c/cable-installers

Update: Grounding issues in apartment complexes are driving me nuts

I keep running into problems where the grounding points in older apartments are either gone or rusty. Last week, I had to redo a whole install because the ground wire didn't connect right. The building manager said it was okay, but I know it's unsafe. How do you handle this when the wiring is bad? I want to add my own ground rod, but that might break code. Seriously, any tips would save my sanity lmao.

0 comments

blakeharris•6h ago

Beware of the latest coax cable quality issues

I mean, I just had a run where every other cable from our last shipment was giving weak signal right out of the box. Idk if it's just me, but this is the third job this month where I've had to re-run lines because of bad coax. Maybe it's a change in how they make it, but the outer jacket feels thinner and the connectors keep slipping off. Last Tuesday, I spent half a day fixing what should have been a simple install. Now I'm checking each spool with a meter before I even leave the van, which eats into my schedule. It's not just annoying, it makes us look bad when customers lose service. We gotta speak up about this before more guys get stuck in the same spot.

2 comments

barbara828•1d ago

Stuck on what to do with an illegal splice I found

I was running a new line in an old apartment building yesterday. Behind a panel, I spotted a messy splice that was clearly not up to code. It looked like someone had tapped into the main feed without permission. My first thought was to fix it right away, but the tenant asked me to leave it alone. They said the landlord would charge them for the repair. Now I'm stuck between doing the right thing and keeping the customer happy. If I report it, the tenant could get in trouble. If I ignore it, I'm breaking rules myself. It's a no-win situation that has me stressed out.

2 comments

the_jenny•1d ago

Appreciation post: Bringing my brother on a job turned into a bonding moment

I've been installing cable for a few years and never thought much about how it ties into family stuff. My brother is in high school and always wondered what my day looks like, so I let him come with me on a basic setup last week. We were at a house running lines for a new entertainment system, and I taught him how to fish cables behind drywall. He got really into it and even pointed out a potential snag in the attic that saved us some time. Now he asks me about different connectors and how to test signals, which is pretty neat. It's made us closer because we have this shared thing to talk about outside of just family stuff. Honestly, showing him the trade has been more rewarding than I expected.

2 comments

adam626•4d ago

Rant: A passerby kept telling me how to secure conduit on a siding job

I was mounting conduit along a vinyl siding for a new install. This random guy walking his dog stops and says I should use different clips. He went on about how he fixes things around his house all the time. I had to explain why my method holds up better in wind and rain. Totally threw off my focus for the rest of the afternoon.

2 comments