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Neat-O: Cable Guy Makes a Mess
"This is kind of backwards," says Peter Marks, sales engineer with Jacksonville, Fla.-based First Coast Entertainment, about his "Neat-O!" submission. "The 'Before' is how we leave the panel; the 'After' is what happens when the cable guy comes."
First Coast Entertainment is a low-voltage integrator that works with builders in new developments. In each home, First Coast prewires for home theater, multiroom audio, etc. It also installs a single structured wiring panel. All of this is done before the newly built home has its first homeowner.
From there, it can really go downhill. "I get phone calls from the builder or from the homeowner," Marks says. "The cable guy's been there, and nothing works. He'll screw it up and start unplugging stuff. He might have shorted something out or only found one phone line."
But it Gets Worse
"If it's the wrong cable guy or phone guy, then he immediately throws me under the bus," Marks explains. "The homeowner will call me and go, 'I have no TV, no phone, and I have the cable guy right here telling me your stuff is useless."
"Document everything," says Peter Marks, sales engineer with Jacksonville, Fla.-based First Coast Entertainment. "Always clearly label your wires, leave a schedule on the inside of panel cover and take pictures of the trimmed panel."
If possible, advises Marks, find out which TV, Internet or phone provider the homeowner is planning to use. "Tell the homeowner what to expect from them," he says. "Remember, even with the best planning, you can’t always be there the day the cable guy is — and believe me, those guys will blame you when they can’t get stuff working."
Hence, the photos. "So, we started pictures of everything … of the prewire stage, of the panel," Marks says. "We take pictures so we have a record, and we provide that to the homeowner."
One minor detail: First Coast Entertainment provides these photos before any cable or phone company arrives to the new home.
"I told the builder, 'Listen, I need to know when these people are moving in,'" Marks recalls. "So, now I have a small window of time between the sales close and when the homeowner moves in."
In that small window of time, Marks tells the homeowner how to prepare for the cable company. "I say, 'See that panel right there? Don't let the cable guy touch it.'"
Marks provides the homeowner and the cable company with clear instructions: "Just pick a room, and then just put the modem in that room, right on the floor," Marks says. "And then we'll come in after the fact, put a router in there, put the modem in the panel."
"So, now it's a money-making thing," Marks says. Instead of being called to fix what someone else broke, he says, "Now we can sell them something legitimately."
Congratulations to Peter Marks for a Neat-O! installation. We’re looking for over-the-top projects. Cool, unique, tidy or meticulous, share your best work with our readers. E-mail your submissions, with high-resolution images, to managing editor Arlen Schweiger at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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13 Comments (displayed in order by date/time)
I dont think that even looks like the same job. Where did all that extra wire come from? I agree cable and sat guys typically make a mess of our work.
If it is the same job they took the network geat and cabling out of the wall box.
gear even*
I need to start documenting some of the jobs like this I run across. Recently came back to a panel just like above that we terminated, only to find that the local ISP that also provides VOIP had ripped out all the telephone wires from the distribution block, and re-terminated ONE PAIR ONLY of the cat5, without using a punchdown tool that cuts the excess. In fact, I think it may have been terminated with a flatblade screwdriver.
We tell our clients to have us install that kind of stuff. We also use product holders to hold modems and switches. We as installers have to be very clear with clients and let know we can be on stand by for help when other contractor come into the house.
a few spelling errors…“let them know”
You want to be respected, don’t lie!
The splitter is a different color, the inserts are off a hole, the lettering is missing, the wall color is different, the lettering behind the modem is brushed out, even a couple of the cable lines are brushed. The drywall in the lower left corner was round and now is cut square.
And then there’s the case of 2 more panels added in the after, one next to the phone punch and one below.
I think the “before” was just a general idea of what the panel could have looked like. If you read the article it goes on to explain that they do spec-homes and developments, and this type of mess-up is typical from service providers once the owner has moved in.
Isaac is right. We’re not trying to pull a fast one here; we’re telling a more general story.
First Coast Entertainment is a low-voltage
integrator that works with builders in new developments. As such, it’s installing and returning to service dozens of panels like these.
These images represent an example of one of the companies many installs and an example, Peter Marks says, of what has happened time and time again—- that is, the cable guy.
But no, these images do not depict the very same job.
I understand the frustration of seeing ones work degraded. It’s happened to us on occasion. But, to be a little bit fair, look at the panel being used; are there any labels? Are there adequate modules and/or patch modules? Is there a power outlet in the panel? The distribution panel is supposed to be homeowner friendly, easy to figure out and should include an orientation session with said homeowner. Most of the panels we come across are extremely limited and offer little or no flexibility.
Use products you can be proud of and are confident that novices can understand. Messes will still happen, but not nearly as frequently.
What I’ve read here seems to be a pity party. I hope that this post creates some positive thoughts.
A few years ago, when I was a high-end integrator in Texas, Michael Heiss would always implore attendees to his yearly CEDIA Expo updates on video to forge an alliance with our local cable company. Fat chance, you might say as I did. But I tried it with our local Time Warner cable company. It was difficult and time consuming but amazingly, it worked. Ultimately it proved to be my best marketing and provided the cable company their best customers with fewer call backs. Imagine my high end clients’ reactions when I was able to have the cable guy meet us on site for hook ups. Even better, imagine my clients’ reactions when I was able to get a cable guy to fix something On Our Schedule! My clients used to parade us around to their friends as though we were beauty queens because we got the cable company to do what WE wanted.
Of course this may not be possible in your area, but don’t just write it off thinking it is not possible. The rewards of pulling it off are incredible.
The two photos are not the from the same installastion.Its only ment to be a Idea of what can happen.
Peter
I have 1 job where the cable guy destroys it every time he comes out. The installation was apx 7 years ago and every other year i go out for an upgrade or service call and find my rack torn apart.
The last time i went out i found the rear door open and a new RG6 ran directly from the splitter on the wall to the model that was mounted in the rack. So theres a peice of RG6 juts stretched across the control room and the door cant be shut.
Oh.. did i mention theres a drop ceiling? And a wire chase that goes from the back wall into the rack?
We include a hand holding fee for dealing with cable/telco/satellite guys. Its the only way to deal with them. We do what Peter Marks does.. we photograph every inch of our installation from the wall plates to the rack and everything in between.
Be sure and put your requested time slot in writing. GC’s love to call you the day before sheetrock and say “you better get out here”. If you have it in writing that you need 2 weeks notice then you can tell the GC “i will be there in 2 weeks. Hopefully i wont have to bill the client for the extra labor to cut the sheet rock up”
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