Damaged cable?
 

Hello,

We seem to have a bit of a problem. Ages ago when we originally had cable installed, the television side of things was run into the room alongside where the cable comes into the house and the phoneline, run underneath a door.

For a long time, on analogue cable, the channel Nickelodeon on 35 was unwatchable, but all of the other channels were fine, it wasn't too much of a problem as it wasn't really a channel we watched. After upgrading to digital recently, there's now 2 STBs installed, one in the room with the phone and the other in the room alongside.

The problem is, that on the second STB, in the room alongside, (the first STB works perfectly) certain channels are unwatchable, constantly becoming pixelated and the sound dropping out (Hallmark Channel, Five Life, Sci-Fi channel to name a few) wheras all the other channels are perfectly fine.

What was odd, is that the channels moved from broken (the box said the channel was missing) to completely fine depending on the position of the door into the room, at which point we looked underneath and it seems the cable moved from its original position at the very side of the door where there was a hole, to underneath the door, and it seems the very top of the cable has got slightly scraped.

It only looks like the white casing has got a small scratch on it, but it does seem that moving the door affects the picture, but only on the afforementioned channels.

I unfortunately don't know much about how cable works, but could the very top of the cable where it has got scratched carry the affected channels, and that's why they are having problems? Or could it be something else

On the other side of the door, the signal is split to broadband and television, could it be this split causing the problem, rather than the cable?

Either way, is there anything that can be done about it, or is it one of those things we must simply accept that we can't watch those channels?

If it was caused by the door, and obviously that isn't Virgin Medias fault, is there anything that can be done? Obviously we would be willing to pay, but have no idea whether something like this is possible.

I would appreciate any ideas or suggestions,

Thanks in advance

Re: Damaged cable?
 

The installer NEVER should have ran the cable underneath a door! Simple as that!

Re: Damaged cable?
 

Our cable going to the back off the house to our second V box runs over the top of our door lol

Re: Damaged cable?
 

There's a whole raft of possibilities which may be causing the problem. These being: :erm:

That the cable may have got crushed, (altering it's internal capacitance) affecting the signal strength - does the cable disappear under a carpet (anywhere along it's length) where you could tread on it without knowing?

Movement may have caused the cable's centre conductor to break causing an intermittent connection. As the centre conductor consists of a single copper wire strand, regular movement can cause it to turn brittle and fracture.

The connectors at either end may be damaged or loose.

A good way of telling is to check and see if there's a tight bend in the cable or by feeling the suspect area. Does it feel soft in one spot? does it bend a little too easily in one area?

Suggest you switch the telly on, go along the cable and twist and tweak it along it's whole length - whilst watching the picture. Sooner or later (if the cable is damaged) you'll see a difference - meaning that the cable is damaged and will require replacing.

Looks like it's time to get on your knees and do some tweakin an twistin. ;)

Good luck and Si thee

Re: Damaged cable?
 

Not to impede on good advice already given, I think you may have answered your own question. Door moving etc.
Even with the slightest doubt on this cable you should replace it.
If Virgin did it this way you should be able to get them in for free.

Re: Damaged cable?
 

totally agree :D

Re: Damaged cable?
 

well i seem to have the same sort of problem, some channels (bbc,itv 1/2/3&4, ss1/2/3&X and the movies, so most that i watch) pixelate and others the sound is like it's being interfered with. either way it's unwatchable and it's both on my v+ and old pace box.

and can't get an engie untill tuesday which is pants as it's BH weekend and theres sports that i wanna watch. :mad:

Re: Damaged cable?
 

this is a problem I'm having going to replace all cables myself as engies have checked dble checked everything conflicting reports though one says complete rewire another says expect this of hd tvs though upstairs is only lcd not hd let me know any ideas thanx