Non cable-subscriber - how to confirm cable feed is live without using a cable box? - Techwatch Support Forums: Digital & Satellite TV, FTA, Cable, Computers, Mobile Phones, Apple and General Tech Forums

wegool · 22-11-09, 07:35 PM

Hi,

this is probably a stupid question!

I read the Eurovox FAQ and noted that it may be possible to use a Eurovox even if you're not a cable subscriber, if you have a live cable feed into your house.

We recently moved into our current house and there is a white Telewest box on the wall, with 2 sockets (marked TV and FM)

I tried connecting coax cable direct from this box to the tv - with connection in TV socket on Telewest box, I picked up absolutely nothing. With connection in FM socket, I could pick up some signal (very hazy and distorted but you could make out some sound and picture on it at least)

Am I to determine from that, that the cable feed into my house is NOT live? (I wasn't sure whether I should be expecting to tune in a channel with a clear picture or whether the fact I was able to pick up something was enough?)

(The previous owners weren't cable subscribers either so I think it has been at least a couple of years since the cable feed would have been used so I guess its probably unlikely that its still live but just wanted to confirm either way!)

Can anyone advise?

Thanks.

billthebus · 22-11-09, 08:13 PM

If the feed was live you would have picked up terrestrial channells by tuning the TVSo it looks like you are out of luck.

wegool · 22-11-09, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billthebus

If the feed was live you would have picked up terrestrial channells by tuning the TVSo it looks like you are out of luck.

Ok, thanks, thats what I suspected unfortunately.

el_benno · 22-11-09, 08:52 PM

Try connecting a differnt TV to your cable feed... Ive got a TV that for some reason doesnt pick up anything when directly connected to my live feed...
Failing that, and Im not advising this, but if you could gain entry to the street box, you could reconnect your feed manually...

TheCoder · 22-11-09, 08:58 PM

A live feed will usually have 3-4Vac across it so you should be easily able to detect this with a standard voltage meter or multimeter. Make sure your set to an AC voltage range though.

0 Volts across the feed would obviously mean its disconnected.

A lot of TW area's no longer transmit any analog TV so just plugging a feed into a TV and trying to tune something in is no longer an adequate test.

billthebus · 22-11-09, 09:15 PM

He would be better advised to get the minnimum package from v****n.Or get their Broadband.

el_benno · 22-11-09, 09:23 PM

True, Virgin have plenty of decent offers on NOW..

G77 · 22-11-09, 11:12 PM

argos do a signal tester at about £15

BL4K3Y · 22-11-09, 11:59 PM

Test it the old fashioned way, touch the end of the cable with your tongue (no don't lol i'm joking, but if you were to, you would get a tingle if it was live)

. You could take the safer option and screw an F connector onto the cable and connect it to the back of your TV then tune it in. If you get channels 1-5, your feed is live

.

TheCoder · 23-11-09, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blakey_8

If you get channels 1-5, your feed is live

.

As I mentioned earlier, in a lot of TW areas the analog signal has been completely turned off so that method wont necessarily work anymore !

22-11-09, 07:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
wegool Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Non cable-subscriber - how to confirm cable feed is live without using a cable box? Hi, this is probably a stupid question! I read the Eurovox FAQ and noted that it may be possible to use a Eurovox even if you're not a cable subscriber, if you have a live cable feed into your house. We recently moved into our current house and there is a white Telewest box on the wall, with 2 sockets (marked TV and FM) I tried connecting coax cable direct from this box to the tv - with connection in TV socket on Telewest box, I picked up absolutely nothing. With connection in FM socket, I could pick up some signal (very hazy and distorted but you could make out some sound and picture on it at least) Am I to determine from that, that the cable feed into my house is NOT live? (I wasn't sure whether I should be expecting to tune in a channel with a clear picture or whether the fact I was able to pick up something was enough?) (The previous owners weren't cable subscribers either so I think it has been at least a couple of years since the cable feed would have been used so I guess its probably unlikely that its still live but just wanted to confirm either way!) Can anyone advise? Thanks.

22-11-09, 08:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
billthebus Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 208 Thanks: 21 Thanked 53 Times in 48 Posts	Re: Non cable-subscriber - how to confirm cable feed is live without using a cable bo If the feed was live you would have picked up terrestrial channells by tuning the TVSo it looks like you are out of luck.

22-11-09, 08:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
el_benno Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 238 Thanks: 14 Thanked 31 Times in 20 Posts	Re: Non cable-subscriber - how to confirm cable feed is live without using a cable bo Try connecting a differnt TV to your cable feed... Ive got a TV that for some reason doesnt pick up anything when directly connected to my live feed... Failing that, and Im not advising this, but if you could gain entry to the street box, you could reconnect your feed manually...

22-11-09, 08:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
TheCoder Underground Crew Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Undrground Posts: 2,149 Thanks: 15 Thanked 1,691 Times in 933 Posts	Re: Non cable-subscriber - how to confirm cable feed is live without using a cable bo A live feed will usually have 3-4Vac across it so you should be easily able to detect this with a standard voltage meter or multimeter. Make sure your set to an AC voltage range though. 0 Volts across the feed would obviously mean its disconnected. A lot of TW area's no longer transmit any analog TV so just plugging a feed into a TV and trying to tune something in is no longer an adequate test.

22-11-09, 09:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
billthebus Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 208 Thanks: 21 Thanked 53 Times in 48 Posts	Re: Non cable-subscriber - how to confirm cable feed is live without using a cable bo He would be better advised to get the minnimum package from v****n.Or get their Broadband.

22-11-09, 09:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
el_benno Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 238 Thanks: 14 Thanked 31 Times in 20 Posts	Re: Non cable-subscriber - how to confirm cable feed is live without using a cable bo True, Virgin have plenty of decent offers on NOW..

22-11-09, 11:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
G77 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 6,118 Thanks: 695 Thanked 1,250 Times in 1,044 Posts	Re: Non cable-subscriber - how to confirm cable feed is live without using a cable bo argos do a signal tester at about £15 __________________ 1M Motorised Dish, 45W-36E, DM800HD. Quad LNB Mesh Mini Dish, 28.2E, DM500, TM500. Samsung Galaxy S GT-I9000 XXJVU & CF-Root.

22-11-09, 11:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
BL4K3Y Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Colne, Lancashire Posts: 7,004 Thanks: 247 Thanked 1,319 Times in 1,211 Posts	Re: Non cable-subscriber - how to confirm cable feed is live without using a cable bo Test it the old fashioned way, touch the end of the cable with your tongue (no don't lol i'm joking, but if you were to, you would get a tingle if it was live). You could take the safer option and screw an F connector onto the cable and connect it to the back of your TV then tune it in. If you get channels 1-5, your feed is live .

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
best cable box to buy	krupatel	Starview	2	02-01-09 05:54 PM
Best Cable Box to Purchase	Emperor	Cable TV Chat	2	28-12-08 10:03 AM
What is the best PVR cable box to buy?	Jadugar	Cable TV Chat	1	28-11-08 10:00 PM
Eurovox Frequently Asked Questions...	ryanrandom	Eurovox	3	04-11-08 02:05 AM
Rewiring/splitting cable feed	k.jacko	Cable TV Chat	2	30-10-08 12:56 PM