How to Fix a TV Cable

By Quinten Plummer

Repair your damaged coax cables with a twist-on connector.
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Don't discard your old TV cable because of a cut or tear in the line. Loss of conductivity or interference can occur even on a partially cut line---leaving you with poor reception or none at all. With a couple of easy-to-find coaxial repair tools from your local electronics store, you can repair your cable with less effort than you may think. Follow the steps listed here to repair your damaged coax cable.

Locate the damaged portion of your coaxial cable. Use wire cutters to make a clean cut across the damaged portion of the cable.

Close the RG-6 labeled groove of the crimping tool an inch down the cable. Twist the stripping tool back and forth a few times to make a complete cut around the outer portion of the cable.

Slide the tool off the cable, removing with it a clean cut of the outer portion of the cable. Cut away the exposed aluminum braiding surrounding the insulation. What will be left above the cut portion of the cable is copper filament surrounded by a white, PVC insulation.

Cut between the insulation down to about 1/3 of an inch with the section of the stripping tool labeled "inner." Twist the stripper around the section to make a clean cut, and then remove the cut portion.

Thread the copper filament---located at the center of the cable and surrounded by insulation---through the bottom of the twist-on connector.

Start twisting the twist-on connector until the insulation reaches the end of the connector and can go no farther. Twist it on tightly. Only the copper wire should protrude out of the center of the twist-on connector.

Salvage the other end of the damaged coax cable by stripping it and adding a twist-on connector to it as well.

Connect the two repaired cables with a coupler. Screw one end of the first cable onto one side of the cable coupler, and screw the second repaired cable onto the other side of the coupler.

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