Dave nye said:
Well most of this I agree with. I never go the same height as the wall outlets, I go higher or lower by a full plate. Most of the time the wire is run from outlet to outlet in a straight path. I just get through the drywall then push the bit to the outside wall I can tell if I have grabed a wire when I do that.
Not true.
Actually, you are much safer at one to two inches to the right or left of the center height of an outlet box. Take off the plate over the outlet. Almost always, on one side is the wood stud onto which the box is nailed. Put the hole for the cable two inches to the other side.
Being a master electrician, I know from experience that this is the safest place. The worst is the area within the horizontal strip above the box and right next to the stud. Wires come in and out at the TOP of the box. Electricians usually do not come in from the bottom, unless they are running wires from below the floor. It's easier on the knees to run wires into the top. Wires need to be stapled centered on the stud. The NEC 1-1/4 rule from the surface applies.
Then, again, some jerk might run some wire anywhere. There is also almost no possibility of hitting a gas, refrigeration or water line, one inch to the open side of an outlet box.
One of my favorite tools is a lowly 1/16" diameter piano wire "insulation hanger." I use it as a probe, feeler, and position locator, when pushed through drywall. Any hole is easy to repair.
To locate an in wall fish from below, I chuck the wire in a battery powered drill and drill between the baseboard and the base 2x4 plate into the drywall and through the subfloor. This is with hardwood floors or tile. With carpet, drill between rge edge of the carpet and the baseboard. When located below, drilling about 1-1/2 toward the wall side will always get you into the wall cavity. Taping the end of the coax to the insulation hanger will allow you to push it through like a needle and thread to the access hole for the wall plate.
A 1-1/2" hole saw is ideal for making the access hole. If using a one connector plate, the screws will have wood to attach to. With drywall, use plastic shields.
Just from my experience.