Your Universal Remote Control Center
RemoteCentral.com
Custom Installers' Lounge Forum - View Post
Previous section Next section Up level
Up level
The following page was printed from RemoteCentral.com:

Login:
Pass:
 
 

Topic:
Define "cable drop"
This thread has 14 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Saturday May 18, 2019 at 10:58
crosen
Senior Member
Joined:
Posts:
April 2009
1,262
Most everyone will agree that if you have one cable going to a closet for a WAP and another cable going to the wall for a touch screen, you have two cable "drops."

How about if you have two cables going to a single telecom jack. Is that one drop or two?

It seems many people consider that to be two drops, but I'm in the camp that a drop is a cable end point (i.e. that you are "dropping" to.) So, a telecom jack is one drop, whether it has 1 cat6 or 3 cat6 plus 1 coax.
If it's not simple, it's not sufficiently advanced.
Post 2 made on Saturday May 18, 2019 at 11:29
ichbinbose
Select Member
Joined:
Posts:
August 2011
1,824
I consider it per location. However it Can take longer to pull multiple lines to a single location, it should definitely add to the labor.
Post 3 made on Saturday May 18, 2019 at 11:31
osiris
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
November 2004
442
Why does it matter?
Post 4 made on Saturday May 18, 2019 at 11:54
highfigh
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
September 2004
8,311
I charge T&M.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Post 5 made on Saturday May 18, 2019 at 11:57
Rob Grabon
Founding Member
Joined:
Posts:
November 2001
1,392
A 'drop' is a wire connecting an endpoint to a distribution network.

A wall plate can have multiple drops on it, which don't necessarily all originate from the same place.

For instance, a structured cable bundle consisting of coax and 3 cat, can supply
A CATV drop, a telco drop, and 2 LAN drops
One location yet 3 different distribution systems.
Technology is cheap, Time is expensive.
Post 6 made on Saturday May 18, 2019 at 13:08
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
Joined:
Posts:
December 2001
30,104
There's some confusion as to exactly what a "cable drop" is, similar to the confusion when talking about the cable that the cable company installs. Is that a cable (one you installed in the house), or is that cable cable (one that the cable company installed)?

It would help if we had an exact definition of a cable drop.

Until I saw this thread today, I would have said that a cable drop is a piece of cable, with supporting elements, that brings a telecommunication connection from "the pole" (which could be an underground vault, too) to the "demarc" (demarcation point, that is, the place in or on the building where wiring installed and supported by a service vendor separates from wire installed in and maintained by personnel employed by the owner of the building).

So... what kinds of interconnections are you calling "cable drops"?
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 7 made on Saturday May 18, 2019 at 13:17
FunHouse Texas
Active Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2013
595
I 2nd Rob-

for me a "drop" is a single wire be it coax, CAT, speaker or otherwise. one of each/any to a TV location = 3 drops. don't overthink it. (you will)
I AM responsible for typographical errors!
I have all the money I will ever need - unless i buy something..
Post 8 made on Saturday May 18, 2019 at 14:21
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
Joined:
Posts:
December 2001
30,104
Okay. Accept that there will be confusion when you use "cable drop" to mean different things. That's the price of not thinking through the terms you use. You know, like when "video" meant RF using F connectors and it also meant NTSC video using RCA connectors.

Here's a question: Can you run drop cables near power cabling? Yes. And no. Depends on what kind of signal is going over the cable. When you're planning your drops, that alone is enough reason to carefully NOT call everything a "drop."
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 9 made on Saturday May 18, 2019 at 15:10
buzz
Super Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2003
4,366
"Cable Drop" to me means that the cable company pulled their wires to a spot where I can access them. This spot could be inside or outside of the structure. And, unfortunately, with or without proper grounding.
Post 10 made on Sunday May 19, 2019 at 05:47
thecapnredfish
Senior Member
Joined:
Posts:
February 2008
1,397
Cable drop is cable from tap to the ground block. Wouldn’t a cable to a room/device be called a homerun or an outlet? Buzz, what is proper grounding? The ground rod as first choice, then ground wire using a split bolt and last the meter box or mobile home metal frame. Define improper grounding.
Post 11 made on Sunday May 19, 2019 at 05:57
buzz
Super Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2003
4,366
"Proper" ground would be bonded to the electrical system ground. Most cable system grounds that I see would best be described as "air" ground.

One installation had the incoming cable connected to a copper water pipe. Unfortunately, the area had been remodeled and the water pipe was rerouted -- all except for an isolated one foot section that still had the cable ground connection attached.
Post 12 made on Sunday May 19, 2019 at 07:42
thecapnredfish
Senior Member
Joined:
Posts:
February 2008
1,397
That would indicate maybe remodel was done after initial cable drop was installed. Maybe?
Post 13 made on Sunday May 19, 2019 at 09:52
buzz
Super Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2003
4,366
Yes, likely cable was installed decades prior. It was amusing that someone was aware enough to keep that ground wire attached to a copper pipe.
Post 14 made on Sunday May 19, 2019 at 09:53
Ranger Home
Super Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2007
3,486
We don't use the term "cable drop". We have a drop, dual drop, triple drop, quad, etc. A single drop is, for example, $135, a dual drop is $195 and $60 per drop added to that same location. This can be two cats and coax in a drop, or four cats is a drop, whatever.

Appears the OP got some odd responses to his question lol.
Post 15 made on Sunday May 19, 2019 at 11:19
ShaferCustoms
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
March 2014
380
When your installing in-wall speakers (wall mounted WAP, voice/data jack, TV jack) and the wire you just spent an hour and a half fishing up the wall to the device location,

you trim off the end you realize your holding the wrong side?

Cable drop?


Jump to


Protected Feature Before you can reply to a message...
You must first register for a Remote Central user account - it's fast and free! Or, if you already have an account, please login now.

Please read the following: Unsolicited commercial advertisements are absolutely not permitted on this forum. Other private buy & sell messages should be posted to our Marketplace. For information on how to advertise your service or product click here. Remote Central reserves the right to remove or modify any post that is deemed inappropriate.

Hosting Services by ipHouse