CABL Forum - In The Rain/Sleet/Snow

It was in Rehobith Beach (probably not spelled right, I can't spell) it was outside Ocean City Maryland. It was in the winter time , it was colder than a well diggers hockey box. I never have problems on any cable I cut, but this was one of those things,that bite you in the a.ss. It was early Saturday Morning and I get a phone call from the project mgr. that was gone home that weekend,he was in another state. He says that run you cut yesterday something is wrong, you got to get out there and fix it. This run fed a country club, the cable was going off and on. Apparently some big wigs were having some kind of party at the Country Club and the system people(service techs) couldn't figure out what was wrong. I must admit it was one of the most difficult problems I ever solved. Normally I can walk people through a problem over the radio, as I've said before cable is not rockett science. It was cold as hell,the rain/sleet was coming down sideways the wind was blowing some 45knots, not a good day. I went out to my run, and after 15 minutes I had isolated the problem to one amp ,the imput was good and remained constant,every time the wind would blow hard signal dropped out to the next amp. At the amp you could check the imput and out put everything was cool ,but signal was being lost???? It was so cold I had ice frozen in my mustach,a day from hell, one might ask what was the problem? after beating myself up with, a dozen system people sittin in there trucks,(glad they weren't me) I figured it out. Ended up being someone had taken a gilbert connector and put a p1 top on a p3 connector so when you looked at it, it appeared p1. It was on 875 p1 plant, every time the wind swayed the amps signal was lost to the next amp. You see the center conductor in pi is much smaller than p3 and the compression part of the fitting couldn't stay tight enough to maintain signal in the wind. It was a day from hell and a memory I won't soon forget. I was proud of myself when I finally figured out what was going on. That was the worst problem I ever had to solve. As far as adverse conditions go, I've seen the time working in Cinn Ohio, when you have to highjack those easment poles taking a hammer to pop the ice off as you gaffed up them to get to the cable. I'd rather deal with south floridas treed out easments,short spans, banana spiders, fire ants, and scorpians, snakes,gators,you name it, than have to be in the cold. I'm glad I didn't marry that woman from Cinn. Ohio. My hat goes of to you people and I salute you, for having enough dog/dawg in you to get the job done in inclimate weather. I guess I'm just gettin old. I'll be back later with a story about a good friend of mine, that I am proud to say I know. Hawkeye (Jay Peterson) and his Bird.
See Ya "WHITFIELD"

INSTALLATION

CONSTRUCTION / TECH

OFFICE / OTHER

In The Rain/Sleet/Snow