Bought a house (That didn't have cable)

PatO · 05-06-2002, 07:58 PM

Yup. Bought my first house! The government took too much of my money last year so I figured it was time.

Anyway, the previous owners had satellite. I have no qualms against it, it's just that it's really difficult (and expensive) to get high speed internet over it. I've used cable modems for years and love 'em. Don't want DSL, because I have a cell and don't need phone service. New digital lines were run on the property line a year ago - and there's a pole that's supplying power to the house right now. All the cable guy needs to do is tap that pole and run a line to the house.

I've already told them to come out and hook it up (they'll be there tomorrow at 3), but I failed to tell them that the house needs the wire. My questions are these:

1 - Will they do this on the spot, or do they need to bring out a ladder truck and make it into a big deal?

2 - Will they bury the cable as opposed to running it overhead? I really don't want another wire up there.

3 - Cost? Since I'm paying almost $100/mo for cable, I really don't think I should pay more than the normal $25 transfer/hookup fee.

Anyone have experience in these matters?

CrazyLittle · 05-06-2002, 08:29 PM

Anyone else from MN to field this one?

Out here in the CA Bay area, they'll run 1 hookup to practically anywhere in the house. (ie- they'll drill straight through every wall from here to kathmandu, but they won't run it in the wall.) And all of that's included in the hookup fees.

Their installation trucks come equipped with everything they need.

they most definately WON'T bury the cable for you.

But then again, that could just be California

MP3DUB · 05-06-2002, 09:10 PM

My experiences have been the same as crazy littles. They dont have any problems stringing you a new line out here, but you'd have to arange to have the cable burried (ie you can call them, they'll drop off an appropriate length of cable, and then have someone trench/tunnel it between the pole/house, call them back and have them hook it up, or atleast that was my experience, the power and phone peoples worked together, but the cable was a sepearate matter). They will also just tack it around the outside of your house most likely and then bust out the 12 inch drill bit and go through the wall.

and congrats on the house.

RaZor · 05-07-2002, 02:56 AM

i just got my first apartment yesterday for this summer and i am going to need to find some broadband ISP. It sucks being in a smaller town.

as far as hookup goes, make sure they test it and the connectivity rating is good. my buddy had this problem and his was registering in the negatives, when it should have been between like 3 and 10. also, usually if you already have cable tv through the company offering cable internet, they cut you a good deal, may want to check that out, or con the guys who are going to install it.

ODYSSEY · 05-07-2002, 04:28 AM

You get free cable (tv) with cable internet. Just split the line yourself.

MP3DUB · 05-07-2002, 11:52 AM

All the cable "techs" that have been out working at my place have always told me that they want a slight negative on the cable, up to about -10. They also said that positive is ok upto somthing like +5.

RaZor · 05-08-2002, 12:58 AM

the problem he had with the negative connectivity rating was that during peak hours his internet connection would go down for hours on end.

PatO · 05-08-2002, 07:34 PM

Thanks for your experiences guys!
It turns out that they had already checked the records and found that a new cable had to be run. They just pulled a ladder off the truck and climbed up the pole. I even asked them to bury it and the guy said he'd have a trench crew out next week!

Also had him hook up a couple new boxes in the living room and the office (aka master bedroom). 1 1/2 hours after he arrived, I was online!

(Would've posted sooner, but I only had my firewall machine running. Took me another day to get my regular machine going.)

CrazyLittle · 05-08-2002, 08:19 PM

not bad =) Good to hear that -somebody- gets good service from a cable company

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