this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2023
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There is an aerial cable that comes to this splitter (from the left) that splits out two cables. The one powering my modem is the one that’s damaged.

I’ve been having internet issues during the day for the last few days (I live in the northeast US, so very cold right now if that’s relevant). It’s only during the day. Internet speed is VERY slow when it’s connected (<10mbps download, <1 upload) and it is constantly disconnecting. But at nights internet is normal with no interruptions (160mbsp download, 10 upload). I had a tech scheduled to come out to fix the cable today but the guy never showed up (I could do it on my own but don’t fully trust myself with it) but it seems weird it’s only happening during the day. Is this actually the issue?

The other cable from the splitter goes nowhere, so is not an option. This is a rented house so there’s only so much I can do.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Just judging by the fading label - absolutely.

Generally, I've always replaced splitters about every several years. (No more than 5.) They do go bad over time.

If that doesn't work, I'd recommend considering replacing the coax.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Not "could", it definitely is.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Replace the splitter. Splitters go bad. I just replace them to be safe if having any issues.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Looks pretty poor. If the 2nd cable from the splitter doesn't go anywhere useful, you could just get rid of the splitter, and join the two ends with a straight-thru connector instead of that rusty old splitter. That and fixing the cable sound like good first steps to fixing your problem.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Yes, and regarding the appointment, it has been a busy week for ISPs and understaffed techOps, I am tech support not dispatch and a poor tech called my at 8:00pm still working on a cx house, (with no dispatch assistance bc they left at 6:00pm)

Try to reschedule the appointment, having that exposed may be being affected by humidity, change of temperature during the day, etc

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Just make the cable company fix it. Cable must be sealed and dry to work properly.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Everyone is forgetting grounding and a mocca filter and a weather box. So not spec. Also just because you remove a splitter means you fix the issue. Sometimes putting a spliter in place actually helps. There is a sweet spot where the signal strength needs to be. Unless you have the appropriate meter you will not know what your measurements are.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Broken shielded cable usually means RF ingress and water intrusion that destroys the high band frequencies which most MSO operators use for Downstream. So broken shielding effects both TX and RX.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

That one head of coax needs to be replaced immediately. With the split in the shield, signal interference is highly likely with that. In fact, That whole junction should be replaced and updated with new equipment.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yes. Coax is very fickle. It's really easy to cause interference or mess up the signal one way or another. Even the change in temperature over the seasons has a strong effect on signal strength.

Call the ISP to get it fixed. Or if you're up for the challenge, buy a coax stripper, a coax crimper, and some outdoor rated type-F connectors and fix it yourself.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

1Dbmv per 10 degrees. Massive change between winter and summer. An open shield like this is terrible. Moisture, water, signal ingress, and egress. I'm surprised it's allowing the modem to lock in at all.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

You'd be surprised what "works". I've seen cable stripped back to 3" of center conductor and duct taped into an amplifier, no fitting at all, just jammed in there. Their Internet was "working fine" but none of the Spanish language channels were working, because they were carried on 99 MHz, same channel as local radio channels. But I was blown away the modem was locking on.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Yes, that is most likely why. Moisture does weird stuff depending on temperature. Also you may have to replace the whole cable because moisture really likes to wick into the braid and corrode. I have seen the outer braid corroded back several feet.

Also if you dont have the tools to do a proper compression connector, wait for the tech. Screw on connectors might be even worse than what you have now.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Yea, 100%. Easy fix with the right tools. Just call your ISP to come out and fix it for free.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

100% coax is super susceptible to cuts and exposure to weather. You're probably degrading the whole node with that. even a little bit of loss of shield can compromise the low band return spectrum and the whole nodes upstream. this is why cable modem is the new DSL. it sucks for performance and reliability. Any one customer without even trying can cause an outage on coax. Lets unplug that TV with cable card and a center pin thats too long .. boom antenna. coax not tightened down enough on a splitter, modem or set top box. If your not using a PPC SignalTight or SignalTight Clone it will ingress low band. At some point you almost have to look at a coax like its a water pipe. We had a video headend that had leaks like this .. was so bad we either have to replace all cable or just put in filters. the filters worked better than expected and lowered the noise floor 5-8 db more than before the ingress problem even existed.

i have my hands in some coax hub and headend work but mostly hard troubleshooting like odd leaks/ingress problems that stuff like this picture cause.

there was a video by Brady Volp a well known expert in the docsis/coax space about how even cable staples will cause signal reflections. its a hard space to keep functional and the more stringent the requirements get the harder it is.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

As was said earlier, this is an easy fix if the correct tools and a replacement compression RG6 coaxial cable connector are available.

I see some other piece of hardware in the top left corner of the picture. Is that a grounding block?

If it were me, I'd request to have the splitter and the two cable runs replaced as they look fairly weathered. But the technician will be able to make a determination once onsite.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Absolutely. Water is getting in there as well as allowing low frequency ingress. That splitter needs to be changed out too. Get a tech out to change those out.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

So this splitter installed on the outside of a home would be considered cable theft in my neighborhood.

Splitters in general will always degrade network flow. The more splitters you have the more the coax cable is broken up.

I have 1 coax cable line coming into the house.

It gets plugged INto an electrified coax signal booster. There are then 4 lines going out.

  • 1 line to the living room and

  • 1 line to each of the 3 bedrooms.

2 of the 3 ends in the bedrooms have terminator caps on them because they do not connect to any device. 1 of the 3 connects to a cable box in my bedroom.

The living room has a splitter like yours.

  • 1 line goes to the Cable Box and

  • 1 line to my internet modem

That Living Room splitter should be eliminated by me so there are no splits in my cable delivery and improve my own internet access. Thanks for helping me see that I should move the modem to one of the capped bedrooms. ☺️

Get rid of the outdoor splitter.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

It is more than likely causing issues. Set up a service call.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Yeah, all your IPs are leaking out of it now

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

More likely that shitty splitter.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Replace the splitter and cover if possible. If this is the initial split in the line you want to make sure the new splitter is grounded as well.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Oh yes. Call your provider and get that sorted.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

If I have learned anything. With internet anything can cause issues. I have had a heater cause packetloss because of elec surges

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

But a brew cable and screw out on yourself. Unless it goes through a wall without a connector, Then you’ll probably want to wait for a professional.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Couple things here. Like the others aside, water intrusion in the broken cable jacket is bad

But, why is the cable jacket (black part) broken in the first place? It's probably been outside a long time and the outer portion is brittle but also it appears to be stressed. The cable looks like it's pulled tightly instead of being secured in place with enough slack to keep tension off the connector

In other words, the cable was pulled so tight that over time slightly bumping it or wind battering it caused the jacket to break, and allowed water to intrude and degrade the cable from inside. At least that's my guess just from the limited info I see in this pic

So hopefully the replacement cable has some slack to it and doesn't break in that spot due to tension or stress.

You can buy some self adhering or Vulcanizing tape and wrap the connections to weatherproof the new connections after it's replaced

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

I rent and when I got cable internet, the tech came out to give me the modem and check the lines, I asked him to disconnect the rest of the lines from the houses junction box and run me a new RG6 cable straight to my modem (I don't use the cable for TV or phone etc.). My house has probably 5 runs that were disconnected. they are all able to be reconnected, but having only 1 (new) line direct to my modem...cleaned up my signal a lot. just an idea. the tech I got just ran it up into the attic straight across the house and dropped it down in the garage. Modem is in garage and cat 6 cable runs to my wifi 6 tri-band router....have had no issues for the last 3yrs.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Are you certain the problem is the signal going into your modem via cable and not your WiFi signal? Frequently lots more WiFi interference during the day when more devices are in use.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

The answer is always yes. Any cable can be bad even if it looks perfect.

It could be happening durian the day due to heat.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Definitely replace it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

I would say so. It is introducing interference and noise on your line.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

You can try swapping the 2 output cables.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Yesssss..... please fix the poor guy, also maybe route the cables better so that this doesn't happen again

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Yes. Very yes.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Short answer: Yes.

Long Answer: Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

After studying the Foto for at least 1 second : Yes

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Yes. That and your splitter. Every split weakens the signal. It wasn't a huge problem in the days of cable. For internet, signal strength really impacts bandwidt, or speed. You want a direct line to the modem for best signal or an an applified splitter. If you also use for cable. You can find them on Amazon for fairly cheap.

That connection can be cut and fixed really easily as well. Just watch a YouTube video on how to do it. A razorblade will work if you don't have a dedicated coax stripper.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Yup. Cold temperatures (as well as high heat) will always cause interruptions with your internet devices.

Would recommend you that it’s easy to fix the damaged connector but if you don’t have the spare connectors with similar dimensions, then it’s better to send this image through email to your ISP & explain that it’s on a spot where temperatures drop very low.

TL;DR: minimum 2 mins of work with fixing it, but still would recommend that the ISP technician fixed the connector

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

if you plug your cable's ethernet to your pc and go to it's main router page, you can see the sign strenth and other stats. 9/10 it's a very strong signal and usually it's your router/wifi area that's struggling.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

It's not helping

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Yes that is probably causing problems. If it’s not, it absolutely will in the future. Water will get in and damage the shield allowing interference in. When the water gets into the dielectric it causes issues with signal performance starting with the higher channels (skin effect). Your data channel is probably higher in the channel range so will be affected early on. Replace that cable or at least the part outside. Replace the splitter too just to be safe. The night day thing is probably connected to the sign level in general. When temps drop, signal level goes up slightly. It’s just easier for signals to pass in cold. You’re probably right on the edge because of the water effecting your signal so that slight fluctuation is making a difference for you. Could be that the water is freezing at night too but it’s all the same end result. Replace the cable. All that being said, you could have other issues but that is a great place to start.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Just to chime in as a LV engineer. Not only is it in a bad spot and rusting, it's a 1000mhz swept coax splitter. Aka old af. Replace with 3000mhz in a jbox.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Short answer = yes

The cable needs replacing and it should be covered up when outside too.

This will ruin your broadband but also potentially affect the entire segment.

Call your local cable company to fix it for you.

Good luck

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Yes, it could!

Go ahead and replace it!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Yes, that will absolutely cause issues. Even a small cut in the outer sheath can cause issues, the connector needs cut off and re-crimped. Takes about 2 minutes with the proper tools, which can all be bought at Lowes or HD or get a tech out to fix it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

yep - so could that ancient splitter and it should be grounded to a ground rod as well.

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