[mythtv-users] Lack of aerial access

[David Brodbeck]

On May 21, 2007, at 1:23 PM, Dan Gravell wrote:

> We have just moved into this house and the truth is I don't know.  
> The survey said it's of a timber frame construction, but wouldn't  
> there be insulation in the cavity?

Probably.  The are some tricks for that, though.  When I was doing  
security camera installation I had some thin fiberglass poles called  
"fish sticks" that I would use to push wire through spaces like  
that.  However, be aware that it's quite likely there's  
"firestopping" between floors -- solid wood blocks to prevent the  
cavities from acting like chimneys if the house catches fire.  This  
would naturally block your access.  Sometimes you can run the cabling  
alongside existing plumbing; usually the holes for that are oversize  
and there's room to shove a cable through alongside the pipe.

If you have forced-air heat another option is to run plenum-rated  
cable through the air ducts.  Be sure to use grommets where the cable  
passes through the sheet metal so it doesn't get cut.

I live in the U.S. so it's possible construction details like this  
are different where you are.  All of this stuff is highly dependent  
on local building codes.

Of course, the aerial lead must already be coming from above.  You  
might want to find out where it enters the house to begin with.  If  
it's through the attic, then it's usually pretty easy to push cabling  
down into the walls of the top story; there's only one firestop to  
deal with, then, and since attics are usually unfinished it's right  
there where you can drill a hole in it.

Consider pulling some network cable as well, as long as you're going  
to all this trouble. ;)