need some coax/cable help

[JCQuick]

when I built the house I had my AV guy install a line for my future shop. Now 10 years later The shop is built I need to connect the cable from the house to the new cable that I got from my DTV guy Free I might add . any way the new cable seems to have a ground that runs next to the coax where the 10 year old stuff does not. Anyone have any suggestions on how to do this

 

[NitroSun]

That's not a ground. That is called messenger. It's used for aerial applications to tie to a hook or a clamp. Just slice the coating between the messenger and coax and peel it back and cut it off. Then install your connector.

 

[JCQuick]

That's not a ground. That is called messenger. It's used for aerial applications to tie to a hook or a clamp. Just slice the coating between the messenger and coax and peel it back and cut it off. Then install your connector.

cool thank you what type of connector should I use?

 

[Git]

Something like this - a compression fitting

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B8CISSU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[ishiboo]

That IS a messenger, but given that it's now buried in the ground, I would ground it where you ground the coax before it enters the building... either at one of these, or an inter-system if you have one.

 

[ironmutt]

when i worked for dtv it was a ground wire we connected it to the dish down to a union then from union block a bare wire either to ground rod or a water pipe . and +1 on compresion fitting for the connector like some one before said just peal it back cut it off then do connector dont forget to do a loop before it goes in the building sounds crazy but the thinking is lightning follows shortest path so if it hits the wire it wont follow all the way around the loop but burst out bottom of it to the ground instead of going in to building and frying electronics

 

[ironmutt]

one other thing i notice is that first pic looks like might be burial if there is a goo type substance right after the outer coat what ever you do dont let it any where near your mouth the stuff is horrible and you cant use enough mouth wash to get rid of the taste

 

[DCarr2]

Dont run the bare cable in the ground, run it through a pipe or something... I tried doing that a few years ago, with in 5 years the cable degraded and failed.

 

[JCQuick]

I'm getting lots of good info here please keep it coming

 

[ovrrdrive]

I've never seen underground cable with a messenger on it... Is it marked as underground cable on the side?

Can you post a pic of the writing on it?

If it's aerial you don't want to bury it. it would only last a year or so before it went bad. As mentioned above if it is burial the shield will be really greasy and sticky feeling. If it is then it is a ground and not a messenger and fine for direct burial. It's still a good idea though to bury it in conduit. Not only will it last longer but if it does go bad you just use it to pull in a new one. Much easier then digging a new trench.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'm getting lots of good info here please keep it coming

In typical GJ fashion, this is a great time to buy a new tool or set. Don't buy some cheap connectors, get some compression fittings like mentioned above. When I put the new TV in the garage, I finally anted up for it and was glad I did. Once you do it, you'll know that you have a way better connection than the older coax fittings.

I believe this is the set I bought.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Paladin-...llite-Compression-Crimp-Kit-PA70019/100574595

I'll second the burying it in conduit.... with some Cat5e or 6 and a string.

 

[rlitman]

In typical GJ fashion, this is a great time to buy a new tool or set. Don't buy some cheap connectors, get some compression fittings like mentioned above. When I put the new TV in the garage, I finally anted up for it and was glad I did. Once you do it, you'll know that you have a way better connection than the older coax fittings.

I believe this is the set I bought.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Paladin-...llite-Compression-Crimp-Kit-PA70019/100574595

I'll second the burying it in conduit.... with some Cat5e or 6 and a string.

Looks like a nice set. The truth is that with compression ends, a more expensive tool does not yield better results (though it may be easier to use or last longer). The same could not be said for crimp tools, but when it comes to coax, NOTHING is superior to compression.

 

[pmiranda]

Dont run the bare cable in the ground, run it through a pipe or something... I tried doing that a few years ago, with in 5 years the cable degraded and failed.

This. Even if it's burial cable, where it comes out of the ground and goes into the building I run it through some conduit to protect it from sunlight and weed wackers.

 

[ovrrdrive]

After a quick search there are a few companies that make an RG6 drop cable with an integrated ground wire. It's recommended for DBS systems so it's highly possible he gave you the right stuff. Looking at the picture it appears to be a copper wire and not steel like a messenger would be. If it's DBS wire it's highly probable that it's also burial as well.

Run it in conduit, strip the ground wire back and use compression connectors like the ppc linked above and you'll be fine.

I work in CATV and not satellite so I can't say what they use it for, but I'd probably hook it on one end to the dish and at the house to a common ground point before it enters the house. More than likely it's for lightning suppression. I don't do installs either so my advice is worth exactly what you paid me for it...

 

[JCQuick]

As always very good info from the GJ I didn't talk to the DTV guy my son did and he was told it was direct bury . I'll post up what it says on the cable when i get home tonight

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ If it's indeed direct bury rated, it likely has some gooey gel in the line that helps protect from corrosion. My prior house had CATV service drop that they put on top of ground until the contractor could come out and bury conduit with vibratory plow for ultimate drop wire.

They gave me the RG6 wire that was on top of ground and it works fine indoors, except for having to mess with gooey gel.

Highly recommend CONDUIT for your buried run as it will prevent all sorts of problems later on.

+1 to use compression fitting and proper tool. Keep the ground wire and tie it to ground rod like Ishiboo has shown above. You'll have top notch install when you're done.

 

[StingRay]

I did installs on Satellite internet for a while and it was a dish ground in that application. What others said about using compression connectors definitely. Crimp tools and strippers are easy to find. Home depot should have them or they are easy to get off of Ebay too.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Never use flooded drop cable indoors... It gets hot behind the TV's and I have personally seen the flooding compound leak out of the end of the cable and into a few TV's. It's for outdoor use only.

 

[JCQuick]

This is what the cable says that I have to run to the house from the shop

DTV PBCX7B-RG-6 75 ohm High performance 3.GHZ