Do you guys like the Bundled Cable solution or prefer to go with individual cable wire. I am asking because all the bundled cable solutions I have seen (which admittedly isn't many circumstances) have inferior cabling. For example, I was not impressed with the coaxial cable in the bundle pack (2 cat5 and 2 rg59).

If you do use bundle, what usually comes in the bundle and which manuf. do you like?

Individual. For a few reasons.

1. I like boxes, I hate spools.

2. With the bundle you always want something different to add so whats the point.

3. The only argument for bundle negates itself because you have to peel way back anyway so you are still left with a bowl of spaghetti.

Idividual. If possible, I prefer to runn all white cables and can't do that with a bundle. I also don't like the fact that the bundle doesn't pull as easily. Lastly, the bundled stuff is really only good for structured cabling. Does little good in a full integrated system which has many different cabling requirements at different locations.

Structured wiring is for the birds. Go with singles so that you can have full control over the quality of cable, number of cables and cable types.

I always considered structured bundles to be for the DYI homeowner or the uneducated electrician.

Years ago everybody doing structured wiring would run two rg6 & two cat fives to each location --- no so anymore...

We use singles and that way we can customise a little more and not waste wire.

Individual in boxes.

one of my local ultra high end architects JUST started specing bundled cable.

I laughed

Individual boxes like most others....sometimes siamese coax.....

And Wesley. Don't forget Wesley!

Two cables bundled together are not twice as hard to pull as one cable, but they're harder to pull than two singles. Any more cables, as "bundled cable" always has, and you're just adding more and more pulling headaches.

Really, that's just me trying to say the same thing as everyone else, and they are all totally correct....

I always found it easier to pull a single bundled cable (2 RG6 + 2 CAT5e) than 4 spools or boxes. Especially in the winter.
Maybe I am just the king of pulling bundled cable! :)

I am speaking of rough-in. For retro, I would rather do individual cables.

Maybe some of us are in Florida! ;)

Same here.


Although it is a PIA unraveling the bundle at either end, the bundled cables will help make for a nice "bend ratio".

I presume that "bend ratio" thing is something that's considered when you're pulling singles?



Besides, I have a couple 1000' spools of bundled in the warehouse (got a special deal). You want something REALLY difficult to work with? Try manhandling one of those huge spools....

F That, makes my back hurt just thinking of it. The thing with bundled cable, I still wind up running additional phone jacks in the bedrooms, and never seem to use the phone jack at the TV location.

I used to pull bundled cable, these days i try to get the alarm company I use to do the structured cabling.

Here is the real question. What ARE you guys running on an average prewire.

I know it varies from house, condo, apartment or hotel but, let's talk average. I'm not talking speakers or cameras, I'm just talking average prewire for CATV, Sat and basic control.

For bedrooms, I'm pulling
2 coax, 4 Cat 5, 1 Line level (pair w/shield) for the TV location.
2 Cat 5 to bedroom telco location.

For family rooms and 2nd living rooms, I'm pulling
4 coax, 6 Cat 5, 1 Line level (pair w/shield) for the TV location.
2 Cat 5 to each telco location.

For outdoor locations, I'm pulling
2 coax, 2 Cat 5 to the North side of house.
2 coax, 2 Cat 5 to the South side of house.
North or South may vary depending on demark location but, I always pull 2 lines outdoor to the South for Sat.

I home run everything to a closet, panel or rack location.

What's your average prewire?

Biggest bundle I ever handled was a 5000' spool of 25 pair of Cat5e direct burial. It took 3 of us just to get it out of the van, ( they used a forklift to load it).