Ethernet Shielding and Cable TV

[OneKnarlyDude]

Greetings,

I'm going to be wiring ethernet outside my house along some existing cable tv (coax) cable. I've already planned on getting the outdoor/direct burial/gel infused cable to help with winters here in Maine. I'm wondering if I need to also get shielded cable as it is going to be close to the cable tv coax. Does cable tv emit any kind of interference?

 

[jamesmcuk]

Should be fine especially over short runs. Ethernet is twisted to avoid crosstalk so can't see it being an issue

 

[bill001g]

The coax is actually a shielded cable so it should not broadcast out anything.

Pretty much you should never use shielded cable unless you have tested and can demonstrate with a meter that you are getting external interference. It is extremely rare. Shielded cable is extremely hard to install correctly. You must have the shield grounded on both ends and this ground can not be the same as your electrical. If it is not properly grounded it has a very small chance of actually acting as a antenna and increasing the interference rather than reducing it.

Cable tv coax is grounded where it enters the house in most cases. For coax the grounding blocks are very common for ethernet you will have to look very hard since it is very rare to actual need shielded ethernet cable.