Attic installation advice

Nohguard · 12-Feb-2012, 5:43 PM

I just ordered the Antennas Direct DB2 and want to install it it in the attic when it arrives. Here's my problem: When my house was built I installed some extra coaxial cable for the TVs. Most of the cables carry the Comcast signal from a four way splitter to the various rooms in the house. However there is one cable that runs from the living room to the master bedroom that I installed thinking I might need it for something one day. That day is here. I want to use it to hook these two TVs to the new antenna.

The problem is everything is covered in about a foot of blown in insulation. I think I've found the middle of this cable but I'm not sure. If it is the right one I want to cut it in the middle and hook the antenna with a splitter to the two TV's. Is there some kind of test I can perform on it to make sure it's the right one?

MisterMe · 13-Feb-2012, 1:56 AM

Wow! First off, do not hook-up that antenna into your existing cabling until you have cut-off the cable service.

Pulling-up a cable from your insulation and cutting it is very risky. Why do it? Locate the point where your cable enters your attic. Disconnect the cable from that point. If the cable runs to your splitter, then you may connect it to your antenna balun.

Three simple steps:

Disconnect attic cable from entry point.
Move attic cable to antenna.
Connect attic cable to antenna balun.

Electron · 13-Feb-2012, 2:10 AM

http://www.amazon.com/Gardner-Bender.../dp/B000BO6Y1O. As I understand it Nohgaurd will like to find the correct coax in the attic that is with the other coaxes in attic so he can cut it and put in a splitter.

Nohguard · 13-Feb-2012, 2:27 AM

I intend to keep Comcast and have the attic antenna as a backup in case a storm knocks out the cable. So the tester Electron recommended is probably what I need. I could also just cut it, install the antenna and see what happens. If it's not the right one I can always splice it back together. Just hate to do that, might result in some signal loss.

phone man · 13-Feb-2012, 3:23 AM

Is your intention to keep Comcast and add over the air antenna service to the living room and master bedroom or are you replacing Comcast with the antenna?

Is this coax stapled down? From the attic, can you physically trace the coax to where it enters a wall cavity and have someone verify it's location while you rattle it?

If all other coax cables are carrying Comcast and this is the only one that is idle, you should not lose cable service in any room when you cut this coax, correct?

There is equipment that could verify that this is the coax you're after before you cut it. A telco or CATV tech would have access to such equipment if you know anyone in the business.

Nohguard · 13-Feb-2012, 11:44 AM

To answer phone man, yes I intend to keep Comcast, it is stapled down and it is the only one idle. So I shouldn't lose any cable service if it's the idle one that I cut.

Come to think of it, I do know some people in the business that I could ask for help. I guess what I was looking for here was a simple solution, that didn't involve expensive equipment, that I haven't thought of so far.