Your home’s portal to entertainment
Coax outlets deliver service for internet, cable, antennas, and more.
Newer homes often have one per room.
A splitter can be used to divide signal devices but will weaken performance.
You’ve glanced over it many times when tidying up your entertainment center, but have you ever stopped to study that funny, flat wall outlet with the metal connector? That’s the coaxial, or coax, outlet, and it brings you joy—television and internet, that is.
Often, using a coax outlet in your home is as simple as connecting to a data-transmitting device, like a modem or cable box. However, there are times when you’ll need to know a bit more about the coax outlet to get your tech setup up and running. Read on for an introduction to your TV’s best friend.
Coaxial outlets are the hub for distributing cable service to your home for television and internet. Using a coax cable, the outlet is connected to your modem or router for internet or your digital cable box for TV and sends the signal to your devices so you can watch cat videos all over your home.
Most modern homes have multiple coaxial outlets; some have one in every room. Rarely is a home not equipped with coax outlets since they have become a staple for cable companies to deliver service, but older homes may be limited to just one outlet.
Splitters transmit a single signal across several devices by dividing the energy from the source across multiple ports. They are available in two-way through six-way styles.
A splitter is used to link more than one device to a single coax line, like connecting your TV and internet.
Keep splitting to a minimum because splitting output can decrease speed and reliability. Remember, you’re only dividing your existing output among more devices when using a splitter, not duplicating it. Also, avoid chaining multiple splitters together to prevent overburdening of your outlet.
It's common in homes with many coax outlets to leave some inactive.
Unless you were the one to install all your coax outlets, you might not know which one is active in your home. Here's a simple way to test a coax outlet's signal if you don't have an electronic cable tester:
Plug your modem into the outlet.
If the modem receives a signal, that outlet is active.
Unplug the modem and repeat for every outlet.
If there's no connection in the outlet you want to use, worry not—you can simply activate the dormant outlet.
You can activate a coax outlet on your own, but if you’re not comfortable or you need a new coax outlet, bring in a local electrician to install it safely.
Since a splitter divides your signal between devices, it’s better to have independent outlets for stronger performance. Additionally, when a splitter overtaxes an outlet, it may cause intermittent or unreliable service, and overloading a splitter can also result in service failure.
Most new homes have coax outlets in every room. A home can require anywhere from one to five outlets based on how many rooms require internet, cable, or satellite access. If you want to mount your TV on a wall as part of a home renovation, consider installing a new outlet to avoid the need for a splitter or long cable that could slow down speeds.
Yes, the length of the coax cable can affect your signal. A longer cable can reduce your signal, so it is a good idea to have a new coax outlet installed in your home if you don't have one available in the area where you want to connect television or internet.
If there's no existing coax outlet in your home, you will need to have a coax line installed by an electrician in your area. The cost to install a coaxial cable outlet is around $210. You should first confirm that a previous owner hasn't put blank plates over coax ports. Alternatively, you can run your internet through a DSL phone line.
