10 Common Reasons Your Cable TV Goes Out

Losing your cable TV connection may not be the worst thing that can happen to you, but it sure can feel like it. Just when you find one thing worth watching out of 497 options, poof, out goes the picture. What is it this time? Well, let’s consider the many possibilities. Here are ten common reasons your cable TV can go out:

1. Bad/Loose Connection – There may be a coaxial cable connector that is loose, defective or corroded. Check to make sure all of your connectors are securely fastened, and if possible check for any corrosion on accessible outside cable connectors. These should have been installed with protective rubber insulators. If the outage occurred after cables had been reconnected, check for bent pins.
2. Cut Cable – Cable TV providers sometimes run their cables underground, and occasionally these cables are cut, by contractors or DIY’ers digging in the area. Aerial cables are also sometimes cut by crews working aloft, tall vehicles, etc.
3. Pole Down – It could be that a pole has been knocked down in your area, which is usually the result of an automotive accident. Typically, though, this will affect phone and/or electrical service as well.
4. Loss of Signal Feed – Cable TV signals are fed from various sources to a local transmitting location called a head end. It could be that the cable signal you were watching was lost on that end. Check to see if you’ve lost all channels, just one or a few.
5. Weather – Mother Nature has a way of tampering with our entertainment at times too. High winds, heavy rains, lightning or flooding in your area can affect cable TV signals. If your TV signal is fed via satellite, simple cloud cover can create interference.
6. Technicians Working in Area – You’ll sometimes get this for an explanation if you call your local provider. It may even be true. Cable work will at times necessitate disconnecting your TV signal momentarily. It could be for the repair or installation of new equipment or cable.
7. RF Loss – This is generally caused by too many splitters on your indoor cabling or a defective amplifier exterior to your home. More often, though, it will appear as a degradation in your picture quality before it results in a complete outage. If you’ve recently had cable internet added to your service, check any splitters in your cable line. If the connections are OK, try removing them from the line one at a time and see if your TV signal is restored.
8. Bad Receiver/Cable Box – Depending upon the type of cable TV service you’ve subscribed to, it may be possible to check for a TV signal by connecting the cable from the external source directly to your TV. If you can still receive some basic cable channels, then your cable box is probably defective. If there is a reset button on it, you can also try that before calling for help.
9. Theft – Sadly, there are those who far various reasons would rather steal cable TV from someone else than pay for it themselves. If you live in an area where your cable service is accessible to neighboring residents, it may be that your signal has been pirated.
10. Non-Payment – You, uh, did pay for yours, didn’t you? Hey, it happens to the best of us; and let’s face it, there are higher priorities than cable TV when the money gets tight, right? At least that’s what we tell ourselves, until the screen goes black.

Taken From Phone TV Internet