Tracing Coax Cable (3 Techniques for 3 Issues)

In this article, I’ll share some methods I have learned to trace coax cables easily and efficiently.

As an experienced electrician and handyman, I will show you various solutions that can help expedite and simplify the process. The ability to thread coax cables properly prevents you from wasting time debugging various issues with your cables.

In general, to trace a coaxial cable follow these simple steps:

• Get your tracing tools— a probe device, toner, cable tester, and colored tape
• Connect a jack to the sender device.
• Using a speaker module, test each cable.
• When you connect the correct coax cable, you will hear a tone

I will cover more detail below.

The Tracing Instruments

First, prepare the necessary tools before beginning the tracing process. A coax cable tracer is typically a small device with various functions; some models can map several locations and provide invaluable information. This type of device may go by several different names.

A probe device and toner are required to trace the cable. The cable itself determines the tools required.

If you have a lot of coaxial cables to trace and don’t want to get lost, consider using colored tape.

Various cable tracing solutions are reasonably priced. Different models may include accessories and additional features that make the entire process easier and faster.

1. Many Cables

When you have a few cables connected to various devices and run to various locations throughout your home, you should use a cable tester to determine where the coax cable goes. Such devices include a “sending” function that sends a unique signal through the coaxial cable. The procedure is straightforward:

Step 1. Connect a jack to the sender device.

Step 2. Using a speaker module, test each coax cable.

When you connect the correct cable, you will hear a tone. That’s all there is to it.

2. When the Cable’s End is Available

If you have a lot of cables that send signals to many different devices and you need to find the right one, you can use a simple process. In this case, a multimeter is required:

Step 1: Set the Multimeter

To begin, switch your multimeter to continuity mode by rotating the selection dial knob to ohms settings — to measure resistance. Next, Install the multimeter’s red and black probes that lead into the ‘V’ and ‘COM’ sockets.

Step 2: Test the Wires with the Multimeter Probes

Then, touch the red lead on the inner copper conductor and the black lead on the outer connector on the coaxial cable until you hear a continuous beep, indicating that the two wires are connected.

Hint: If neither of these methods works for you, or if you’re having difficulty determining which wire is which, you can always try visually tracing the cable.

3. A Plethora of Cables — What To Do?

Tracing coaxial cables can be difficult, especially if you have a lot of cables threading through your walls or ceilings, but it is certainly doable:

Step 1. Begin by looking for obvious signs of where the cable might run, such as along baseboards or crown molding.

Step 2. Once you’ve determined the general location of the cable, begin gently tapping on walls or ceiling tiles until you hear a hollow sound – this usually indicates that there’s something behind that surface (such as wiring!).

However, use caution as too much force may cause damage to your walls or ceilings!

Frequently Asked Questions — FAQs

Video Reference

The Reno Dummy