70
votes
Why is there a voltage on my HDMI and coaxial cables?
TLDR: Forget the networking stuff, that's only a symptom. Call the power company and report a power outage, tell them "Lost Neutral". When they ask, don't talk about other symptoms other ...
48
votes
Accepted
How do I remove this wall plate with no visible screws?
It's not complicated, you just haven't used one before.
I use ones like it all day long.
The screws are hidden under the little rectangular plastic bits at top and bottom. Typically you push one end ...
- 190k
30
votes
How can I locate a wall from a crawl space?
Cut an opening in the wall for a low voltage box/bracket,and install the bracket.
Position a flexible drill bit into the hole, so that you'll drill straight through the bottom plate of the wall and ...
- 131k
24
votes
Why is my house wired with two coax in every room and an RJ11 splitter?
Most likely this was a satellite dish hookup.
Back in the 90s, when the technology was nascent, each box got its own LNB feed from the dish. You'd also need an antenna hookup to get local broadcasts (...
- 23.4k
24
votes
Accepted
How can I repair/reattach loose cable covers to the wall?
The proper way to fix this is to install it the way it should have been installed in the first place, with a box eliminator, a.k.a. low-voltage bracket:
There are many varieties. I usually use ...
24
votes
Accepted
How can I use existing satellite coaxial cable to carry my internet connection?
To answer your question, what you are looking for is a MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) adapter. It will allow you to media convert from ethernet to coax.
IMHO, I would run new ethernet cable as ...
- 612
22
votes
Accepted
What is this "loose faceplate ring" and is it something that should be fixed?
If you feel behind where the "extra screwholes" are, there should be a metal strap with holes in it (that's connected to the metal ring, and will be folded into place behind the wall to hold ...
- 190k
21
votes
What is this "loose faceplate ring" and is it something that should be fixed?
This is likely a low voltage mounting bracket kind of like this one:
There are fewer codes to meet than actual mains electrical boxes, especially with regard to plugging in and unplugging things ...
- 4,380
15
votes
Accepted
How many power cables can a coaxial cable cross?
If you cross perpendicular to the power there will be no problems no matter how many cables you cross each cable basically cancels when perpendicular.
- 102k
13
votes
Why is there a voltage on my HDMI and coaxial cables?
Everything you are describing could be explained by a disconnected neutral that might be within your premises or outside. You should start by calling your power company and suggesting they come look ...
- 31.8k
13
votes
Accepted
Can you bury coax internet cables above power cables?
Many of your questions are moot as the power company will most likely come, trench to the depth they want. Put the box needed where they want it. ( For some corporate legal reasons it shouldn't go on ...
- 21.7k
11
votes
Accepted
How can I locate a wall from a crawl space?
Measure carefully. There are usually plenty of reference points... duct vents plumbing, etc.
Once you've done that, either drill a very small hole to feel for the wall's bottom plate, or run a long ...
- 126k
11
votes
Can I use coax outlets for cable modem?
Here's the caveat with old coaxial cable. If this is an older house, it might have cable already, but it's probably RG-59. This is from back in the days of analog signals, well before we were sending ...
- 23.4k
11
votes
What is this "loose faceplate ring" and is it something that should be fixed?
Actual boxes are not required for low voltage wiring and both cable service coax and Cat-5/6/7 qualify as low voltage. The “ring” is a perfectly normal low-voltage plate. If it is loose, adding screws ...
- 12k
10
votes
Conduit to run ethernet and coax from basement to attic
That hole is a firecode violation. It should be air sealed around the penetrations - as it stands it is a chimney for a fire.
As far as conduit to separate the low voltage wires from the line voltage ...
- 12.8k
10
votes
How can I use existing satellite coaxial cable to carry my internet connection?
Wifi gets me to 800Mbps.
Excellent, this isn't good enough?? You could try getting a better WiFi router.
FWIW, I have gigabit fiber Internet and I cannot achieve the full 1000 when hardlined. I think ...
- 16k
9
votes
Accepted
How would you patch such a coaxial low-power cable?
While this cable is technically "co-axial" because the two conductors share the same center, this is not RF signal cable that we commonly call coax, and it doesn't have the same restrictions....
- 27.6k
8
votes
Accepted
How should coax cable enter the house in a harsh climate?
I don't think it matters all that much. I can't find a minimum operating temp for coax, but most wires tend to list -20C as their minimum, and that's mostly for bending reasons. So if it got hit in ...
- 23.4k
8
votes
Why do I have a coax splice behind this blank face plate?
It is likely a remnant from either the initial cable-pulling process, or that connected cable is an extension that was used to "move" the coax to that other point in the room that you ...
- 1,352
8
votes
Accepted
Conduit to run ethernet and coax from basement to attic
There's little point in having conduit that goes only part way. On the other hand, a continuous conduit path from attic to unfinished space in the basement is a tremendous asset when low-voltage ...
- 26k
8
votes
What is this "loose faceplate ring" and is it something that should be fixed?
That is a standard metallic low voltage mounting bracket. Completely normal and appropriate. The make plastic ones that are easier to get tight, and I prefer them over the metal ones.
Insulation. You ...
- 21.1k
7
votes
How can I locate a wall from a crawl space?
I came up w/ a 'cool trick' (I think so, at least). Get some of those strong, rectangular magnets.. Upstairs, on the edge of the wall, where you want the receptacle to be above, put the magnet on ...
- 71
7
votes
How should coax cable enter the house in a harsh climate?
The connectors shown in the image are "contemporary technology" and have sealing gaskets incorporated into the design. The tool used for applying the connectors ensures good sealing. The outer metal ...
- 10.5k
6
votes
Accepted
Can dielectric grease be used in coax connections?
Living and working as a cable television technician in a beachside region, I can attest to the value of the silicone dielectric grease for improving the lifespan of these connections. Salt air eats ...
- 10.5k
6
votes
Can I use coax outlets for cable modem?
There's probably a gob of cable terminations in your basement or utility room. You'll need to find the two cables that go to the rooms involved (or simply place your modem there). With any luck they'...
- 126k
6
votes
Why is my house wired with two coax in every room and an RJ11 splitter?
I'm curious if those are all bundled together into one cable in the wall?
I have used cable that contained all 4 in one to simplify running it.
Notice that the two coax are different colors so the ...
- 9,351
6
votes
Why do I have a coax splice behind this blank face plate?
I get we all want smooth walls, but you really shouldn’t just cover up a splice box.
While that is a less serious problem with data cable, it is absolutely essential it not be done with power cables, ...
6
votes
Conduit to run ethernet and coax from basement to attic
2 inch PVC is quite large for a few low-voltage cables (coax & cat6 or whatever.)
Check in the electrical aisle of your home improvement store. You'll find GRAY CONDUIT that is specifically meant ...
- 3,373
6
votes
How can I use existing satellite coaxial cable to carry my internet connection?
I just bought a house with the same situation, coax but no Ethernet. I bought pairs of these: Deca 100mbps Ethernet to Coax adapter: https://www.newegg.com/p/1BV-0034-00006 Basically puts Ethernet ...
- 4,524
6
votes
How can I use existing satellite coaxial cable to carry my internet connection?
To run ethernet over coax you indeed need an "adapter" such as MoCa which converts ethernet into radio signals. This is explained well in the other answers.
One may be tempted to use the ...
- 15.7k
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