Protecting cable feed

[fs483]

Hi Guys,

I just bought a house and discovered the local cable company just layed the cable line on the ground along the bushes that seperates my yard with the neighbors. The cable was originally underground I believe and because there was some problems, a new drop was put in but above ground. The cable can easily be damaged by a lawn mower or trimmer so I would like to possibly put inside a PVC tube and dig a shallow trench along the bushes and burry the pvc tube. Would there be any problems? I know the cable line is rated for outside use but having it enclosed inside PVC tube (the gray tubing electricians use) with guaranteed water infiltration and frost (minus 30 celcius) will cause damage? The cable has been above grade for a couple of years already and will be for this coming winter because I will be moving in during winter.


Thanks,
fs483

 

[DTSMAN]

Call the cable company, tell them your TV is pixelating and that you feel it is that wire and why. The cable company is like the phone and electric, they are responsible for everything up to the ground block of your house. They will do it correctly for free. Don' waste money or your time on putting it into conduit.

Bo

Remember,
If the women don't find you handsome,
they should at least find you handy.
(Red Green)

http://www.redgreen.com

 

[MasterRacker]

Usually they only lay the cable on the surface temporarily then come back and bury it when they have time. Sounds like they forgot. As DTSMAN said, get the cable co. to finish the job - it's their wire outside.

Jeff
[small][purple]It's never too early to begin preparing for [/purple]International Talk Like a Pirate Day
"The software I buy sucks, The software I write sucks. It's time to give up and have a beer..." - Me[/small]

 

[pbxn]

Usually a install/repair tech will lay it on the ground and they kick the ticket to the buried drop/construction crew, they have the buried drop machine that will get it in the ground for you. As mentioned, just call the company that installed this, and they will make sure you are placed on the next to do list. Buried drop crews usually stay busy all summer long. Also when they use the machine, you may see a line of dead grass where the machine buried it.

 

[skip555]

that's pretty much the norm here , the old joke is to lay it on the ground and kick a little sand over it

I could show you a half a dozen place in my yard where the phone and cable drops are visible

personally I prefer it that way as it makes it easy to trace if I want to dig

I wouldnt worry much about it , when theres a problem they get to replace it

 

[RikRodgers]

Unless he hits it with his mower, and can't watch tv afterwards.

A couple of guys and a ditch witch will clean it up in less than an hour. Let them do the work.

As for conduit, you'll never get one watertight for long. No matter how you seal it, when conduit is buried outside, water will get in.

The best reason to bury conduit outside is to make pulling another cable in later easier.

 

[DTSMAN]

A ditch witch?? Not here in my area. They send a contract cabler out there like me and I use a womper to make a trench and lay the cable in it. Hot hard work here in Texas. It's the big-heavy steel device in the pictures.

http://houston.craigslist.org/tls/1249602292.html

Do not let them bury that cable that has been on top of the ground if you don't know for how long. Especially if you are using the internet service. Cut it in the middle before the get there. They get paid extra for replacing it if it is a contractor. Trust me. I spent the last 10 months contract cabling for Comcast while between jobs.


Bo

Remember,
If the women don't find you handsome,
they should at least find you handy.
(Red Green)

http://www.redgreen.com

 

[skip555]

Unless he hits it with his mower, and can't watch tv afterwards."

how clse to the ground do you mow ?

 

[fs483]

I need my cable feed (Internet) for work since I work from home. Knocking out the service by cutting the cable *might* work if I can do it before I move in and the snow doesn't pile up. I know the telephone and electricity is run through conduit underground. I'll have to check if the neighbors cable line is above ground also or not. My service is will be with Videotron and don't know how they handle this kind of situation. Also, I'm afraid they might just put a barrel connector to reattach both ends of the cut wire.

FS483

 

[pbxn]

DTSMAN has brought some lovely memories with that thumper. Spent many a hot and cold day in Chicago using that midevil thing, lol.

 

[fs483]

The edge trimmer might nick the cable. The racoons, skunks and ground hogs would the next in line and also the hedge trimmer. I'll also have a young kid that will be playing around in the yard in a year. I just also find it simple lazy to leave the line on the ground like that.