what else typically runs with residential cable?

[bofe954]

I don't have cable and want to disconnect the line from my house. It runs over the yard and is ugly.

I have called the cable co a few times and they don't seem to want to come out. First they said they'd do it, never came out. Then they say they need to call me about it and never call.

Thought I'd have better luck just telling them it fell off my house and is laying in the alley if they want to get it...

Anyway it's a typical coax, but it has another wire running with it. 14 gauge or so...I am assuming this is a ground and if I snip it, it won't matter. Am I right?

 

[Stuart in MN]

The other wire is probably the carrier, it's what holds the coax cable up when it's strung overhead from the pole to your house.

 

[CNGsaves]

Gotta give you the GJ standard . . . . show us what you're talking about.

 

[bofe954]

Kind of a **** picture. I don't think it's a carrier, I don't think they used one. Near the house house there is a zip tie too. You can see the smaller wire separating away from the coax as it comes in.

 

[Ghost Rider]

It's a ground wire

 

[theoldwizard1]

It's a "carrier" wire, meant to hold the strain of the weight of the coax, but obviously it was not connected to the house that way.

Ground is picked up at/in the house.

 

[ishiboo]

It's a ground wire

+1. Ground wire, perhaps used as a carrier. RG6 quad for satellite/digital cable.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

I am fairly sure It is a carrier to take strain off the cable. itself.

I just disconnected. mine off the house and took my pole punner to the end on the pole. Did the same with my phone line as well.




Posted from Garagejournal.com App for Android

 

[duude]

Its messenger cable. Like stated it just holds the strain. Cut it.

 

[Gary S]

When I had that problem. I removed it from my house and pulled it back to their pole. I called them and they didn't care enough to clean it up. so it hung there. But, it is their problem now.

 

[Speedy Petey]

Its messenger cable. Like stated it just holds the strain. Cut it.

Exactly.
It is NOT a ground wire.

 

[ishiboo]

Exactly.
It is NOT a ground wire.

This is why electricians don't do low-voltage

This is RG6 with attached ground:

This is RG6 with messenger:

Having to hold the cable up, the messenger is larger. To me, that picture looks like a ground. Given grounding requirements, cable companies around here use the same cable for both the aerial and the drop to the grounding block, usually with RG6 with attached ground at least to hit the grounding block on the house, and often inside to the splitter.

 

[Speedy Petey]

This is why electricians don't do low-voltage

Well, this electrician DOES do low-voltage.

This is RG6 with attached ground:

YES, that IS a ground. That is indoor cable with an attached ground.
That is also NOT the cable in question.

This is RG6 with messenger:



Having to hold the cable up, the messenger is larger. To me, that picture looks like a ground. Given grounding requirements, cable companies around here use the same cable for both the aerial and the drop to the grounding block, usually with RG6 with attached ground at least to hit the grounding block on the house, and often inside to the splitter.

This IS the cable in question and that extra wire is a MESSENGER, NOT a ground.
It even gives the messenger's strength rating since it's job is to hold up the cable in an overhead span installation.
Where in this second image does it say that the messenger is also a ground??

 

[kbs2244]

All lawyers aside, if you don’t need it, or have any expectation of needing it, cut it at your end and let it hang at theirs.
If it causes them a problem, they will come fix it.
But I have seen them hang for over a year.

 

[ishiboo]

Well, this electrician DOES do low-voltage.

YES, that IS a ground. That is indoor cable with an attached ground.
That is also NOT the cable in question.

You've missed the point I think, and no, that is outdoor cable... NEC 810 requires it for only the outdoor portion of a satellite dish installation. There is no need to use it indoors.

Cable companies are installing the same, and using the ground/messenger as both the messenger and connecting it to the ground block. Most recent satellite installations use the same cable with dual RG6's and the single attached ground, due to multiple LNBs/etc. That is not indoor cable, it was designed specifically for grounding since it goes up to the satellite dish on the roof.

The NEC doesn't really get involved with low voltage, except in this case (there may be others) as it can affect the entire electrical system. So the NEC actually defines how this "lead-in" wire from the antenna, pole or a roof-mounted satellite dish are grounded.

With cable, unlike satellite or antenna, a separate ground is not required on the aerial/etc. and the sheath can be used... however that can introduce its own problems. (It's grounded at the grounding block anyway no matter what is chosen) So many cable companies are just using it for both.

This IS the cable in question and that extra wire is a MESSENGER, NOT a ground.
It even gives the messenger's strength rating since it's job is to hold up the cable in an overhead span installation.
Where in this second image does it say that the messenger is also a ground??

I never said it did. I just said I believe based on the size that the cable attached is sized for a ground, and not just a messenger. BUT... in the second image it does say perfect for satellite and master antenna, which would require it to be the ground.

 

[where2]

15 years ago, when I bought this old house, it had a coax from the local cable company hanging across the yard in my way. I had no intention of ever paying their extortion rates for service. Therefore, I disconnected it, rolled it up, hung the coil on the service pole for them to collect next time they came to fix the neighbor's cable. It hung there for a few years before I brought out my ladder, climbed up the pole and disconnected it from their feeder tap. I then threw their cable in the trash because it was deemed abandoned/derelict property. If they want it back, I can point them toward the trash truck that hauled it away... Said truck drives past my house 5 days a week.

 

[Highbeam]

I had power, at least three phone lines, and one cable running from the pole across the street in FRONT of my house to various points on the house. It looked like some sort of net cast over the home. When you buy a service from any of these companies they charge you to come out and "install" it anyway so I figured I didn't want the old stuff and definitely didn't want it all over the house.

I ran all of my communication cables to a central panel in the attic and then ran a street feed line to where I wanted the communication cables to come to the house from the street pole. This was right under the power lines. All in one place.

So before they came out I cut all of the old lines (not power) and dropped them across the street. I cut the lines at eye level with dykes and then used an elctrical staple to attach the loose ends to their pole.

The companies came and ran new lines to my home and never questioned why the old ones were cut off like that.

I have since ended my need for the coax line but it is still there. I use the phone line for internet and phone, an antenna in the attic for most excellent HD television.

 

[bofe954]

I cut it, coiled it up by the pole.

No less than 2 hours later a cable showed up at my door, on a Saturday and took it.

This after not calling me back and dodging me for 2 weeks.

Seems like we all think alike regarding the cables. My yard looks a lot better now.

 

[6768rogues]

I called the cable company and told them I wanted the wire removed as I was no longer a subscriber. They told me it would be several weeks before someone could be there. I said that is ok, because I have a ladder and I would disconnect the wire from my house and drop it in the road, and they could come by at their convenience to take care of it. In 20 minutes their truck was in my driveway and I had a good laugh with the guy who took care of it.