper, cut out exactly according to the pattern. If handled responsibly, the surface will look as beautiful as it did before the intervention.
Conduit
The easiest method of hiding coaxial wiring is cable conduit. Plastic or metal device is easy to hang: hang the TV on the wall, connect the cord from the antenna to it, screw the base of the channel with screws, insert all the wires inside the second part of the structure and fix it by snapping the slot lock.
Special furniture
Laying the line to the TV for short distances, it is recommended to use pieces of furniture, which will hide it with its body. This can be a wall, a long cabinet, special mobile furniture, assembled as a constructor. The main thing is to properly arrange the interior elements so that the wires are not visible.
Decorating
If there is no possibility and skills to use radical methods, it is recommended to use imagination. The method of decorating opens up limitless possibilities: we hide wires on the wall under the original curtains and snags, cover them with ornate statuettes or potted plants, lay them under carpets, etc.
This method will help hide not only the coaxial cable, but also the network cable, which most often just hangs from the TV to the socket.
Decorative boxes
Often you need to hide wires when they are already stretched across the ceiling or floor. To help are able to decorative boxes that work by analogy with the cable-channel. This method is easy to implement and allows you to choose a suitable model of decorative product from a large number of products on the market, which differ in color, texture and size.
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