Forum Discussion

george1531's avatar
george1531
Tuning in
20 days ago

Old cable & wireless under drive 1997/coax questions

Just a quick few questions

I know a few things about technical stuff, but I haven't posted here so I will try to get a quick reply

The cable that goes under my drive has been laid by cable and wireless 1997 , this cable was then attached again to our house about 2013, broadband only from VM.

I'm not sure what cable was used as it's buried under the drive and just comes straight into the property but I was wanting to know, even though I have not had any problems on a 1 GB connection (1150mbps to router all the time) does this ever need to be repulled as suggested by virgin, the offer has been made and I declined it.

Is it a simple case of "if you don't have any problems you don't need to fix it" or is it a case of the cable is nearly 30 years old so it needs to be changed regardless. It has never been disturbed by anyone.

I have Broadband only I always use modem mode and have my own wireless setup but this is more a question about how virgin deal with things.

I have had the isolation box replaced recently because the old one was , well old., basically and also the attenuator was changed to one that looks like an inline one compared to the old one that was a bit bigger... is there really any difference... it is the correct wideband one (why did another vm tech put forward path one before?)

I just want to know other new ones better attenuator wise?

Main question here is the internal cable that comes from the wall to the super Hub has now been changed from rg59 to RG6 and I have bent it a little bit without even thinking

I just want to know if this is okay also 

should I be concerned about the cable outside if there is no problems or should I just forget about it

I have to admit all of my power levels and speeds are 100% fine?

Black cable is new RGB6, old is white RG59. Length is 2metres to hub.

  • asim18's avatar
    asim18
    20 days ago

    They both perform the same basic function. Both types of attenuator will attenuate the forward path as well as the return path. It's just that the newer ones aren't labelled as "forward path" but it is still technically a forward path attenuator because the return attenuation does not vary and stays consistent whether you're using a 3db attenuator or a 20db attenuator. (this is confirmed in the datasheet on the technetix product pages for both attenuators).

    The only difference between the newer one and the old one are bandwidth tolerances. The newer ones can tolerate much higher frequencies.

  • asim18's avatar
    asim18
    Rising star
    20 days ago

    The cable under your drive could potentially be totally fine. If it was properly done, ie running through proper conduit, properly sealed at both ends, zero moisture ingress etc.

    Due to it being done in 1997, I would assume the job was done far better than anyone could do the job today! If you get the job done today it'll probably be done by someone who has no interest in coaxial cable/RF and is more interested in when his shift will end.

    Personally, if it's just a simple re-pull through existing conduits, I would get it done.
    If it requires more work such as digging up your driveway, I would leave it 'til it breaks.

  • Tudor's avatar
    Tudor
    Very Insightful Person
    20 days ago

    You should have no problems, my coax is as old as yours and I’ve been on 1G since it was available.  All coax is being replaced with fibre so it should last that long. As long as t working the bend and red of cable is ok.

  • george1531's avatar
    george1531
    Tuning in
    20 days ago

    I mean, the say the can run it along the side of the drive which is soil and bury it but they always make it sound simple, but there is a stone fence section at the front of the drive. but I don't want new cables being run for no reason is what I am thinking.

    when you say all cable is being replaced, are you saying the will change everyone's soon or?

    also why are my pictures not showing or are they?

  • asim18's avatar
    asim18
    Rising star
    20 days ago

    Regarding the attenuators,

    3 GHz 0 dB F-male to F-female inline precision attenuator - Technetix

    10 dB F-male to F-female inline forward path attenuator - Technetix

    If these are the attenuators you're refferring to, I would say the precision attenuator is much better than the forward path attenuator.

    To answer your question on why the old installer used forward path attenuator instead of the precision attenuator, I believe the precision attenuators were released around 2019. Prior to that, the older attenuators were the standard.

    • george1531's avatar
      george1531
      Tuning in
      20 days ago

      Bang on... oh ok so it is better... I like to educate myself as forgot so much being out of this world for a long while.

      Basically old tech used old style of attenuator but forward path.....new tech use inline, thats logical but wideband. how can both forward path and wideband be correct, doesnt one of these not touch the upstream?

      • asim18's avatar
        asim18
        Rising star
        20 days ago

        They both perform the same basic function. Both types of attenuator will attenuate the forward path as well as the return path. It's just that the newer ones aren't labelled as "forward path" but it is still technically a forward path attenuator because the return attenuation does not vary and stays consistent whether you're using a 3db attenuator or a 20db attenuator. (this is confirmed in the datasheet on the technetix product pages for both attenuators).

        The only difference between the newer one and the old one are bandwidth tolerances. The newer ones can tolerate much higher frequencies.

    • Tudor's avatar
      Tudor
      Very Insightful Person
      20 days ago

      The OP did not mention attenuators at all, they were referring to the attenuation properties of the different types of RG cable. Did you not closely read their post?

      • asim18's avatar
        asim18
        Rising star
        20 days ago
        Tudor wrote:

        The OP did not mention attenuators at all, they were referring to the attenuation properties of the different types of RG cable. Did you not closely read their post?

        Oh. Im sorry Tudor.

        This is the bit I was replying to:

         

        george1531 wrote:

        the attenuator was changed to one that looks like an inline one compared to the old one that was a bit bigger... is there really any difference... it is the correct wideband one (why did another vm tech put forward path one before?)

        The OP asked what the difference was between the old Forward Path Attenuator and the newer Precision Attentuator. And I'm just telling him that the newer one is better.

  • nodrogd's avatar
    nodrogd
    Very Insightful Person
    20 days ago

    Virgin are in the process of moving away from traditional DOCSIS cable broadband services to XGS-PON over full fibre in the coming years. All new areas are now XGS-PON FTTP (Hub5x and Flex IPTV boxes for TV only, no landline service). VM are likely to be selling 2Gb symmetrical XGS connections first in existing cable areas & then will start a staged migration of those on the DOCSIS network.

  • unisoft's avatar
    unisoft
    Knows their stuff
    20 days ago

    The new inline attenuator is probably an equaliser. Basically it varies attenuation on stronger frequencies more than the weaker ones like a DocSIS 3.1 channel uses. You are on Gig1 which makes sense as would be a hub using a 3.1 channel.

    Forward path attenuators are old hat now and under VM, they usually had a metal rectangular shape but still an inline connector (most areas). These just trimmed in equal levels a frequency range and could actually affect a DocSIS 3.1 channel frequency too much. 

  • unisoft's avatar
    unisoft
    Knows their stuff
    20 days ago

    Oh, and the old cable sounds fine as no service issues and was buried. It may have been copper at braid level as well as inner core. Later installs and coax ones of today, have a cheaper steel braid and copper core. As you say, your speeds are as expected and no random disconnections or SNR issues.

  • george1531's avatar
    george1531
    Tuning in
    20 days ago

    Just goes to show, sometimes a vm tech can come out and see things that need doing most people dont see.... EG....new isolater & change rg59 to RG6.

    I heard VM RG6 is not available to buy whats so special about it and I have bent in , picture shows , its that ok...man it is firm stuff though.

    New attenuator seems to be working better. IDK if its placebo but power levels moving less (they did a bit before every few hours, weather etc)

    • unisoft's avatar
      unisoft
      Knows their stuff
      20 days ago

      If you are a way from cabinet, there is also a much thicker cable they can use to minimise signal loss on cable run. I think it's RG11 cable but it's not used often unless a premise is known to be far from nearest cabinet.