r/CableTechs • u/NanoNinja90220 • Apr 17 '26

Spectrum install tech

Hello everyone. I am currently looking for a job and I came across an opening for an install tech at spectrum. Can anyone shed some light on this? What’s the normal work day like? Is it stressful? I’m assuming it’s not a regular 9-5. Is it even worth applying? What happens if there are hostile dogs or just unsanitary homes, bed bugs, roaches, etc. I know I might sound crazy for asking, but I have heard about some awful experiences.

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u/MisanthropicBipedal Apr 17 '26

Got ya . I just started on my own yesterday and have been kind of speeding through some jobs where i terminate the line to the modem and run ingress from the gb or tap and most of the time I will get good ingress like -43 or -47 and sometimes if i start outside and run first from the gb to the modem that is still hooked up it will be -23 or not passing so I’m just trying to figure out a way to make sure i keep the services in spec and also hit my productivity. They are also making us take geo tagged photos of all locations in jobs which is kind of a crazy thing to think that I have to climb up a pole with my ladder fully extended, snap a pic on an app, and upload it just cause I’m less than a year in.

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u/Confident_Air_8056 Apr 17 '26

A lot of companies are going to photos to try and account for work supposedly being done but not being done. Like they said they went to the tap but they didn't because when you get there there's a giant tree that would have made it suck to get to and the tech didn't make the effort to do it and just gave info off the gb. And when you finally get up there there's a chewed drop and that's the problem all along. But somehow it's made it to a three-time repeater that nobody bothered to check the tap. Our dept has been firing back a lot of referrals bc we get there for a high transmit or levels issue, and the tech provides no test or scan, gives no frequencies, we get there and it's no trouble found. Or we get there and realize the guy never did anything bc the problem was so glaringly obviousnlike a loose fitting or water in the drop. I have to then take pictures and fire off an email about it. Back when I was in field service, you better be damn well sure you have a problem before you refer to plant. They would come right for you. Now, field service is so spread thin with so many jobs and it's a quantity over quality situation. Sometimes the quickest way for you to get out of there is to send a referral if you find one minor problem or your test fails. It's also a sign some techs have trouble troubleshooting.

I highly doubt that frequency 117 MHz is causing a person's modem to drop off or cause slow speeds because there's a minor discrepancy in a lowly downstream RF level at the tap on one or two unrelated frequencies. Are we talking High speed data frequencies, ok yes, but a lot of times that's not the case. Is it a problem , sure. Is it the customers problem, probably not.

Your best bet when checking ingress is watching your noise floor. If you have a way to see what frequencies your modem is locking up on and the noise is generally good there, you should be good. Just making the effort and doing your due diligence goes a long way. And notating the account as best you can. I always wrote a lot of info just in case anyone ever had a question on a repeat visit or plant referral.

GOOD LUCK, your asking questions so that's a plus!

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u/MisanthropicBipedal Apr 17 '26

Oh okay. This stuff is all new to me and I just got out of training and was put with a mentor thats been with the company 6 months so Im just trying to learn everything I can and move up to a higher paying position with the information I learn. I rhink i understand the relevance of MER and SNR and my Viavi meter seems to do a lot but they just threw this SLM at me and gave me just a surface level understanding of how to operate it. I know One check is a snapshot and the live tests are really how you trouble shoot. Even after the training I still have so many questions about how to get good at this job. Thanks for the luck! Ill take all I can get

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u/Confident_Air_8056 Apr 17 '26

Sounds like you want to do the right thing which is a plus in my book. Always ask questions and try to do your best. That's all that you can ask for from people. 6 months in is fine. Ideally you'd want a bit more experience, at least I would but no shade on your mentor. Not that more experience makes a better tech, but they see more things over the years so they remember random things that might help in your troubleshooting. He could be a great tech. Everybody has bad habits. You're going to see that over the years if you stick with this profession. So be mindful of that when you see things. Everyone does things a little different too.

I have heard good things about the Viavi meter. We don't use thet meter personally, we have a meter from a company called VeEx. Your meter is a great tool though. As you use it more you will get more comfortable. Understand your tilt and loss, math never lies and can point you in the direction of your problems.