Fuckin' dogs. Need advice on how to splice a satellite cable under my house.

[Maddy McCall]

Dogs had a chew party on my satellite line under my house. Since it never gets wet under there, I'm not worried about waterproofing the splice.

I went to radio shack and bought a 75 Ohm TV Coax Coupler and the F Connectors for RG6 coax cable. Crawled under the house, stripped the cable, installed the F connectors on each end, and then attached both ends to the Coax Coupler.

Still no signal.

Did I buy the right coupler and connectors for this repair? Is this a job for DTV Man instead of me?

Any advice is appreciated.

[two gun sid]

1. crimp-on or twist-on connectors?

[Maddy McCall]

4. crimp on

[two gun sid]

22. OK. They're usually the best...

but if you don't have a special crimping tool get the twist on type. A leatherman is probably not going to get the job done. You need that wire mesh shield to be connected to your connector very well. Any connection that attenuates your signal is going to cause you problems.

Is there anyway you can test your signal strength at each point in the splice? Probably not right? You could go back to the splice and take a pair of channel locks and squeeze on the connectors you installed while someone watches the TV and see if you start getting a signal.

[Maddy McCall]

26. OK...I'll try the channel locks first, before I go get the screw ons.

If I can just get enough of a signal tonight, then tomorrow I'll call and see about upgrading my system. Then they'll fix it for free.

THANKS, sid!!

[two gun sid]

29. I hate to be a fucking knowitall but I would think about...

getting a piece of shrink tubing and putting it over your splice after you get it repaired just to keep it protected from any moisture. Every connector, splice, splitter or any corrosion causes you to lose some amount of signal.

[Maddy McCall]

33. Thanks, sid!

I'm watching now...you rock!

[mcctatas]

2. Nipple clamps?

or what the above poster suggested

[Texasgal]

*cough*

Umm..yeah... NIPPLE CLAMPS! WOOT!

[pokerfan]

3. That should have worked

and that's what I would have done.

If you have access to a multimeter you can check for a short. Then you can check continuity by shorting one end and seeing if you can see the short from the other end.

[Maddy McCall]

5. No multimeter...

and I wouldn't know what to do with it if I had one.

Thanks.

[Symarip]

7. Without a multimeter

We're just grasping at straws, unfortunately.

You could bring a portable television down with you and check your input but even that might be a pain in the ass.

[Maddy McCall]

11. I'm outta luck there, too.

No portable TV.

[Symarip]

13. WAIT

I installed a satellite dish once

OK, at Radio Shack or somewhere similar they should have something called a 'satellite finder'. It just checks the line for signal. That might help you troubleshoot which connector, if not all of them, are bad.

[Maddy McCall]

15. I just lightly crimped the connectors with vice grips.

Could that be the problem?

Radio Shack is closed now...but I can run to Walmart and get the screw on connectors maybe, and use those instead of the crimps--just cut off the crimp ons and use the screw ons?

[Symarip]

17. It should be just that easy

I usually liked the crimps better, but you have to have a feel for em, y'know? Anyhow, the screw in one's are kind of idiot proof. But I've only used either/or a handful of times so I'm no expert. Just adding what I can.

[Maddy McCall]

19. Ok...It looks like I'm runnin' to walmart.

That's the only store open at this hour.

THANK YOU!

[Maddy McCall]

34. Thanks for all the help, Sym...I'm watching the tv now!

[Symarip]

53. Don't mention it

Glad I was of some assistance.

[pokerfan]

23. In lieu of a multimeter

you can pick up a simple continuity tester at Radio Shack for a couple of bucks.

To check for opens, un plug the other end and then touch one probe to the center conductor and the other lead to the outer.

Then deliberately short the other end and see if you can detect that from the other end. The tester should have instructions but they are basically jsut a battery and a light or LED.

[Maddy McCall]

35. Thanks for all the advice, pokerfan!

Satellite is working now.

[CreekDog]

6. i'd buy the twist on connectors

unless you have a crimping tool.

[Maddy McCall]

9. I don't have a crimping tool. I just used my kid's Leatherman....

used the vice grips on the leatherman to crimp it. Uh Oh. Could this be the problem?

[pokerfan]

16. It might be

The return connection (the foil and/or braid) is just as important as the center conductor.

[Maddy McCall]

20. OK...I think I'm gonna try the screw on connectors....

does that sound ok?

And THANK you for your advice!

[CreekDog]

24. my connection didn't work unless

...the black insulation was peeled back exposing the metal brading and that metal brading had to touch the metal of the twist on connector.

(but as an amateur, i have no idea why )

also you need those female to female connectors to join the two wires together.

and apparently the inside cable, the copper wire, should protrude about 1/2 inch.

good luck.

[Maddy McCall]

36. Thank you thank you thank you CD!

It worked!

[CreekDog]

47. ur an expert now

[pokerfan]

48. you have to complete a circuit

As I wrote in post #16, the outer conductor (braid) is as important as the inner conductor (copper). Not connecting the outer conductor is like connecting just one lead to a speaker and expecting it to work.

Here's a schematic:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Tran...

[flvegan]

12. Seconded.

[Maddy McCall]

21. OK...y'all have convinced me.

Gonna go get some now.

Thanks!!!

[LostinVA]

8. I'd get DTV Man

What a random thing for your dogs to chew on.

I thought my dog was weird for making a full out den under the pine trees. He's in touch with his wolf side, I guess. We've had bad storms tonight and I couldn't even get him out of there to take him in. He's been shaking since we got home from work tonight. I feel so bad for him.

Haruka was able to get him out from his "den" and he's even scared to go out to smoke cigarettes with her, although he still goes. Mick totally thinks he's a smoker. He gets so excited to hear "smoke," "cigarette," and he gets excited when she takes one out. I don't know what he'll do when she quits.

[Maddy McCall]

10. LOL...he's learned that "smoke" means "outside."

Good doggy!

[LostinVA]

28. It also usually means Frisbee time

[LeftyFingerPop]

14. Maddy....

Look closely at the connections.

Make sure that none of the strands are laying on the white plastic portion of the cable.

In other words, make sure the connection is nice and clean.

I had this problem once, and it was due to a sloppy splice.

Also, did you use an actual crimping tool to connect?

[Maddy McCall]

18. No, I didn't use a crimping tool. Just vice grips...

and I'm sure that the connection is kinda sloppy, because I did it in the dark with a flashlight in my mouth and with the weimaraner jumping on me.

If that could be it, then I'll make MMjr go under the house with me and hold the light, and I'll kennel the dog while I'm under there.

Also, I wonder if I can use screw-on connectors instead of crimp-ons? If so, I can run to WalMart and get some screw ons.

[LeftyFingerPop]

25. Try this....

Make a new splice.

You want to take off 3/4" of the black insulation. Then, 3/8" down to the copper wire.

Make sure the resulting white portion is perfectly round (make sure it has not been bent into an oval).

Buy some screw on connectors if you don't have a crimping tool.

Once they are on tight, make sure the strands are not laying over the white stuff. this will short it.

[LeftyFingerPop]

30. CORRECTION

3/4" of copper, 3/8" of black sheathing.

[LeftyFingerPop]

31. Argggghhh...I'm brain dead tonight...let me clarify...

1) Strip 3/4" right down to the copper core.

2) From the BOTTOM of that cut, take an additional 3/8" of black only.

3) Make sure you did not crush the white portion into an oval. If you did, your connector won't fit right.

4) Screw on the connector, checking for any stranding over the white portion.

5) The copper core should be about even with the top of the connector when you are done.

[Maddy McCall]

37. You done good!

Thanks, philboy! It's working!

[CreekDog]

27. this is the coupler i would use

[Maddy McCall]

40. Yep...that's the one I've got!

Thanks!!!

[Maddy McCall]

32. Thanks, guys! I don't care if everyone else in the lounge calls you douches....

I think you're all the best! I'm watching TV right now, and got hooked up JUST IN TIME for Project Runway.



:

[LeftyFingerPop]

38. Well done.

Good job.

[Maddy McCall]

41. Psst...

I was jokin' about the douche thing.

[LeftyFingerPop]

43. ...

[MonkeyFunk]

39. Find a man

[Maddy McCall]

42. Go eat a poo sandwich, dork.

[MonkeyFunk]

44. Well the odds of that are slightly better

than the odds of you finding a man, skank.

[Maddy McCall]

45. Oh yeah? I can get any man I want at the Piggly Wiggly.

You don't know how many men bump buggies with me on purpose...I see the lust in their eyes.

Turd. Now go eat your poo sandwich.

[MonkeyFunk]

46. You bump uglies at the Piggly-Wiggly?

skank!

[Maddy McCall]

49. Honey, it's like I've told you before...

if I had as many dicks sticking out of me as I've had stuck in me, I'd look like a porcupine.

So I'll claim your skank and up it to skanky ho.

[MonkeyFunk]

50. jeez

you french-kiss your father with that mouth?

[Maddy McCall]

51. I have to knock my brother out of the way.

[MonkeyFunk]

52. It's like a very creepy Waltons episode

[callous taoboy]

54. Friend's dog just chewed all of the seat belts out of the back seat of their new car.