Anyone know anything about coax cable locks?
 

Heres the deal. My cable company recently updated their old cable to new. They put a new box on my house and put a 1 in 4 splitter inside there. (one in.......four out)
The part that pisses me off, is they put these little cylinder locks over the male end of the threads, to stop me from simplely screwing the coax back in to the splitter. My kids have a playroom in the basement and it always picked up the channels they watched, with out any kind of box. Now, the cable I had running to that tv, is disconnected and I cant plug in the cable because of these stupid locks.
When I called the cable company to complain, they informed me that they will remove the locks, but then I have to pay an addittional 15 dollars per month for the extra tv and they will send out another cable box. I was happy they way it was. I knew my kids could not receive HBO and MAX without the box so I didn't have to worry about them watching anything "bad". But they could still receive NICK and CARTOON Network etc etc.
What???? 15 dollars for an 3rd connection?
Does anyone know how to get these off?

Could you send a picture of it? There are differnet types of locks that cable companies can use.

I don't have a pic right now, but I might do better with the description.
They are about 3 inches long with the diameter almost the same as the coax cable itself. (slightly larger).
The lock is somehow secured over the male threads of the splitter. At the other end of this device, is another male thread. They screwed the cable, running into the house to those threads.
So in essance, the cable is screwed to the splitter, but this device lock thing, seperates the "true" connection.
It is made of what appears to be aluminum or a light gauge steel. But not brass.

There is no hole through the center of this device. I am a mechanical engineer, but I can not figure out how this lock works.
If you spin it, it will spin, but not come off the threads.

The splitter is not a typical splitter. It is about 5 inches tall and about 9 iches wide. The "main" cable comes in at the top (hard wired, not screwed in) and there are 4 male threaded ends on the bottom. Of course I have two of the four used already, but I want a third.
I hope that helps.

I'm just brain storming but could you possibly attach another splitter to the cable box. A splitter added to the splitter. I'm not quite getting the picture possibly. But turning ONE of your cables into a "double" cable might bipass this.

I'd like to see the connector cause if we move we'll probably run into the same thing at our new location. Just wondering.

Look up "Locking Terminator" on google and try to find the brand thats on your line. Then you can get a tool for the terminator thats being used.

Link

Is this what you are talking about?

Ya I think thats it. Thanks....I'll just order the tool. Hopefully they will sell it to me.

Is this the tool you need???

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=360-615

Just be warned that a tech with an freq domain reflectometer can read how many lines are present. If they discover that you've removed their lock and tapped their splitter, you are pretty much open to theft of services charges and have no defense. It can get expensive.

even using RAW cable directly from the wall to the TV? then what's the point of selling a cable ready TV?

No, that's if you mess with their splitter or add a pirated convertor. If you add your own downstream splitter, I doubt if there's much to yell about.

I definitely would not mess with the cable company's equipment, though. An FDR can tell down to the inch the length of the cables attached and exactly where the junction is located.

Take the lock off, split it off into a terminated line, and one with a Zener diode so the signal passes through but no current is returned.

Interesting, I wonder how the FDR works. Seems like it would reflect off of the diode, but I don't know. Any test someone could run?

It will. I don't think you can hide _anything_ from an FDR.

Here's some interesting information on FDR sets. (Note, the prices are lower now)
http://iwce-mrt.com/ar/radio_frequen...flectometry_2/

if your talking about a cyulendrical one that just endlessly turns
 

look inside the open end, if theres no open end then this wont apply to you, but if look for to small slots on either side of the inside of the cylinder, just underneath the freely turning part inside, bind it with an awl thats what i did, didnt turn hard at all, you do have to hold the awl and the lock goofy but youll get it

---------- Post added at 11:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:22 AM ----------

just buy a new four/five way thing, problem solved lol, well on mine anyway it would work, its just a 3 way splitter but the other "nodes" arent locked