[Boatanchors] How do I lay coaxial cable underground?
Robert Nickels
ranickel at comcast.net
Tue Jun 20 13:16:28 EDT 2017
Last year I finally got Comcast to understand there was something wrong
with my cable installation and part of the repair included running new
coax out to the underground termination box. The tech just cut a
installed a new piece and tossed it out on the lawn saying another guy
would be around in a day or two to put it in the ground. I asked how
they did that and he said they use a portable tool that works like a
jackhammer that pounds it into the ground. I wanted to see this thing
in action but the next time I looked it had already been completed and
there wasn't a trace of a trench or any disturbance - the cable was just
gone. Their direct-bury RG-6 is also filled with a gel that seals to
prevent water ingress if the jacket is broken and has a smell that
deters small animals that like to chew on cables. It's called "icky
pick" according to The Cable Guy.
The invisible dog fence installers use something like this handy power
trencher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGa-3HY38W4
I'd think hams would make a rental place happy if they had one
available! You can also buy a trenching tool that is like a 9" wide
flat bladed shovel but it doesn't look like nearly as much fun.
73, Bob W9RAN
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