What cables for VM installation?

[ziggybray]

Folks, would appreciate knowing what cables I can expect VM to install during my scheduled installation for Internet, phone and TV services? I am currently having an extension built and would prefer to have my "sparky" hide cabling within the walls. I called VM and the guy informed me that it would be fibre optic cables for all 3 services! Sparky has pre-wired with digital TV cable (CT100??) but would appreciate any feedback from VM customers who have had all 3 services installed...

[Peter_]

You will not get fibre optic to the house, you will have a black cable run from the cabinet to the property and white installed internally.

To the property.


Internally for the modem.



Not the exact cabling but close enough.

[RB2004]

Webro HD100 is a match for what VM use, in fact it exceeds the VM spec using copper instead of alluminium.

it is available on ebay in various cut lengths, but is one of the only tri sheilded cables available.

CT100. or WF100 (better than CT100) will do the job, but do not meet VM standards, as they lack the 3rd layer of shielding... most Coax Digital Cables are only Dual Sheilded... So personally I would be weiry of using anything BUT tri sheilded cable.

As any interference or noise that gets on the line will effect your services, and your neighbours which is why VM dont like you tampering with their cables.. also if it is traced back to you they can hold you liable.

So despite CT100 being "ok" as in it will do the job, just be aware it does lack the 3rd layer shielding of a VM RG6 internal cable.

[ziggybray]

...so the black cable to a termination box (on external house wall), then the white cable to the Set Top Box? Does the Internet and phone cable then get wired from the STB?? thanks..

[RB2004]

Black Siamese dual shielded coax with telephone wire to box outside, black single tri shielded cable from box outside to isolator inside.. Unless there is a cable run from box outside to isolator inside that is visible in which case they will use white..Then from isolator inside white tri shielded coax to stb. Internet and tv are transmitted down same cable.

[ziggybray]

Thanks for this valuable feedback - appreciated. What if the stb is in a different room to where i want the Internet hub? thanks again...

[RB2004]

If you want stb and modem in separate rooms they can take 2 separate coax cables from the box outside to each room to an isolator in each room.

Or sometimes they will install a splitter between the isolator and stb in one room to feed another room.engineers will do this as a shortcut but it is not good practice as it weakens the signal further

[MrMartin]

VM have been supplying a combined modem/wireless router (which they call a hub) for a while now on 10Mbps and 20Mbps installs. It will be a direct replacement for your current ADSL modem/router.

[ziggybray]

appreciate all the help... with regard to the vm stb does this need a dedicated phone socket like the sky stb?

No, it doesn't, the cable that supplies the TV pictures has a return path that the box will use to communicate with the outside world.