New installation signal/cable issue

[new_inst]

I recently installed a new satellite system. It has a 1000.2 antenna and a 411 receiver. I am currently not using any HD channels on this system. I mounted the antenna and got the system aimed such that I got a signal of 97 on the 119 sat. This was with a short RG-6 (about 6 feet). Everything worked and the receiver activated fine. When I tried to move on to the final install situation with a longer (25 foot) RG-6 cable, there was no signal at all. When I switch back to the short cable it works again. When I use a completely different 25 foot cable still doesn't work. When I use a 12 foot cable it doesn't work. When I go back to the 6 foot cable it works again.

Any advice is much apreciated.

Thanks

 

[rcdallas]

Are the stingers (center conductor) too short? Is there continuity between the center conductor and outer shield braid?

Did you run check switch with the 6ft coax, you get 119/110/129? Did you do the same with the 12'/25' piece of coax?

 

[new_inst]

Much Thanks/Problem solved

You nailed it. I used one of those little plastic coax strippers. I had already identified that the stingers might be too short, so when I went back to make them longer the stripper had wrapped some of the braided shield around the stinger on both ends. Once this was removed, I no longer had continuity on the meter and it works like a charm.

I know this is probably a very simple basic "rookie" mistake, but it cost this rookie a lot of time and frustration. I sure apreciate you taking the time to reply to such a basic problem. It sure made a big difference for me.

Much Thanks

 

[rcdallas]

I would bet that every installer has scratched his/her head at least one time doing the same exact thing... no problem.

 

[Zoreo]

I routinely check cables for shorts and bad continuity. Saves a lot of headaches later. Bad shield-connections are common. They often go unnoticed on a TV set because capacitance provides some RF-grounding- but on a satellite installation having a good low-resistant shield-connection is vital because the cable also supplys the DC-voltage to power the downconverter.