c/cable-installers

My old boss in Denver told me to never use zip ties on a drop line

He said the plastic would degrade and snap in a few years, so I always used waxed string instead. Well, I went back to a house I wired five years ago for another job, and every single one of my string ties had frayed and come loose. The new guy with me just shook his head and showed me his UV-rated outdoor zip ties. What's your go-to for securing a drop to a house?

Pro tip: don't buy the cheap coax stripper from Harbor Freight unless you want to waste $12 and 20 minutes on a single connector

I was in a pinch for a job in Tempe last week and the plastic guide snapped clean off on the third crimp, sending the little blade flying into the customer's azalea bush lol.

Just remembered the old days of running coax through every room

Last week in a house built in the 90s, I saw a dozen old cable outlets the owner wanted removed. It made me think about three years ago when I was still pulling coax for every TV and phone line. Last month, a new build just had me run one line to the modem and they used mesh Wi-Fi for everything. The job took half a day instead of two. Anyone else still finding those old whole-house coax runs when you do a retrofit?

PSA: The crawl space under that old house on Elm Street is full of surprises

Had a job there last Thursday where I had to run a new line from the pole to the back bedroom... the crawl space was so tight I had to basically army crawl the whole 30 feet. Found about a dozen old, abandoned cable runs from the 90s just tangled up and left there, plus a family of possums that were not happy to see me. What's the weirdest thing you've ever found in a crawl space or attic?

I switched from a standard drill to a right-angle drill for crawl spaces and it's a game changer.

I used to fight with my old DeWalt drill in tight spots under houses in Portland, always scraping my knuckles. The Milwaukee right-angle drill, even though it's a bit heavier, lets me drill joists without contorting my whole arm. Has anyone else made a similar switch for attic or crawl space work?

This old guy in a Denver apartment building told me 'you kids and your fiber, my copper's been fine since '87' and I didn't know how to respond.

He was blocking the utility closet with his vintage stereo setup and genuinely wanted to debate the merits of RG-59 versus modern drops, so what's the best way you've found to handle a customer who's super attached to their old infrastructure?

Can we talk about how we viewed crawl space jobs years ago?

I remember thinking crawl spaces were just a quick in and out deal. We'd zip through with coaxial, not worrying much about future access. Then I had a job where the customer wanted to add security cameras later, and our old runs were a mess. It took twice as long to fish new lines because we didn't leave pull strings or extra slack. Now I always take the time to organize and label everything down there. It saves headaches for the next guy, maybe even me. Funny how a little extra effort back then makes all the difference now.

Serious question, how do you deal with cable runs in old beach houses with sandy crawl spaces?

Just wrapped up a job where the sand kept getting into every connection and slowed me down big time.

Warning: Cable clips that break in the cold are a real headache

I've been stuck with these new cable clips from our main supplier, and they're causing big problems. When you're trying to fasten a line, the clip often snaps right when you push it into place. This happened to me multiple times on a call the other day, and I had to keep going back to my van for replacements. It wastes so much time and leaves customers annoyed because their install takes longer. I've talked to a few other guys, and they're seeing the same thing it's not just me. The material gets too stiff when it's chilly, so early jobs or spots out of the sun are risky. I've begun keeping my older clips on hand as a backup, but that shouldn't be necessary. Give any new clips a good test before you rely on them, or you'll end up redoing your work.

Showerthought: Attic insulation turns every install into a puzzle.

What's your go-to method for navigating it?

Learning to listen for buzzing saved a job

Was about to cut into a wall when I heard a faint hum from inside. Turned out to be live wires from a DIY project, so now I double-check with a tester.

Why does nobody talk about how exterior mounts are underrated?

Honestly, I've started routing cables outside the house for most single-room installs. Ngl, it cuts my time in half and customers rarely notice, but other installers always give me grief for it. What do you guys think?

My boss thought I was crazy for reusing old conduit, but it worked.

I had a job in an old building where adding new conduit was a nightmare. The walls were packed tight, and drilling new holes would have taken days. My boss wanted to tear everything out, but I decided to try the existing conduit. I cleaned it out with a fish tape and some compressed air. After that, I pulled new coaxial cables through without a hitch. It saved us half a day and the customer was happy.

Pro tip: Saw a spike in fiber cuts from new landscaping crews this month.

Verify all underground marks before any dig starts to avoid costly repairs.

PSA: Always check behind the fridge before promising a quick install.

Tbh, I spent an hour untangling decades of old cables and found a missing remote from 1998.

Serious question, why are we still putting coaxial in new houses when fiber is right there?

Here's how I tackle concrete walls in our local apartment complexes

In my area, many apartment buildings have concrete walls from the 70s. Drilling through them for cable runs can be tough. I found that using a diamond-tipped drill bit works much better. It cuts clean and lasts longer. I also bring a vacuum to clean dust right away. This keeps the area clean and protects the cables. Try this if you face similar problems.

Appreciation post: A smooth mesh network setup this week, but the crew is split on methods

I had a house call where the Wi-Fi was weak in the back rooms, so I suggested a mesh system and got it running in no time. It was a quick fix that made the client really happy. However, a few guys at the shop say pulling new cable for access points is the only right way to do it for long term reliability. How do you all handle these situations?