how-to block ads
|
| | | | FAQ Revisions | Editors: Raydr  , Axilla
Last modified on 2009-01-21 22:34:38
| |
|
|
3. Common Problems·READ THIS BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO FIX A PROBLEM!
·IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APARTMENT TENANTS
·IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN MOBILE HOMES
·Who to call when the cableco is unwilling/unable to fix poor signals?
·I want to check my signal at the ground block, but I don't have video service!
·List of hard to find problems that cause HUGE headaches! GOOD READ!
·Grounding Issues
| | | In order to save yourself tons of time, there is a very quick way to see if a problem is inside your house or from the cable company.
WARNING: Disconnecting the ground block can be
dangerous if your electrical system is not grounded properly! If you suspect
your home wiring to be old or in very bad shape, do NOT remove the ground block
or you could potentially be shocked!
Take your smallest TV out to your ground block, and hook it up there. If you are still experiencing a problem at the ground block, call the cable company and have them fix it. If your problem goes away, then you have an internal wiring problem and you need to continue troubleshooting from the junction (if you have one).
You may be asking yourself how this applies to cable modems. Your cable modem requires a much cleaner signal than your TV does. If you have a crappy picture on your TV, your cable modem is going to receive a crappy signal as well, which can cause retransmits, slower performance, dropped connections, etc.
 feedback form
 feedback form
by Raydr
last modified: 2002-03-01 09:45:31 | | | Unfortunately, most of the troubleshooting information cannot be applied to those who live in Apartment Complexes. Generally apartments do not have ground blocks, and you do not have access to the input line, lock box, or any other place to do troubleshooting.
Your troubleshooting is limited checking things from the outlet to the junction (usually in one of the closets). Unfortunately, it's sometimes impossible to run new lines in apartments, and you may just have to run a line on the floor from another room to make up for the bad outlet.
The cable company does NOT own the wiring throughout the building, and you do not either. The apartment complex does.
It is my experience that some complexes take responsibility for bad wiring and will pay to have someone replace or run new lines. Other complexes will tell YOU to contact someone and YOU to pay to have it fixed. Your results may vary.
feedback form
feedback form
by Raydr
last modified: 2002-02-27 12:58:31 | | | If you live in a mobile home, then you are in a GREAT position. Mobile homes are very easy to rewire when it comes to CATV.
If you have any problems with cabling at all, just drill a hole into your floor, and run a new wire under the trailer to the ground block. You will usually find a splitter under the home near a corner.
Loop systems are rare in mobile homes, and even then, they are usually so small that it doesn't matter. If you have a loop system with more than 3 outlets, go put on some jeans and crawl under there. It won't take you more than an hour or so.
feedback form
feedback form
by Raydr | | | Keep this in mind: Most cable companies have a set of guidelines as far as their signal levels go. These guidelines also vary for each neighborhood. As long as their numbers at the tap are within range, they may not do a thing.
However, if you *know* there are signal issues at the tap, and they refuse to fix them, I'm honestly not sure what to tell you. What CAN we do when a big company refuses to do something for us?
Giggleberrie had this to say:
If the cable company isn't meeting it's obligation as agreed upon in the franchise agreement with the community, a call to the franchise authority almost always encourages them to comply.
I know some people here will just start driving over the peds and stuff. I don't condone this. :X
Good Luck.
feedback form
feedback form
by Raydr
last modified: 2002-09-15 19:48:54 | | | Please read THIS MESSAGE before reading the information below or it may not make sense.
Some people have cable modems, but no video service.
For those of you in this situation, I wanted to point out something. Did you know that you are probably paying an extra $10 a month just because you aren't subscribing to video services? Did you know that most cable companies also have "limited" or "basic" cable for around $10 a month? Think about it. ;)
If you want to determine if your cable modem problem is an internal wiring issue or an outside problem, and you do not have video service, I hope you have a laptop or can rig something.
Instead of taking a small TV out to, why not just take your cable modem? If you have a laptop (or a really long network cable), you can hook up your cable modem at the ground block and get signal levels there using DOCDIAG, or, if your cable company doesn't mind giving you your signal levels, you can just call them and get the numbers.
If your cable modem problem or signal issue goes away at the ground block, then you know that you have an internal wiring problem.
feedback form
feedback form
by Raydr | | | This is a list of little things that are very hard to find, yet cause really huge unexplainable problems:
1.) One tiny strand of shielding gets wrapped around the stinger by Raydr:
This one causes nightmares for digital cable and cable modems. Remember, the shielding is supposed to keep stray signal from leaking into the cable. HOWEVER, if one little strand gets wrapped around the stinger, you've just created a huge "noise antenna" that projects all of that noise onto the cable line. If you look at your connectors and see this, don't try and fix it. Just cut the connector off and put a new one on.
2.) CALAN Sweep Transmitters by Engineer88:
Acterna (Calan) low-level sweep transmitters will cause downstream errors if the guardbands aren't set properly. This will cause packet loss to many customers on any plant fed by the sweep. Some modems are more sensitive to this than others.
Sweep must be at least 14 dB below video levels and guardbands must be at least 3.2 MHz wide to avoid interference.
3.) by zedsdead: Here's one i see a lot, the plastic insulation in around the center pin is not completely stripped off when stripping the cable (caused by dull blades), causing significant signal reduction.
Editor's Note: I see this a bit too! It's annoying, but pull that little bit of dielectric off. It can really hurt stuff!
feedback form
feedback form
by Raydr
last modified: 2002-04-09 17:15:29 | | | Things which cause excess electrical current to flow over the cable system are very, very, bad!!!
A few things which cause grounding problems:
1. Grounding cheater plugs. (Those handy little 3 to 2 prong electrical outlet adapters) Used on equipment connected to the cable system , this will almost guarantee the appliance will use the cable as a ground.
2. Improperly wired outlets. (i.e.: Hot-Neutral wires reversed) Will cause hot chassis (current on ground) condition on A/V and computer equipment.
3. Polarized plugs, inserted backwards. These plugs are designed to be plugged in one-way for a reason, don't force them or modify them to fit in backwards.
4. Replacing 2-prong outlets with 3-prong outlets and not connecting a ground wire. Occurs mostly in older homes with handyman electricians around, causes a false sense of security and a very dangerous electrical problem.
5. Disconnecting or not having the coax cable ground. Illegal situation per the National Electric Code. Severe damage can occur to both cable company equipment and customer equipment if electrical surges occur. (Lightening, electrical line crossing cable lines, dropping a TV in a bathtub, etc...) Coax cable systems are grounded to prevent excess current from the customers home reaching the cable plant and to prevent excess current from the cable plant reaching the customer's home.
There shouldn't be more than 1 volt measurable between the coax cable and a known good ground.
How to check for grounding problems:
1. Check for the problems listed above. 90% of the time the reasons listed above are the causes for excess voltage on the coax cable system.
2. Use a electrical outlet tester.
3. Use a volt-meter or multi-meter, if you have proper instruction.
How to fix grounding problems:
1. Call you cable company to verify your house coax cable system is properly grounded. This should be done at no cost as it is required by law.
2. Call a certified electrician to verify proper grounding of your home electrical wiring and repair any problems found.
3. Remove any offending electrical equipment which is causing grounding problems.
Grounding problems, at their least, will cause intermittent or no connection on cable modems and poor or no picture on televisions. At their worst, grounding problems can lead to destruction of property and loss of life.
See the following link for interesting information on grounding issues and the problems they cause:
»www.epanorama.net/documents/groundloop/
Thanks to MacLeech for this submission.
Note by habu187 : Improper grounding can also cause "humbars" in pix.
feedback form
feedback form
by Raydr
last modified: 2005-05-17 10:03:54 |
|
