the Cost of Cable TV Installation

This service call was for installation of new cable services. Specifically a new cable was run from the outside of our house to the inside via a new hole drilled into an exterior wall.

We had a new cable installed and an existing cable connection serviced last year, all for free. A reputable cable company should offer free installation. However, don't expect free equipment if you happen to need a converter or modem of any kind. Nevertheless, when we had our cable installed it was free, and then most recently when we had it serviced, it was also free. Cable laid in the ground is often faulty in our area, which is probably due to the accumulating damage done by the freeze-thaw cycle here in Ohio. Consequently, the quality of the cable connection tends to diminish after some time, requiring a service tech to come out. Unfortunately I have to report that the majority of technicians sent to our home have been careless and impolite. Please see my notes below.

Be careful! Even though your cable company may have a good reputation in the community, that does not mean that the young, inexperienced technician that they send to your house is going to be as careful and conscientious about his work as you would want. Our boneheaded technician drilled through a board in our basement ceiling just to make his job easier. He left sharp drilling scraps scattered in the basement which our four year old found before we did. He then did a sloppy job of drilling through the exterior wall of our home and stepped on our easily avoided flowers. He was rude and unpleasant and I was happy to see him go. Just watch them. Be friendly, but assume that they care more about their paycheck than doing the job right!