Adding a cable tv line

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Rich Elec.

Senior Member
Location
Pennsylvania
I took on a small project that I need a little help with.
The project adding a cable tv line.
The customer has 4 tv's and and a cable modem.
They wanted to add a tv.
I installed the line, checked the the tv picture and it was fuzzy. I added a 8db amplifier.
It has cleared up most of the channels. I still am showing a few channels not crystal clear.
Channels 7,8,12.
Any suggestions on clearing this all up?
 

mdshunk

Senior Member
Location
Right here.
Did you do a home run? Did you use 1 gigahertz splitters? It is possible that the amp needs removed and the attenuator removed at the head end, instead. Did you use quality terminations on your new run, such as snap-n-seal's or hex crimps? Please tell me that you didn't use screw on's? Did you install a 75 ohm terminator on any unused splitter ports? You didn't use a splitter way too big for the job, did you?

Just some stuff to get you started. Don't be ashamed to bail out and call the CATV company, particularly if you don't have the equipment to check levels. (Comsonics, Sadelco, Wavetek, etc.)
 

mdshunk

Senior Member
Location
Right here.
Rockyd said:
Bookmarked for response, and solutions...
You see, the rough thing about catv work is that unless you have the equipment to check levels, you're just guessing. If you do "clean" work, with high quality materials and the latest techniques, you can normally expect good results. When the result is less than good, you need to fall back on your test equipment, which many EC's don't own.
 

infinity

Moderator
Staff member
Location
New Jersey
Occupation
Journeyman Electrician
Marc asked a lot of great questions but forgot one, what type of cable did you use?
 

chris kennedy

Senior Member
Location
Miami Fla.
Occupation
60 yr old tool twisting electrician
mdshunk said:
Don't be ashamed to bail out and call the CATV company, particularly if you don't have the equipment to check levels. (Comsonics, Sadelco, Wavetek, etc.)

I sometimes do these install for friends and family. I tell them I will make the terminations but there is a good chance the will have to call their cable provider when I'm done. The upside of having me do the prewire is I don't run the cable all over the outside of the house as the provider would. (Upside for me is I get food and beer!)
 

Rich Elec.

Senior Member
Location
Pennsylvania
mdshunk,
I ran one cable from a 1 gigahertz splitter. I have a 1 to 2 splitter where I have the internet connection and a 10" cable to the amplifier where 4 tv lines connect. I used quality hex crimp connectors. I have no unused splitter ports.
I am just about ready to bail out, these people are friends of mine and i would like to take another crack at it. I know that this is not my expertise, and if it not for friends I would not have excepted the job. I am an electrician not a data-tech. So I think what I have next is to check the existing lines for bad connections where I might be losing some signal. What do you think?
Another thing, the homeowner told me that the cable co. was at their home about a year ago to install a new cable modem. They cheked the signal, where not happy with it, and went up on the pole and made an adjustment. Re-cheked the signal and felt it was good.
 

mdshunk

Senior Member
Location
Right here.
chris kennedy said:
The upside of having me do the prewire is I don't run the cable all over the outside of the house as the provider would.
Right! This is how I sell so much of this kind of work. A contractor who's interested in running lots of cable should also invest in a level meter. I've used several over the years, but they're all equally easy to use to check basic levels.
 

mdshunk

Senior Member
Location
Right here.
Rich Elec. said:
Another thing, the homeowner told me that the cable co. was at their home about a year ago to install a new cable modem. They cheked the signal, where not happy with it, and went up on the pole and made an adjustment. Re-cheked the signal and felt it was good.
Ah, yeah. That would tell me that you make have had "just enough" for the previous setup coming in. The "adjustment" isn't so much of an adjustment as it is removing one particular attenuator and installing a smaller one (or removing the attenuator all together). If they've go no attenuators installed at all at the ped or the aerial splitter, the subscriber drop may be due for replacement.

If you have confidence in the quality of your terminations, it sounds like you've done everything right. Lacking test equipment, time to bail out and call the cable company.
 

Rockyd

Senior Member
Location
Nevada
Occupation
Retired after 40 years as an electrician.
Rich might be fully satisfied now, but I have a couple of questions...

Marc,

Are you using a Db meter for signal strength, and if so, how much "factory equipment" (splitters) do you find bad in conjuction with poor crimps, etc?

I'm assuming trouble shooting cable is like when a mechanic looks under the hood of a car - it's beyond the HO, and is probably a series of additive problems, hence the specialist is called, because HO is fresh out of ideas (doesn't know he didn't have the tools to start with). Leaving you to zen out their network problems with hidden splitters in the attic and bad fittings per $5 ace "special crimpers".

Is this the normal world of cable per RG-6/59?

Thinking it's worth the hassle to say yes when people ask "Do you do cable".

How ugly is the downside picking it up?
 

Smart $

Esteemed Member
Location
Ohio
Rich Elec. said:
I installed the line, checked the the tv picture and it was fuzzy. I added a 8db amplifier.
It has cleared up most of the channels. I still am showing a few channels not crystal clear.
Channels 7,8,12.
So I think what I have next is to check the existing lines for bad connections where I might be losing some signal. What do you think?
Thanks Marc,
That is probably what will happen.
Rich.
Before you do, use barrel connectors and elimnate all amplification and splitters to the nearest TV (including any switches, vcr's, etc.) or perhaps a direct-as-possible, unspliced cable from grounding block to nearest tv, or as I used to do, connect a pocket or portable tv at the block. Check channels 7, 8, and 12. If still fuzzy, it's most likely in the service. If they are not, you'll have to track down the problem...
 

mdshunk

Senior Member
Location
Right here.
brantmacga said:
they may have to upgrade to a 1/2" coax service.
I'm not sure that's really the term, but I get the idea of what you're saying. For this many sets, not likely, however.

The "next size" of subscriber drop used to be RG-11, but that's being phased out for the most part. The new "next size" beyond RG-6 is what's called "320" (Three-twenty, for slang). Hardly any new RG-11 is being installed, and mostly all 320.

Here's a handy cross reference chart for connectors and tooling for catv.
http://www.cedmagazine.com/WorkArea/downloadasset.aspx?id=148712
 

brantmacga

Señor Member
Location
Georgia
Occupation
Former Child
if that's what you call it. i'm not a tv guy either. i just know its the big fat one. :D

you wouldn't think 4 sets would make it fuzzy, but my house is fed from the utility w/ rg6 and two tv's connected makes it fuzzy.
 

mdshunk

Senior Member
Location
Right here.
brantmacga said:
you wouldn't think 4 sets would make it fuzzy, but my house is fed from the utility w/ rg6 and two tv's connected makes it fuzzy.
That would have less to do with the cable type, often times, when you only have two sets.

If you're interested in learning more about this sort of thing, there's really only one comprehensive text that I know about. Recommended Practices for Coaxial Cable Construction and Testing
 

brantmacga

Señor Member
Location
Georgia
Occupation
Former Child
what are you thinking it is then? i have to mention too that i'm the third to last house on the line. might that have something to do w/ it?
 

mdshunk

Senior Member
Location
Right here.
brantmacga said:
what are you thinking it is then? i have to mention too that i'm the third to last house on the line. might that have something to do w/ it?
Without testing, it's just a guess. Sorry, best I got.
 
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