Best way to test a cable jack for signal?

[alkemyst]

It's now like 100 degrees F here and apparently I am not getting signal in a bedroom I know I personally wired for cable from the splitter.

However; when comcast came in to give me cable they went into the attic to 'test the rooms'. I am thinking the installer unplugged that room or did something.

I have a multi-meter. What do I test for?

 

[KLin]

http://www.amazon.com/Steren-Coax-Ca.../dp/B000GDDPRG

 

[alkemyst]

http://www.amazon.com/Steren-Coax-Ca.../dp/B000GDDPRG

I don't need continuity.

I need to verify the signal at the jack. To test otherwise, has me going into the attic anyway which I may end up doing.

 

[nsafreak]

On a properly installed cable there should be zero voltage as it should be grounded at the entry point to your household. In order to find out if there's a signal on the line you'd need a signal meter which is not something most folks keep in their toolbox. You could go to home depot and get a tone generator and hook it up to your central drop and check to make sure that that the tone is carrying all the way through to the bedroom.

 

[DrPizza]

This may sound like a dumb idea, but how about connecting a known to be working television?

 

[DrPizza]

Ah, reread the OP again... take the television to a different room where you know the cable is working. The problem is one or the other. if the television works... then the cable isn't getting a signal.

 

[alkemyst]

This may sound like a dumb idea, but how about connecting a known to be working television?

A bit challenging...but it's the comcast box that is throwing a fit.

It's going to be easier to go into the attic. The other Digital Adapter is way behind a wall unit and our DVR's power is locked in.

Probably going to have to take a trip into the attic.

 

[alkemyst]

I am going to move the TV to the family room tomorrow and steal the the coax to make sure it's not the TV. However, I unplugged the 'Cable In' from the box and still get the same message.

I am thinking the Tech unplugged stuff in my attic.

 

[Ichinisan]

Installers use a toner to put a radio "tone" through the line. Then they can disconnect each line at the split work and hold it up to the receiver to listen for the tone. At least, that's how they determine which line leads to which room.

You probably will just have to connect a TV or something and do it with trial-and-error.

 

[Ichinisan]

I am thinking the Tech unplugged stuff in my attic.

Probably. They usually install a house amp when there are more than 4 active outlets. Probably trying to keep things simple. They also probably charge a fee to come back and activate lines that weren't requested at the time of install.

 

[alkemyst]

Installers use a toner to put a radio "tone" through the line. Then they can disconnect each line at the split work and hold it up to the receiver to listen for the tone. At least, that's how they determine which line leads to which room.

You probably will just have to connect a TV or something and do it with trial-and-error.

Thanks, it's going to be attic time.

The sad part is the TV that was given to the kid is damaged. It won't turn on with a remote. You have to push the button. It will do everything else properly.

 

[alkemyst]

Probably. They usually install a house amp when there are more than 4 active outlets. Probably trying to keep things simple. They also probably charge a fee to come back and activate lines that weren't requested at the time of install.

I had issues with the original install almost a decade ago.

I re-ran everything, house entry cable, 4 drops to rooms, a 2 way for internet and those drops.

When the tech came back to activate my internet, master bedroom, guest bedroom...he said he figured out the problem. I am thinking he unplugged the one room with no cable box.

I even had a terminator on that outlet.

 

[zanejohnson]

my house had some hokey wiring in it when we went to redo everything.... lord have mercy, there was like antannea parts/boosters/ i've never even seen/new existed....


i went the lazy mans way and just ran coax/cat5 on the outside and drilled in and put combo jacks

nowdays the only wired devices are the HTPC, fileserver, and my room... i have to have another router acting as just an AP/extender for the back of the house, but it's all covered, works ok (wifi :rollesyeys: )

 

[alkemyst]

my house had some hokey wiring in it when we went to redo everything.... lord have mercy, there was like antannea parts/boosters/ i've never even seen/new existed....


i went the lazy mans way and just ran coax/cat5 on the outside and drilled in and put combo jacks

nowdays the only wired devices are the HTPC, fileserver, and my room... i have to have another router acting as just an AP/extender for the back of the house, but it's all covered, works ok (wifi :rollesyeys: )

I already re-ran the wiring.

 

[zanejohnson]

I already re-ran the wiring.

ah i was just blathering on, i reread that after and it sounded like i was saying your wiring was hokey.. didn't mean that.... i'm really bored right now and trying to kill time