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Help crimping fios cableI need to connect a new line to my router by cutting the existing coax wire and connecting another. It runs to another part of my house where the router will soon be.
A nice Verizon tech gave me a female to female crimp fitting. Can I do this fairly easily myself with household tools or do you need a crimper in all cases? If it can be done at home, how? |
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It sounds like what he gave you is a barrel connector or coupler. It combines two already crimped coax cables. There's no need to cut your old line, just connect it to one end of the barrel connector and then the new wire to the other side. |
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to michaelking
and.. i would not try to find a way to crimp a connector without the correct tool. You are begging for interference or degradation of the signal doing it that way.
Depending what happens when you remove the old connector you might need to clean up the wire. It needs to be cut and some layers bare at just the perfect distances as well. There is a second tool that can be used for that as well.. |
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to michaelking
It's been a while since I checked, but home Depot had a toolkit for compression fittings for about $35. I used it to run new coax for a kitchen tv. If you cut and crimp, watch out for clean cut on the braid. Those wires are very fine and it only takes one to short the signal.
That toolkit included 5 crimp connectors. |
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JPL Premium Member join:2007-04-04 Downingtown, PA |
JPL
Premium Member
2014-Mar-30 8:35 am
Is it a compression tool, or a crimping tool in that toolkit? At first you mention compression fittings and then you mention that it has 5 crimp connectors.
I'm only asking because I was considering picking up a compression tool. I ran some line in my basement, and it's just to a DCT-700. I didn't feel like buying any tools, so I used a tool-free twist-on connector. I figured for the SD only channels it would be fine. But I'm planning on upgrading that TV in the near future, which means I really do need a better connection (I have a feeling if I try running IP feeds down there I'll have interference galore - I wasn't exactly careful with the work I did, either). |
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Teasip join:2001-05-14 Plano, TX 1 edit |
to michaelking
I've never come across a cable stripping tool that worked as easy as advertised. Either it cut everything, messed up the strands, cut it too long or too short, etc.. I have had good results, or so it seems, with the compression tools but that assumes that you have the cable cut appropriately to start.
Edit: Just got an email from SolidSignal.com for a crimping tool kit package for $29.99 as one of their "Deals of the Day". Don't know if it's any good or not. |
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jed Premium Member join:2001-07-06 Alberta, Can |
to michaelking
An electrician buddy uses the screw on connectors all the time, and compared to some of the crimp on connectors I've seen, I'd use the screw ons instead.
But, prep of the cable is most important. |
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PoloDude Premium Member join:2006-03-29 Aiken, SC
4 recommendations |
PoloDude
Premium Member
2014-Mar-30 1:23 pm
The last choice in connectors is the screw on ones. They are replaced on sight. Crimp on are fine if done right. Compression is the best.Tell your electrician buddy he is doing no one any favors. Except for him ,in that he didn't spend a few bucks for the right tools. |
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Any idea what Verizon charges to replace old wiring? |
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SL83 join:2005-05-28 Oceanside, NY |
to Teasip
» www.monoprice.com/Produc ··· format=2I have basically this. I removed one blade so I could use it primarily on quad shield rg6. It's been great. |
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Teasip join:2001-05-14 Plano, TX |
Teasip
Member
2014-Mar-30 5:32 pm
Thanks. I'll take a closer look since they take my money for other stuff as well. |
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1 edit |
to JPL
Sorry for the confusion. Compression tool and connectors. DataShark 70019 toolkit, cable and satellite. Works on rg6. Edit to add: still available at my local home depot for 35.00. Also contains 10 F-type compression connectors. |
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SL83 join:2005-05-28 Oceanside, NY |
SL83
Member
2014-Mar-30 8:40 pm
Call me a fool, but I am partial to the PPC RG6 compression f connectors: » www.amazon.com/EX6LWS-Pl ··· 03MY3F0I» www.amazon.com/PPC-Ex6xl ··· 04D9WXCM |
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aaronwt Premium Member join:2004-11-07 Woodbridge, VA Asus RT-AX89
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aaronwt
Premium Member
2014-Mar-31 9:15 am
As long as they aren't crimp on connectors |
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to michaelking
Those crimp on coax connectors, Especially on older RG-59 just don't cut it today. Even though FiOS's needs from a coax line are comparatively easier to deal with (5-1200 mHz) instead of the wider and higher needs of Cable and Satellite, For troubleshooting ;peace of mind and posterity, Compression connectors and RG-6 is a must. Youtube is chuck full of how to video's on terminating Coax If you want to start delving into the world of Coax. A (relatively) inexpensive kit like this: » www.amazon.com/Klein-Too ··· coax+kit or » www.amazon.com/Compressi ··· coax+kitWill get you further ahead for adding STB's, Moving them or router's, Or adding a OTA antenna then having to pay for a truck roll or handyman. |
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aaronwt Premium Member join:2004-11-07 Woodbridge, VA Asus RT-AX89
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aaronwt
Premium Member
2014-Apr-1 2:33 pm
said by mikeluscher159:Those crimp on coax connectors, Especially on older RG-59 just don't cut it today. Even though FiOS's needs from a coax line are comparatively easier to deal with (5-1200 mHz) instead of the wider and higher needs of Cable and Satellite, For troubleshooting ;peace of mind and posterity, Compression connectors and RG-6 is a must. Youtube is chuck full of how to video's on terminating Coax If you want to start delving into the world of Coax. A (relatively) inexpensive kit like this: »www.amazon.com/Klein-Too ··· coax+kit or »www.amazon.com/Compressi ··· coax+kit Will get you further ahead for adding STB's, Moving them or router's, Or adding a OTA antenna then having to pay for a truck roll or handyman. Wow. Those kits are inexpensive. I could have used those several years ago when I was replacing my equipment at work. The tools I currently have cost several times that amount. |
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to michaelking
For what it's worth I had a Verizon tech at my house last week because a power outage killed my ONT and it had to be replaced. I asked him to check the signal strength on one of my exterior lines and he replaced a splitter and the connector on the coax and he used a connector that he just screwed onto the cable. No crimping necessary. |
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PoloDude Premium Member join:2006-03-29 Aiken, SC |
PoloDude
Premium Member
2014-Apr-1 4:19 pm
There is almost no way a FiOS tech would use a screw on connector. Are you sure it was not a double ended connector to connect 2 cables. Pic please |
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Does Verizon use contractors for small repair jobs? |
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PoloDude Premium Member join:2006-03-29 Aiken, SC |
PoloDude
Premium Member
2014-Apr-1 8:03 pm
Not in NY |
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1 recommendation |
to aaronwt
I know... Omniseal and PPC make top notch compression tools and strippers I inherited a Base Omniseal ($40~ on eBay), and bought a ~$10 data shark combo stripper on Amazon. Add in some cheap PPC EX6XLPLUS connectors from eBay. And a "found" Perfectcube 500' of Tri-Shield RG-6 from a TWC tech friend . Rewire all the things! OTA antenna too..... |
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SL83 join:2005-05-28 Oceanside, NY |
SL83
Member
2014-Apr-1 9:17 pm
All the things... |
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SL83 |
to michaelking
THIS |
My friends were complaining of VoD pixelating and breaking up all the time. After about 10 minutes of inspecting the wires, I discovered this: |
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mackey Premium Member join:2007-08-20 |
mackey
Premium Member
2014-Apr-5 4:01 pm
Yup, don't you hate it when they forget the electrical tape? |
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to SL83
That looks like Clinton era Radioshack DIY crimp on RG-59 Not impressed expert isn't impressed That newer compression fitting on the inside of the wall plate looks like the kind that DirecTV used to use. |
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dennismurphyPut me on hold? I'll put YOU on hold Premium Member join:2002-11-19 Parsippany, NJ |
to michaelking
Buying a coax compression tool & cutter were the best things I've ever bought.
Well, those and an RJ-45 crimper. And a punchdown tool.
I've rewired basically the entire house with quad-shield RG-6 and Cat5e. All good. |
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to PoloDude
said by PoloDude:There is almost no way a FiOS tech would use a screw on connector. Are you sure it was not a double ended connector to connect 2 cables. Pic please Well, I don't know what to tell you....I wasn't taking pictures of the guy when I was watching him. All I can tell you is what I was observing (for DIY purposes). He shortened a wire that was bunched up behind a leader to the gutter by using the circular cutting tool and then grabbed a connector from his tool belt and just twisted it on and then connected it to the splitter. He didn't use any other tool. |
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PoloDude Premium Member join:2006-03-29 Aiken, SC |
PoloDude
Premium Member
2014-Apr-21 9:42 pm
OK - then what he did was still wrong. He used a proper compression connector but did not use the compression tool to crimp it onto the coax |
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JPL Premium Member join:2007-04-04 Downingtown, PA |
to michaelking
Not to tell people NOT to compress their connections, but I just updated my DCT-700 in my basement with an second IP client for my VMS. I was concerned that my coax, with the twist on connector, wouldn't work (figured it was ok for the SD channels - the cable run is short, and there's nothing else really to interfere with the signal where it was run), but since the IP client gets feeds at a higher frequency, I thought I would need to change things when I got the IP client. I didn't. The box activated just fine (it has to connect to the router as part of that activation). And I put it through its paces. All live TV feeds are coming in fine. I brought up VOD... fine... I played a recording off the VMS... fine. I figured that I would at least try using the connection that I had first, and if it didn't activate I would put on a compression fitting. Didn't need to. Won't say that it will always be ok, but for now... no issues at all.
Well, aside from me being a bone-head about installation of the ip client. My TV is a Sony SD TV, but even though it's SD, it has a component video input channel. I figured 'great! I'll hook it all up with component!' I did that to activate the box, and the picture was all scrambled. Couldn't figure out why, so I swapped the cables to use the composite input instead. While doing that I think I messed with the activation because it failed. I restarted the activation, and all was well. It took me a stupidly long time to figure out why the picture was scrambled - duh - the box is an HD box, and I hooked it up to an SD TV. I was getting an HD signal on an SD TV. So, after activation I changed the video settings on the box, and all was well. Well worth the effort too, since the PQ with the component video is flat out outstanding, even on an old SD TV. |
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aaronwt Premium Member join:2004-11-07 Woodbridge, VA Asus RT-AX89
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to dennismurphy
said by dennismurphy:Buying a coax compression tool & cutter were the best things I've ever bought.
Well, those and an RJ-45 crimper. And a punchdown tool.
I've rewired basically the entire house with quad-shield RG-6 and Cat5e. All good. There is no need for quad shield with digital content. It's a needless extra expense over double shielding. At least this is what we were told by the cable manufacturer reps at work when we switched our cable plant from analog to digital. I can't see them telling us to order less expensive coaxial cable from them for no reason. Since we had been buying the quad shield coax at a much higher price before they said we should switch to double shielded cable for our all digital system. |
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