CHAPTER 9: TROUBLESHOOTING CHART
Symptom |
Cause |
Resolve |
| 20 dB drop | Shorted CC | Replace bad fitting |
| Abnormal RF attenuation | Feeder suck out | Set up MR |
| Beats on HFC Freq | Bad RFI shielding | Replace passive device |
| Black center conductor | Water in cable | Replace damaged cable |
| Blurry pic on trapped chs | Increase in rejection bandwidth | Replace trap |
| Chs 2, 11, 22 good,, all others have static | IF RCA TV, TV problem | Unplug TV for 30 secs and replug |
| Continuous Dialtone after dialing | Reverse wiring between tip and ring | Rewire to proper configuration |
| Crosstalk | Use of non TPW Poorly installed jacks Corroded wires/connectors Another service (SBC, etc) spliced into system |
Set up for Install Replace jacks Replace wire/connectors Disconnect other service from system |
| Dead DCT | No power to DCT DCT too hot DCT is bad |
Plug in DCT Move DCT to allow air Change out DCT |
| Error code | Faulty DCT | Check code and follow |
| Flashing | Loose fittings Broken shielding on drop Damaged drip loop on mid-span Shorted/ too long CC Defective passive devices Feeder/trunk issue |
Tighten fittings Replace drop Replace drop Replace fitting Replace device Set up MR |
| Flashing pictures (sometimes) |
Cross threaded fitting Corroded/loose fitting Loose seizure screw Feeder suck out |
Refit fitting Replace fitting Set up MR Set up MR |
| Flashing/off receive light | Downstream issue | Level check downstream |
| Flashing/off send light | Upstream issue | Return path check |
| Fluctuating RF levels | Cross threaded fitting | Refit fitting |
| Frequency hopping | Distortion for cascaded return amp Legal /illegal over the air service Amateur/CB radios Impulse noise Lightning |
Set up MR Set up MR Inform customer Set up MR Inform customer |
| Frozen DCT screen | Faulty DCT | Replace DCT |
| Frozen navigation | DCT fault | Unplug DCT for 15-20 sec Plug it back in Request reauthorization |
| Herringbone beat | Notch freq drift | Replace trap |
| High ground resistance | Broken bond wire Drop not common bonded Corroded ground contacts High soil Resistivity Loose grd screw Undersized ground wire |
Replace bonding wire Common bond drop Reconnect to good contact Tighten screws Replace with proper wire |
| High uncorrected errors | Ingress on line | Replace drop |
| High/no Return path | Defective/wrong house amp Loose fitting Push on fitting 59 cable Poorly installed fitting Too many sets on line VCR before DCT Wire damage |
Replace with correct amp Tighten all fittings Replace fittings Replace cable if able to Replace fitting Add amp or reconfigure Reconfigure set up Replace wire if able |
| Hum bars | Ingress | Cracked housing |
| Hum modulation | Defective DCT Faulty RF switch Defective DC power supply in amp Low AC input voltage to amps DC power supply Corroded power passing device Defective house amp Poor grounding Defective CPE |
Swap out DCT Replace switch Set up MR Set up MR Replace power passing device Swap amp or AC adapter Ground properly Inform customer |
| Hum on phone line | Ground/shielding on wire Poor termination Poor grd/bonding |
Replace wire if able Check connection Replace suspect items |
| Impedance mismatch | Cut/chewed cable Stapled cable Too tight fitting |
Replace the damaged cable Replace the damaged cable Replace fitting |
| Ingress/ Ghosting | Loose/corroded fitting Badly installed fitting Bad CPE Moisture in cable Severed cable Violation of bend radius Water in cable Shorted CC Wrong size fitting Defective drop Poor RFI shielding Loose amp housing bolt Faulty trap Dielectric on CC Cross threaded fitting Cracked tap port Cracked feeder Push on jumper |
Replace fitting Replace fitting Inform customer Replace stapled cable Replace severed cable Replace bended cable Replace damaged cable Replace bad fitting Replace bad fitting Replace the drop Replace passive device Tighten or set up MR Replace trap Replace bad fitting Refit fitting Replace tap plate Set up MR Replace jumper |
| Inverted signal level | Corroded fitting/grd block | Replace fitting/grd block |
| Inverted tap levels |
Water in the tap |
Replace tap and set up MR |
| Level fluctuation | Loose seizure screw | Set Up MR |
| Loss of AC power | Feeder suck out | Set up MR |
| Low SNR in upstream | Ingress on line | Sweep line for ingress |
| Modem failing/freezing | Ingress on line | Sweep line for ingress |
| No chs over 13 | CLI trap for leak TV set up off cable Power outage |
Sweep for ingress Reconfigure set up to cable Reprogram TV chs |
| No dial tone | CPE off hook Short,open,grd fault Dead cordless batteries |
Place phone back on hook Find fault in line Replace batteries |
| No picture on all channels | No signal to CPE Corroded fitting Cut cable High RF levels |
Check all connections at CPE Replace fitting Replace cut cable Terminated unused port |
| No Sound on all channels | Mute button on | Depress mute button |
| No Sound on all channels | Audio cords unconnected | Reconnect audio cords |
| Noise on line | MTA too close to item Corroded fitting Poorly installed fitting/jack |
Move MTA Replace fitting Replace fitting/jack |
| One channel has noise | Loose connection at CPE | Tighten all connections |
| Opens in IW | Corroded/damaged IW Terminated Tip and ring to wrong screw Loose connections at screws |
Replace wiring if able Wire to proper screws Tighten all screws |
| Partial viewing of trap chs | Notch freq drift | Replace trap |
| Paste/powder on braid | Water in cable | Replace damaged cable |
| Poor audio on lower adjacent channel | Notch freq drift downward | Replace trap |
| Ringer issues | No ring | Ringer switch in "off" or "low" position Defective CPE Improper polarity of tip and ring Excessive REN number |
| Ringer problem | Reversed wiring Ground Fault Too many CPEs on line |
Rewire connection Find fault in line Reduce number of CPEs if able |
| Ringer issues | No ring | Ringer switch in "off" or "low" position Defective CPE Improper polarity of tip and ring Excessive REN number |
| Ringer problem | Reversed wiring Ground Fault Too many CPEs on line |
Rewire connection Find fault in line Reduce # of CPEs if able |
| Signal level < 10dB low | Backward splice tap | Set up MR |
| Slow modem speeds | Ingress on line Excessive network traffic Computer speed Low RAM memory |
Sweep line for ingress Speed test Virus scan/speed test Add memory (virtual) |
| Smearing | Violation of bend radius | Replace bended cable |
| Snowy pic on 23 and up | Fitting/Grd block corrosion | Replace suspect item |
| Snowy pic on 2-6, 14-22 | Loose seizure screw Feeder suck out |
Set Up MR Set up MR |
| Snowy Picture on all | Low levels or no signal Decrease in RF signal Cut cable Dielectric on CC Lightning damage Bad barrel at grd block Defective trap Low RF signal |
At splitter check: Wrong port connection High insertion loss Bad/corroded fitting Wrong splitter type Poor RFI shielding Loose fitting Replace damaged cable Replace cut cable Replace bad fitting Replace grd block/splitter Replace grd block Replace trap Replace broken port |
| Sound when DCT off | RF bypass is setup | Undo RF bypass setup |
| Static on phone line | Loose/corroded fitting Poorly installed jacks Broken wires Defective CPE |
Refit fitting Refit jacks Replace wire if able Inform customer |
| Suck out (meter roll off) | Water in system Water in tap |
Set up MR Swap out tap and set up MR |
| Tiling | Low or high signal Too many TVs Cut in the drop Ingress |
Tighten loose fitting Add house amp Replace the drop Find cause of ingress and repair |