How to Replace Old TV Cable in Walls

The cable TV companies and satellite TV cable companies have upgraded their cables coming to your house to handle the new high definition technology. The cable in your house should be upgraded as well to enjoy the full effect of the new technology. The problem is if your cable was wired in your walls when your house was built, you may still have the old analog RG59 coax cable while the new digital cable is RG6. If you cable or satellite company is advertising High Definition TV they are using RG6 cable. Most cable providers do not replace the cables in walls; instead, they want to run the cables along the eaves along the outside and along baseboards inside. Personally, I do not like this option so I took the time and expense to upgrade the cable in my walls.

The cable may be available from you service provider at a discounted rate, usually in one hundred foot lengths, so give them a call before you purchase cable elsewhere. Make a rough estimate of how many feet you will need to each outlet, keeping in mind that if you need one length of fifty-two feet and another section of fifty-five feet you have to purchase two one-hundred foot lengths. This article assumes you have access to your attic or crawl space.

Materials you will need: Quantity depends on each project

RG6 coax cable

F-Type Male and Female Connectors

Electrical Tape

Tools Required:

Universal Crimp Tool

Coax Stripper

25′ Fish Tape

Cable Cutters

Standard (flat blade) Screwdriver

Disconnect remove cable leading to cable outlet in wall, remove screws from wall plate and disconnect cable from back of wall plate. If possible, pull the outlet box from the wall and pull the cable out of the back of the box.

Unroll the new cable so it is straight and will pull through the wall without kinking. Use the electrical tape to secure about six inches of the new cable to about six inches of the old cable, side by side.

Go to the attic or crawl space, locate the cable you have been working on and begin pulling the old cable out of the wall and the new cable in. When the joined section reaches the opening gently work it through the hole to avoid separating them. If they come apart start over using the fish tape, but most of the time it will work.

Continue to pull the new cable through the same path as the old cable until it reaches the cable connection box on the outside of your house.

Strip one half inch of outer shielding with coax stripper, leaving only the white plastic shield. Peel back the copper strands and cut off even with the black sheathing. Remove the white plastic shielding leaving a quarter of an inch.

Push the cable connector onto the cable until the white plastic shield is even with the top of the connector shaft and crimp. Disconnect the old cable and connect the new cable to the outside box.

Inside the house cut off all but twelve inches of the cable left. Insert the cable into the back of the box and reinstall it back into the wall. Attach an F connector to the end of the cable, screw back of wall plate and reattach wall plate.

Repeat these steps for each cable connection in the house.