[mbfrosch]

You know that tool they use to remove a cable with the collar?

Would Cogeco lend one of those for me to move my box from my spare room to the basement?

I don't want to have to wait all day for them to show up and just disconnect and reconnect.

 

[Jake]

I removed mine so I could relocate the cable modem upstairs which supplied phone and internet. I don't have a problem telling you how to do it. It is not like the old days of analog cable theft. In fact, I am not certain why they install them now that services are digital and an STB is required to get the premium cable channels.

Anyway with a narrow slotted screwdriver (or two) insert the shaft inside the collar until it slides past the hex nut of the cable end. Go by feel. The flat part of the screw driver tip will be flat against one flat side of the hex nut. If you use two it will be on the opposite side. Turn the screwdriver so it rotates about the nut not itself. If the nut is tight you will need to apply lots of grip and torque. It helps to lay the screwdriver handle against the cable and turn the collar and screwdrivers all together.

If the collar is outside your house I would not remove it. Only the ones inside. The wiring inside is mine and I like to move the hardware as needed.

 

[Ratatosk]

Just remember that your signal might not be the same in the other room unless you use the exact same cable... Using another inside cable may cause service disruption if the signal ain't right... That's why they prefer to send techs to move the equipment themselves...

The cable locks are "required" because of the 911 service that comes with the VOIP...

 

[Jake]

The cable locks are "required" because of the 911 service that comes with the VOIP...

Could you elaborate please?

 

[57]

I assume that the lock is in place to preclude tampering with the box, either by the homeowner or others so that you always have emergency phone access, although that is obviously not the only reason for the tamper proofing.

Here's a thread on the tool and some caveats. Although the thread is in the Videotron forum, I assume it applies to Rogers, Cogeco, Shaw, etc:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=24722

Edit - this post is regarding the locks on a cable box (usually grey on the outside of the home). If the collar lock is different (which it may be) I apologize and a different tool may be required.

 

[GoWFO]

Re: Collar Locks & Voip & 911

The Modem is Registered to your Physical Street address for 911 service.
They don't want you taking your modem/voip to a different street location, because if call 911 and became incapacitated before giving any info, the emergency crews will show up at the original registered address & not where you are calling from.

 

[Jake]

Sorry but that does not explain why they install them when the customer does not have cable telephony. Or why other VOIP providers do not place locks on the hardware. Heck some encourage you to take it with you when you travel.

 

[mbfrosch]

Only the cable at the splitter for the phone line has the collar and the other end going into the voip box.

My understanding for the collar is as mentioned above, 911 service. A not so savy homeowner could disconnect a cable (thinking it's just a cable) and knock out their phone service thereby not having 911 service from the home.

re: Ratatosk
I will be moving the voip box a few feet from where the splitter is, currently it is two floors away. I'm not concerned over the signal quality, if anything the quality will be better. thanks for the concern though.

 

[Ratatosk]

Alrighty

Tell us how it went

 

[Costa]

So there is a sleeve around the connector? If its only on the wall plate side, then you could take the wallplate off the wall and disassemble it from the back side. Cable pro is atleast one company that has a security wrench for these sleeves.

I'd recommend just taking the wallplate off, the barrel nut is usually on the back too. Just untighten, remove, and its off.

 

[mbfrosch]

I wish it was that simple, it's a full length cable from the splitter in the basement all the way upstairs, i need to work on getting the collar off.

Thanks for the idea though.

 

[classicsat]

They have had such security collars long before cable telephony.

That box is their point of physical control for your entire cabe service for your home, second to authorizing indiviual devices, for homes with overhead drops at least (ground drops are usually controlled at the pedestal where a number of homes connect to their service feed).

 

[Costa]

Incase you were wondering, cutting the cable at the sleeve to put a deep socket over it to unlock the sleeve will not work, as the diameter of the socket is too big for it to fit into the sleeve.

 

[mbfrosch]

uh oh, did you learn this the hard way?

 

[aceofhertz]

I think there's a disconnect between some people in this thread.

From what I gather, the OP was talking about the little brass sleeve that the technician places on the coax connector of the voip modem and the wall outlet (if applicable). It prevents someone from being able to disconnect the coax from the modem or wall outlet.

 

[mbfrosch]

Just an update, two flat head screwdrivers worked like a charm.

 

[Jake]

Glad it worked for you. The first time takes a bit of fiddling, figuring out how much torque to apply and where to grip. After that I removed 3 others in a few minutes.

 

[mbfrosch]

Now I found the little tool. figures.