How to Add a DIRECTV Outlet

By Ryan Bauer

  • Overview

    Making the move to a digital service like DirectTV has the disadvantage of requiring a dedicated feed from the receiver to each television set, if you want to retain control of the receiver to do things like change channels and browse through the interactive guide. Adding an additional television that affords its own control over what station it is currently tuned in will require an upgraded receiver and an increased monthly payment to DirectTV. However, you can simply split the existing output to add a DirectTV outlet in any room of your home. This will allow you to watch TV on two different sets in two different rooms--they just won't be able to tune into different stations at the same time.
    A simple cable wall outlet provides a second DirectTV connection in any room of your home.

    • Step 1

      In the intended location of the new wall jack, cut a hole in the wall using a utility knife. The hole should be roughly 1 inch wide by 1 inch tall. It needs to be big enough for a coaxial cable to fit through, but small enough for the faceplate to hide once it is screwed into place. Use the other outlets in the room, such as the power outlets and phone jacks, to determine how high off the floor you will want your new wall jack mounted.

    • Step 2

      Using a thin crowbar, carefully remove the baseboard located directly under the location of the new jack. Be careful not to damage the drywall during this process. It can be helpful to use a second crowbar or a flathead screwdriver to simultaneously pry the baseboard from a second location. This equalizes the pressure placed on the supporting drywall, allowing the board to come off smoothly.

    • Step 3

      Cut another hole at the base of the wall, directly beneath the location of the first hole. Cut as low as possible, ensuring that the baseboard will cover the hole when it is replaced. Make the cutout extend all the way to the bottom of the drywall so the coaxial cable won't be sandwiched between the wall and the baseboard.

    • Step 4

      Tuck the cable in the space between the bottom of the drywall and the subfloor. There will be a gap more than large enough for the cable to fit. Remove any baseboards along the way by repeating Step 2. Use the same process to remove the trim framing the front of doorways that stand in your way. Run the cable up and over the top of the door in the empty space the trim was covering.

    • Step 5

      Repeat the same techniques used in the previous step to run the coaxial cable to another wall jack, which will be located near the receiver. Once the coaxial cable has been run, screw each end of it to wall faceplates, then screw the faceplate's two screws into the drywall for a finished look. Replace any baseboards and trim that were removed along the way by sliding their nails back into the holes they came out of, then tapping them into place with a rubber hammer.

    • Step 6

      Plug a splitter into the coaxial output of the DirectTV receiver. This will allow you to plug your existing television into one terminal of the splitter, then use another coaxial cable to connect the remaining terminal of the splitter to the wall jack. Simply plug the new TV into the jack in the other room, and you will be able to watch the television programming the DirectTV receiver is currently outputting.
    • Skill: Moderately Easy
    • Ingredients:
    • Cable wall faceplates
    • Coaxial cable
    • Coaxial splitter
    • Utility knife
    • Crowbar
    • Rubber hammer
    • Tip: To have an independent video feed to the second television, call DirectTV and order service for an additional room instead of splitting the signal.

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