c/cable-installers

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?