Ever cut through satellite tv cable??

[frogginfish]

Has anyone ever cut through any cables/wires while digging? Last night I received a permission from a very nice late 1800s house with an expansive yard. I just get started digging and close to the house I get a decent high tone on the AT Pro at 2-4 inches. I dig the plug and through what I thought was a small root...
Well, it wasn't a root at all...it was the homeowner's Dish Network line going to the house. It was barely even 3 inches down!!! Sliced that thing right in two.
Of course I talk to the homeowner and tell her what happened. She was less than pleased. I honestly felt horrible for doing it...
After spending 45 minutes on hold with DN and not getting a response, I decided to go home. We exchanged numbers and she stated that she would try calling today for repairs and would let me know about the cost.

Anyone else ever deal with something like this??

 

[SD51]

Unfortunately you will be paying the repair costs, but you did the right thing by letting the homeowner know. They will most likely run a new cable from the box into the house, unless the repairman trusts a coaxial cable splice to remain waterproof.

 

[controlfreq]

You should be able to get wire and connectors to splice and at least restore service until proper repairs can be made.

I have found sprinkler heads on a few occasions but was able to avoid damage...

 

[1320]

In my neck of the woods, Sat TV is wired above ground, lucky.

 

[Rookster]

Hope everything works so you can go back.

 

[CASPER-2]

I dig using a BIG knife - luckily the one I had at the time was sharp enough to cut ground but not to cut wire
idiots only buried about 2 ins down most around here is like a foot - I hit it and thought it was a root till I saw
shiney black coating

 

[sprailroad]

Oh man, not good. I know that you know you must bear the cost for proper repair, it's the only thing to do. Having said that, it is good that you put this out there for us to remember.

 

[frogginfish]

Looks like the cost will be around $55.
Lesson learned on my end!

 

[Gare]

Look in your area for anyone that installs any kind of cable tv. Offer them what you feel it is worth and they can simply go splice in a repair. They need to make sure it is a underground pieces. If yopu was close to me I would do it for free. I do not install SAT TV but i do take mine camoing with me when i go .

BIG HINT FOR all that dig !!
If you see a SAT Dish in the yard on a post chances are there is BURIED CABLE there leading to the house. Do not assume is goes straight to the home either. They usually do not bury the cable very DEEP !! You did the right thing by telling the owner. Any tv installer should be able to make the repair and far less then a Dish TV REP !! good luck. Please post to us how much it cost you !

 

[xaos]

same for the invisible fences for pets..

 

[Gare]

Great POINT XAOS Please all remember when asking for permission to hunt a place ALWAYS ask if there are ANY WIRES BURIED such as Underground TV cable, Electric dog fencing UNDERGROUND electrical wires buried to any building. If anyone can think of other reasons please post them

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Be clad it was coxal and not fiber, the cost could easily have been 10x or more higher.

 

[CoinFetcher]

Coaxial cable, especially cable caring a digital signal is easy to repair,. You could easily patch it, and out and if the run is not too long just replace the whole thing. Coaxial cable has a grounding sheath that you’ll need to connect and then the main Copper Center

 

[frogginfish]

This is sort of what the line looked like. It was a dual cable.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Just pay to have it fixed professionally, if there is issue after repair it becomes the responsibility of the company that did the repair not you.

 

[releventchair]

Takes remembering , and patience to check around a target for a continuance of the signal.
Yes ,I cut a wire at an abandon , pre demolition house. Not on purpose , but still my bad.
And found a copper pipe run in multiple spots in a park one day....

 

[xaos]

This is sort of what the line looked like. It was a dual cable.
View attachment 1625221

Is the extra copper ground or power?

An electrical probes can save your

EDIT: Its a ground messenger, not power.

 

[frogginfish]

Is the extra copper ground or power?

Not sure. This wasn't the exact picture of what I cut. Similar though.

 

[Ammoman]

I have come close a couple times. Lucky for me i was using a hand digger and pinpointer. I like to creep up on my finds and catch em when they are not lookin.

 

[Gare]

The thin wire with out the coating is just support wire. That is not underground cable. The two shielded ones go to the receiver and to the LNB should not be hard to repair