Cox cable mini box: overheating?

[1freedude]

For grins, just for experiment, take a box from one room and put it in place of a different box. Note the results. If the same box has the same probl3m in a different location, we might suspect the box. Or, if the problem is different, its the location, not the box, that is causing the issue.

Not sure if you know this....the RF signal that the box uses to tune the channel is riding on the surface, or skin of the center conductor. The outer shield can play an important role, too, but not so much in the case. A solid sheathing is more important than perfect shielding. If there is/are imperfections (cuts, scratches, sharp bends, kinks, nicks, etc) the signal will be negatively impacted.

If its not too much effort, swap the boxes around

 

[Bill_Bright]

For grins, just for experiment, take a box from one room and put it in place of a different box. Note the results. If the same box has the same probl3m in a different location, we might suspect the box. Or, if the problem is different, its the location, not the box, that is causing the issue.

Good idea!

Not sure if you know this....the RF signal that the box uses to tune the channel is riding on the surface, or skin of the center conductor. The outer shield can play an important role, too, but not so much in the case. A solid sheathing is more important than perfect shielding. If there is/are imperfections (cuts, scratches, sharp bends, kinks, nicks, etc) the signal will be negatively impacted.

Yeah, these were points made earlier when suggested any older RG-59 be replaced by new RG-6, and cables be checked for bad connectors (replacing any with quality connectors), and checking cables rodent damage, kinks, cut insulation, etc.

It is unlikely 3 cables boxes have suddenly gone bad at once. And it is unlikely the 3 cables to those boxes went bad at once. So if due to a damaged cable, that leaves a main common cable (perhaps the exterior drop into the house - that may be weathered due to harsh Denver winters).

I believe the problem can be boiled down to signal strength (or lack thereof) due, in large part, to the OP stating "There are lots of splitters" feeding coax into "practically every room in the house". Again, it must be noted a 3-way splitter divides the signal strength 3 ways, even if only 2 outputs are being used. Plus, it would seem these splitters go back years which suggest they may not have sufficient bandwidth for today's HD signals.

@80251 Again, I think you should have Cox come out. Also, if me, I would go over all the cabling and disconnect every cable that is not feeding a box/TV, replacing every splitter with a new one that has only the minimum number of splits (outputs) needed.