Cable Installation Problem

[Hillbiehle]

My local cable company deposited two characters on my doorstep today to install cable TV. Communication with them was difficult as English was not their primary (or secondary) language.

What I was able to glean from our conversation, was the "free" installation would consist of rewiring the entire house (8 connections) at $50 per receptacle. They'd be bangin holes all over the place. Since I know nothing of this, I sent them on their way and came here for a little more information.

All of the existing receptacles are inter-connected to an attic antenna. I have a separate cable connection for my modem.

Why can't they simply tap into one of the existing connections? Does this price seem a bit high? Any suggestions?

[McGurk]

Free usually constitutes about 7 new holes in your siding let alone the new beautiful black cables hanging around the perimeter of your house. If you have an existing cable network in your house, I'd just tap into it and use your existing splitters if you are satisfied with it. The big question is if you need RG6 cable or not if it is Dig Cable. Good Luck! McGurk

[DTro]

If you have existing boxes with coax coming from the antenna they should be able to run the main line to there with appropriate splitter and amplifier if needed. Perhaps they didn't realize you are wired already.

[blakjack23]

I just had 4 coax jacks from Comcast put into my house that didn't have any previous cables. I believe it was 28/jack.

[Guest]

If your existing antenna connections is coax, it is probably RG59 coax which is smaller coax and might be aged by now. It may, or may not provide a decent signal. I dont not recommend a amplifier.. it will case more problems than it will help unless you are going to have 10 TV's running all day. If you dont it will cause more interferance.

You can have the cable company run a line to your existing splitter and it will work, but the picture quality will only be as good as the condition of the coax.

If you do have them run a line to the splitter.. you may have to hook the line up to the splitter yourself to avoid being charged for 6(how many outlets you have) outlets. If they tie into an existing line, they CAN, and usually will charge for as many lines connected to it.

If your splitter is in good shape, and your coax is in decent condition, you should have decent signal.

[Whoaru99]

So, the point I missed, was why did these guys show up if you didn't ask for the service? Or, when you say you didn't know, did you just mean about the cost, etc.?

As to the cable, if you need to be rewired, do it with all "home runs". In other words, run continuous(non-spliced) lengths of RG-6 coax from each outlet point back to a central location where the cable drop enters the house. Then, have one splitter with enough taps to make the necessary number of connections.

Don't run one main line through the house and branch off as necessary. Too much risk of one bad connection screwing up the whole system and also the signal is not as uniform when you branch off the connections this way.

Usually the first connection is included and the rest are optional at a charge. They could try to connect to the old wiring, but if there is any picture quality problems your old wiring will always be blamed first, and quite possibly true.

Around here (shall remain secret cause I don't want to blow the deal) the cable guys will usually leave a spool of wire if you ask and want to pull the cable, then they will come back and put the ends on and install the splitter for little or nothing. The "deal" is that you have to make those "home runs" I mentioned previously.

Also, if the exisisting splitter is older, more than a couple years, it probably does not have the bandwidth rating to be compatible with digital tv or cable internet service specifications.

[Surface Tension]

If you didn't order cable they shouldn't have been there. Installers around my area are subcontractors. I have a feeling you were getting scammed. If and when you decide to subscribe negotiate free installation. When the installer comes out and you decide you'd like the cable run instead of strung all over the outside of the house (because thats what they will do) you can swing a deal with him. Hes all ready getting paid for the install by the cable company, the extra time to do the job professionally or to your specifications you would then pay for.

[Hillbiehle]

Thank you all for very good information.

Sorry I wasn’t clear. I was solicited by Comcast by phone for a deal whereby purchasing basic cable TV (along with my existing cable internet) would actually reduce my overall bill by $5.00 per month.

I have heard horror stories about these subcontracted installers.

My existing antenna coax and splitters were there when I bought my house, so they’re 15 to 25 years old.

I did not realize this probably should be replaced. And yes, they were going to run cable up the outside of my house into the attic where the existing antenna is. No way. Guess I’ll have to bite the bullet and have a major install. But I recently remodeled my house and am wary of the unknowns with the cable company. Should I hire this out as long as I’m paying for it anyway?

[McGurk]

Sorry to hear about the recent remodel: That was the time to do it! Wire is SO cheap and easy to run that most people should try to plan ahead and just wire for everything even if it is sitting dead. When you need it, and you will need it, it will be there. Data (cat5), RG-6, speaker, and even a 14-2 power lead is not a bad idea for new construction or remodeling. Just a hint for the other readers. I'll add a firm second to the "home runs" with one common junction point for cable or sat, phone, and data. Usually this is a central point in the home and a great spot is by your breaker box. This is the way that most houses are being wired, or should be wired, for all of the networking and expansion of technology in the home. Good Luck! McGurk

[cableguy031]

Ah... somebody is speaking my language.... hmmm.. where to begin.

OK, let's start with something simple.

1. When you were contacted by Comcast, did you say anything about installing 8 additional outlets (A/O)? Wiring that many outlets can and will take time, agreed. In order to make sure you get a decent installer, ask for an "in-house technician", not a contractor especially for a job this big. And yes, you were right in denying the contrators the job.

2. From what you've said, your cable lines were already there since the time you bought the house so obviously they're quite old. It could be and should have damages from the weather and animal chews. By the way, the squirrels chews on the cable line jacket not because they're hungry, but it's because the material that was used to make the shielding jacket tastes like salt. These pesky critters do it all the time just like a deer would with a block of salt.

The old cable lines, RG-59, were good and decent at one point in time where televisions were broadcasted in analog signals and wasn't very high tech. Nowadays, technologies have changed drastically. To answer your question about whether or not the line should be replaced, the answer is yes. When Comcast switched over from analog signal to digital simulcast, there were many customers with reception problems, i.e. channels 9 and 11 were missing. After some troubleshooting, there were a few solutions that came up. Some solutions included but not limited were: bad fittings (fittings not crimped tight or crimped too tight), Radio Shack (sub-standard equipment), RG-59 cannot support digital signals, bad drop from the pole to your house (squirrel chew, weather damgage) etc. Anyhow, a varity of problems can arise if these issues were left unfixed.

3. Like you said, your house was recently remodeled which means that during the construction period, what you should have done was call in the cable company and have all your outlets wired while the walls were out and 2 X 4 exposed. It would have been a much easier job where you can just point and determine where you want the outlets. But have no fear, it can still be done, just a tad harder than if you had your walls and 2 X 4 exposed. We cable techs don't really want to get into these situations, but if it has to be done, then we'd do something called " wall fish ". We would use a steel tape to go behind the walls and push it down to where the outlet would be, then we'd tape or tie the stripped cable or the center conductor to the fish tape and pull it back up. This can be done rather easy, however not all houses are constructed the same and some with hidden surprises.

4. If you already have an antenae hooked up in your attic then that would be even better. It can be done without tearing your whole house apart causing additional damage. How about this, why don't you send me an email, I can tell you much more about installing cable and maybe we can talk business also.

My email is: [email protected]

[cableguy031]

Quote:

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Around here (shall remain secret cause I don't want to blow the deal) the cable guys will usually leave a spool of wire if you ask and want to pull the cable, then they will come back and put the ends on and install the splitter for little or nothing. The "deal" is that you have to make those "home runs" I mentioned previously.

I'm shocked!!! We wouldn't do something like that? Cable rolls don't usually fall off by themselves, unless they're following in Jacksons' examples.