Without knowing the exact signals, configurations, and products you plan on for Cat-5 whole house distribution of audio and video, you should plan on 2 Cat-5e cables from each room to your head end for A/V alone. Then 2 RG6 cables for RF distribution. One for cable and the other for either a two tuner option, other RF feed, or MoCA (multimedia over coax alliance). I added a link on MoCA. MoCA is really poised to become the new standard for home distribution. A good analogy to describe MoCA is a "wired wireless network." It's multichannel and can even ride over the top of your existing cable or DBS distribution. STB (set top box) manufactures and system operators are really backing this since they can distribute multiple signals, including HD video, through the whole house with an often already existing coax. Finally, you may need another Cat-5e for Ethernet distribution to each room. Also you may run to run good old telephone lines as well (or you could use another Cat-5). One thing to remember is that while Cat-5 has 4 twisted pairs, adapters to break them out are difficult to find and generally discouraged due to potential crosstalk issues. Also, for whole house audio I don't know if you were thinking of amplified controls in each room or just line level with separate amplifiers and speakers. If the former is the case you also have in wall speaker wiring and low voltage supplies in each room to consider (some mfgs run power over the Cat-5). I guess minimum I would suggest 2) RG6, 3) Cat-5e, and 1) 4 conductor telephone line (if you want phone jacks). Here is a link that might be useful: MoCA

I called in the lady that answered agreed with me that it didn't sound like the install was done proper. she had to ask someone else if it warrented a service call..then she wasn't sure how to write up the service order so that I wasn't being charged for the trip. She did get me in for next week no charge since it was their mistake. Not sure why they use the demarc box. could be that thats how the cable company they took over has done it for years or because my house is realy 2 apartments and they don't want any renters hooking in to the live feed for my apartment and getting free service.

Initial versions of NM cable did not have a grounding conductor. Later a grounding conductor was added, but is was smaller then the current carrying conductors (around #16-18). BX was discovered to have problems with ground continuity using just the spiral armor. It was de-listed and not re-introduced until years later as AC cable with a bonding strip. While it is possible for the armor on BX to heat up (it is a common demonstration with a Variac to control the applied voltage and make the armor glow red hot) it is still a rare event.

A rooftop antenna mast or satellite dish mast require direct earth grounding, bonded to the structure's electrical earth ground, for protection against lightning strikes. And also for safety reasons when located near pool/hot tub areas. Ideally, a coaxial static-discharge block is used to dissipate static build-up charges for antenna/dish applications and also ties the coax shield to ground. A simple grounding block used in CATV is used primarily in an attempt to equalize the ground difference potentials between the CATV line and the structure's ground. For whole-house signal distribution, it is best to tie the coax into a single bonded grounded point at the service entrance. Directly after, use a passive splitter or distribution amplifier to feed each location.