Cable Modem question (sort of off topic)

[Wade]

Well, my big blue MAME cabinet progress came to a halt a week ago because at home, my wife accidentally cut the cable outside our house for the cable modem (when trimming some ivy).  I didn't realize it was for the modem at first, as it appeared to go somewhere else (to an unused bedroom in our house), but I soon found out it was the MODEM!

So I have a question that surely someone on here knows the answer to.  It is regarding the type of cable I need to use for a replacement.

We have our main cable line and then a splitter, with runs going to all the TV's.  One of the runs (the one for the Modem) they "rewired" when they installed the modem.  they said it was a higher quality line than what was needed for TV.  They said if I used regular coax, it would have some noise issues, lower speed, etc.

I don't want to pay the cable co to replace the line.  Exactly what kind of cable do I need to use as a replacement?  HOPEFULLY, I can just replace the line, without having to use special crimp-on connectors.  I really don't want to have to buy the tools needed to do that. If I did have the tools, I'd just crimp on a connector where it is broken and stick a fitting in between to join the 2 cables.

Any help is appreciated!
Wade

[Havok]

The type of line is RG6 cable, which you can pick up virtually anywhere, and Radio Shack sells by the foot. However, I would just purchase a coupler and two ends (Also available at Radio Shack). You can get the screw on type, which are very reliable and not need any special tools, other than a sharp knife or scissors to cut the insulation off.

[edge]

There are 2 main types of RG6: quad shield and dual shield.  Dual shield is good for cable and indoor use.  Quad shield is needed for outdoor and satellite usage.

Dual Shield:
http://www.hometech.com/techwire/coax.html#BE-9116

Quad Shield:
http://www.hometech.com/techwire/coax.html#BE-1189A

Is the splitter outside your house?

[TOK]

If it's just one cut and you have the slack, you could just splice the cable with a fittings and an F-81 (barrel) connector. You can tell if it's quad shield by the two layers of foil inside. If there is just one layer of foil, its standard RG-6.
RG-6 quad fittings will fit on standard 6, but doing the opposite is difficult.

I'd also go with a hex crimper over the screw-on connectors. Haven't seen any good ones. The cable with the premade ends you get from Radio Shack is pretty sketchy too. The stuff with the rubber molded boots leading up to the fitting is really crap quality. There is hardly any braiding in it. It will work if your run is short, but wouldn't be my first choice.

This is your option, but you could just place a trouble call and say your modem isn't working. When the guy comes out, just show him the cut. It's going to be a 10 minute fix for someone that can cut fittings, and Its very unlikely that you'll get billed. He'll appreciate being able to tack some time onto his lunch. 

[pointdablame]

I gotta agree with TOK here... play stupid and call them saying your internet isn't working.  Once they come out and look around, it'll be a simple fix.  I don't think you'd be charged for it either honestly.

[sirwoogie]

I'll second that assessment of playing stupid. They'll have the better interconnects and get it nice and clean. If you want to do it yourself and have some professional quality, then you'll be looking at some up-front costs. Myself I bought quad shield RG-6, compression tool and compression crimps because I have a bunch of satellite (C-band, FTA and D*TV for those curious) stuff and want a nice professional finish (only want to do it once). The tool runs you ~$50 and the crimps about $35 for a bag of 100. I get my cable from a sat distributor that has great quality and build.

Avoid any screw-in type if at all possible. It's a quick fix for TV, and is marginally adequate. Not so for the cable modem run.

Best of luck

[Havok]

I speak from experience - I am using the Radio Shack gold plated (like 5 bucks total) screw on ends and coupler. I wrapped it with silicon tape, and it works great... even after two years, on my 5.1 megabit road runner cable modem connection. All my friends lust after the speed I get at home, 600KB download speeds on average, and when the site rocks - 700 - 800KB...

 

[Wade]

You guys are great.  Thanks for the info!

I got the Radio shack twist-on connectors, and got it working.  They are almost exactly like the old "cheapernet" coax network cables I used to deal with.  So I know it isn't all that reliable.   Hopefully it will get me by for awhile.

Soon, I want to reroute most of the cables anyway because of the way the cable company just stuck them all over the front of my house! <grrrr...> There are places inside the house where they could be run and not be seen.

Anyway, thanks again for the tips!  Got me up and running again in the meantime.  If it gives me problems, I'll just get the cable company out to fix it properly.

Thanks,
Wade

[sirwoogie]

Bah, I hate driving around my old neighborhoods to see half-ass installations. The worse eyesore to see is cable running from one room to the next OUTSIDE the house. The best is when there is more than one run done this way. I'll have to find some links to the pictures of some real nightmare installs. I remember BBR having a thread about this a while back.

BTW, I am moving this topic to Everything Else as the Main Forum is not really the place for this type of discussion

[TOK]

I speak from experience - I am using the Radio Shack gold plated (like 5 bucks total) screw on ends and coupler. I wrapped it with silicon tape, and it works great... even after two years, on my 5.1 megabit road runner cable modem connection. All my friends lust after the speed I get at home, 600KB download speeds on average, and when the site rocks - 700 - 800KB...

 

So do I. I've been doing high speed data and telephony installs since the services were launched. I've replaced about 1500 of those fittings you like. 

[Zakk]

Bah, I hate driving around my old neighborhoods to see half-ass installations. The worse eyesore to see is cable running from one room to the next OUTSIDE the house. The best is when there is more than one run done this way. I'll have to find some links to the pictures of some real nightmare installs. I remember BBR having a thread about this a while back.

They showed up here at the new house and wanted to do exactly that. "woah, finished basement, we'll have to drill outside to get the line over there".