Coax cable not working properly???

ecmcdougall · Joined: 08 Jan 2008 Posts: 2

Hi, I have a problem with a coax cable run - I'm splitting a Dish
Network signal to go to two TV's. One of the TV's works fine, but the
other doesn't seem to be getting a signal; when I accidently touched
the outer part of the tv's coax connection to the center conductor on
the cable, a snowy picture and sound appeared, but with a snug proper
connection there's nothing.

I have the Dish 625 DVR receiver, and at present two TV's set up on
separate "channels". I want to attach a third tv to the second
channel; I realize this will mean that both will be showing the same
thing but that's ok, I only will be watching one or the other.

I'm in a house that was wired before we moved in, the previous owners
had DirectTV and they were piping it to just about every room in the
house - there's a rat's-nest of cables with a powered 10-way splitter
in the basement, unfortunately, none of the cables are labled or
attached to the splitter anymore.

So, I used a tone generator/cable tracer from Home Depot to find the
cable that goes to the tv that's already set up, and then to the room
that I want to set up the other TV in; I then attached a splitter and
hooked up both cables.

But no joy. Any ideas?

Archived from group: alt>home-theater>misc

T Shadow · Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 21

wrote in message@i12g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> Hi, I have a problem with a coax cable run - I'm splitting a Dish
> Network signal to go to two TV's. One of the TV's works fine, but the
> other doesn't seem to be getting a signal; when I accidently touched
> the outer part of the tv's coax connection to the center conductor on
> the cable, a snowy picture and sound appeared, but with a snug proper
> connection there's nothing.
>
> I have the Dish 625 DVR receiver, and at present two TV's set up on
> separate "channels". I want to attach a third tv to the second
> channel; I realize this will mean that both will be showing the same
> thing but that's ok, I only will be watching one or the other.
>
> I'm in a house that was wired before we moved in, the previous owners
> had DirectTV and they were piping it to just about every room in the
> house - there's a rat's-nest of cables with a powered 10-way splitter
> in the basement, unfortunately, none of the cables are labled or
> attached to the splitter anymore.
>
> So, I used a tone generator/cable tracer from Home Depot to find the
> cable that goes to the tv that's already set up, and then to the room
> that I want to set up the other TV in; I then attached a splitter and
> hooked up both cables.
>
> But no joy. Any ideas?
>

Just the usual. Make sure the center wires are long enough to make full
contact and that the co-ax isn't shorted. Swap the co-ax on the splitter to
make sure both sides are working. If that doesn't work pull the splitter and
join the cables with a coupler one at a time.

I removed the co-ax from a PCI tuner card that comes from the antenna and
put a coupler on it to send the signal to the HDTV in another room. Worked
great. Removed the coupler and put in a splitter hooked to both the
devices. The HDTV was only getting a couple of stations poorly. Swapped
outputs on the splitter, same thing. Cut off the connector on the co-ax
going to the HDTV and made sure the center wire was longer. Alls well.

Shorting one end of the co-ax and checking the other end for continuity
would be the next step. Are you sure the non working run is a direct run?

ecmcdougall · Joined: 08 Jan 2008 Posts: 2

On Jan 9, 3:55 am, "T Shadow" wrote:
> wrote in message
>
> @i12g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hi, I have a problem with a coax cable run - I'm splitting a Dish
> > Network signal to go to two TV's. One of the TV's works fine, but the
> > other doesn't seem to be getting a signal; when I accidently touched
> > the outer part of the tv's coax connection to the center conductor on
> > the cable, a snowy picture and sound appeared, but with a snug proper
> > connection there's nothing.
>
> > I have the Dish 625 DVR receiver, and at present two TV's set up on
> > separate "channels". I want to attach a third tv to the second
> > channel; I realize this will mean that both will be showing the same
> > thing but that's ok, I only will be watching one or the other.
>
> > I'm in a house that was wired before we moved in, the previous owners
> > had DirectTV and they were piping it to just about every room in the
> > house - there's a rat's-nest of cables with a powered 10-way splitter
> > in the basement, unfortunately, none of the cables are labled or
> > attached to the splitter anymore.
>
> > So, I used a tone generator/cable tracer from Home Depot to find the
> > cable that goes to the tv that's already set up, and then to the room
> > that I want to set up the other TV in; I then attached a splitter and
> > hooked up both cables.
>
> > But no joy. Any ideas?
>
> Just the usual. Make sure the center wires are long enough to make full
> contact and that the co-ax isn't shorted. Swap the co-ax on the splitter to
> make sure both sides are working. If that doesn't work pull the splitter and
> join the cables with a coupler one at a time.
>
> I removed the co-ax from a PCI tuner card that comes from the antenna and
> put a coupler on it to send the signal to the HDTV in another room. Worked
> great. Removed the coupler and put in a splitter hooked to both the
> devices. The HDTV was only getting a couple of stations poorly. Swapped
> outputs on the splitter, same thing. Cut off the connector on the co-ax
> going to the HDTV and made sure the center wire was longer. Alls well.
>
> Shorting one end of the co-ax and checking the other end for continuity
> would be the next step. Are you sure the non working run is a direct run?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

The coax cable is completely embedded in the walls and ceilings in the
house; I have no way to visually inspect it, unfortunately. I'm going
to dig out my meter and check the continuity as soon as I can, I came
across a simple method involving shorting one end with tin-foil;
simplicity itself. I suspect that this is where the money is, but I'm
hoping not; and I'm wondering about the weird signal I get when I
touch the inner conductor to the cable connection on the TV, it
doesn't seem right.

I did move the connections around on the splitter and also direct
connected them, it seems to be that particular cable that's the
problem.

Well, thanks for the reply, I'll keep working on it. Does anybody
know whether I can harm anything by shorting the coax going to the
satellite box (accidently, I wouldn't do that on purpose) or cross-
connecting the coax at the TV? What kind of currents would I be
dealing with?

T Shadow · Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 21

wrote in message@u10g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
On Jan 9, 3:55 am, "T Shadow" wrote:
> wrote in message
>
> @i12g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
>The coax cable is completely embedded in the walls and ceilings in the
>to dig out my meter and check the continuity as soon as I can, I came
>across a simple method involving shorting one end with tin-foil;
>simplicity itself. I suspect that this is where the money is, but I'm
>hoping not; and I'm wondering about the weird signal I get when I
>touch the inner conductor to the cable connection on the TV, it
>doesn't seem right.

>I did move the connections around on the splitter and also direct
>connected them, it seems to be that particular cable that's the
>problem.

>Well, thanks for the reply, I'll keep working on it. Does anybody
>know whether I can harm anything by shorting the coax going to the
>satellite box (accidently, I wouldn't do that on purpose) or cross-
>connecting the coax at the TV? What kind of currents would I be
>dealing with?

Signal is about the same as a strong signal from an antena. IOW not much.
shorting it breifly isn't a problem. Try very hard not to get a continuous
short . Luckily it's near impossible to get co-ax backwards. It is easy to
short the braid to the center wire though. Problems are almost always at the
connectors.

mykey · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 58

the second tv is tuned to the wrong channel
my second tv works on cable 73
or use video
or you do not have the correct splitters
it requires special splitters
or you have made a connection error
or, obtain the manual with parts numbers and
diagram. do you have the second direct tv remote?