Searchable plant terms (66) plus a common field tools list (85 items) used across coring, splicing, access, and test.
HFC (Hybrid Fiber-Coax)
Network architecture combining fiber trunk with coax distribution.
Hybrid Fiber-Coax is the dominant cable television and broadband access architecture. Optical fiber carries signals from the headend to neighborhood nodes, where they are converted to RF on coaxial hardline. From the node, coax feeds taps, passives, and amplifiers to reach each subscriber drop. Mainline splicers work primarily on the coax portion from the node through distribution and bridger plant.
Related terms
Field reference
Common tools list
Core kit for hardline splicing, plant access, alignment, and safety. Size-match every coring tool and pin connector to the cable series on the jacket.
PPE
Tool
What it does
Notes
Hard hat
Head protection from falling tools, strand hardware, and overhead hazards.
Inspect shell and suspension; replace after impact or per date code.
Safety glasses (side shields)
Eye protection from debris, flood compound splash, and metal chips.
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Face shield
Full-face coverage for grinding, cutting, or high-splash tasks.
Wear over safety glasses when required.
Hi-vis vest / shirt
Visibility to traffic and public near roadways and work zones.
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Work gloves (task-rated)
Hand protection for cable, strand, and general handling.
Remove or switch to dexterity gloves for fine connector work as needed.
Electrical insulating gloves (when required)
Shock protection for authorized electrical tasks only.
Must be trained, tested, and paired with leather protectors per company rules.
Work boots (traction / composite or steel toe as required)
Foot protection and grip on trucks, poles, and uneven ground.
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Hearing protection (plugs / muffs)
Noise protection near traffic, grinders, and power tools.
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Sunscreen / insect repellent
Environmental protection on long outdoor shifts.
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Rain gear / cold-weather layers
Stay dry and warm so gear stays usable and focus stays on the plant.
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Lighting & personal
Tool
What it does
Notes
Headlamp
Hands-free light inside pedestals, housings, and night work.
Carry spare batteries or a charged spare lamp.
Flashlight / work light
Directed light for strand, vaults, and truck-side prep.
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Inspection mirror
Views seizure screws, rear ports, and tight housing corners.
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Company phone / radio
Dispatch, NOC, and emergency contact.
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Notepad, permanent markers, paint pen
Labels, WO notes, before/after photos captions, cable marks.
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First-aid kit (truck)
Immediate response to cuts and minor injuries.
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Hand tools
Tool
What it does
Notes
Adjustable wrench (crescent)
General nuts, bolts, and fittings when fixed sizes are not on hand.
Prefer fixed wrenches/sockets on torque-critical seizures when possible.
Combination wrench set (SAE / metric as needed)
Housing bolts, grounding hardware, and power-supply mounts.
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Socket set + ratchet
Faster removal/install of housing and bracket fasteners.
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Nut driver set
Seizure screws, F-port nuts, and common housing fasteners.
Carry the sizes your LE/tap fleet uses most.
Hex / Allen key set
Set screws, some seizure hardware, and enclosure fasteners.
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Screwdriver set (flat / Phillips / Torx)
Module covers, faceplates, terminals, and general fasteners.
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Lineman’s pliers
Grip, twist, and light cut of wire and hardware.
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Needle-nose pliers
Fine work in tight housings and small hardware.
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Channel-lock / tongue-and-groove pliers
Larger fittings and stubborn hardware.
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Diagonal cutters / snips
Trim lashing wire, tie wraps, and small conductors.
Not a substitute for hardline cutters on trunk cable.
Utility knife / cable knife
Jacket scoring, tape, and packaging — controlled cuts only.
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Hammer / soft-face mallet
Gentle persuasion on brackets and stakes — never on connector bodies.
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Pry bar / digging bar (as needed)
Lid lift assist and light earth work near pedestals.
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Tape measure
Cut-out lengths, ladder 4:1 setup checks, and span notes.
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Torpedo level
Check ladder base / equipment mounting when required.
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Lockout/tagout locks & tags
Company LOTO on powered plant when procedure requires it.
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Cable prep
Tool
What it does
Notes
Hardline cutters / shears
Square-cuts hardline end face before strip and core.
Oval or angled faces side-load the coring tool.
Hardline coring tool (size-matched kit)
Removes foam dielectric to cut-chart depth; protects center conductor.
Separate tools/mandrels for .500, .625, .750, .875 as required.
Jacket / outer strip tool
Strips PE jacket to expose outer conductor for seizure length.
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Deburring tool / file / emery
Cleans outer conductor edge and light burrs without over-beveling.
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Center conductor cleaner / prep brush
Removes oxidation and flood film from the pin zone.
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Lint-free rags / approved cleaner
Wipes flooding compound from dielectric face and seizure zone.
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Cable lube (pulling)
Reduces friction on underground pulls when specified.
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Calipers / cable gauge
Confirms cable OD/series when jacket print is missing or worn.
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Cut chart / craft card (connector OEM)
Strip and core dimensions for each connector family and size.
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Connectors & weather
Tool
What it does
Notes
Pin connectors (all sizes on truck)
Terminates hardline into LE, tap, and splice seizures.
Stock .500–.875 as your plant uses; male/female per design.
Inline splice bodies / couplers
Joins hardline sections on cut-outs and repairs.
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Heat-shrink tubing (adhesive-lined)
Weather seals connector bodies after torque.
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Heat gun
Recovers heat-shrink evenly without scorching cable.
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Electrical tape / mastic / sealing tape
Secondary weather wraps per local craft standard.
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75 Ω F-port terminators
Terminate unused tap ports to block ingress.
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F-connectors & compression tool (drop)
Drop-side work at taps and ground blocks when in scope.
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Grounding clamps / bond hardware
Bond strand and pedestals per code and company design.
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Torque & seize
Tool
What it does
Notes
Inch-pound torque wrench / driver
Seizure screws and craft-card torque values.
Typical LE seizure ~11 in·lb — never past positive stop.
Foot-pound torque wrench (housing lids)
Lid and housing bolts when craft card specifies ft·lb.
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Seizure screw drivers / bits
Open/close hardline seizures without rounding heads.
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Alignment parts
Tool
What it does
Notes
Pad / attenuator kit (forward & return)
Flat loss plug-ins for level set at amps.
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Equalizer (EQ) kit
Slope correction for cable tilt.
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Diplexer set (split plan matched)
Forward/return split filters for high-split or legacy plans.
Must match deployed split — wrong diplex = cascade failure.
Spare RF modules / PS (as staged)
Hot swap of failed LE/amp modules per truck stock.
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Test equipment
Tool
What it does
Notes
Signal level meter (SLM) / OneExpert
Forward/return levels, MER, sweep, ingress, and DOCSIS checks.
Add TP coupling (often −20 dB) before comparing to design.
Meter leads / jumpers / adapters
Connect meter to TPs, F-ports, and test points cleanly.
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Digital multimeter (DMM)
AC/DC voltage verification and zero-energy checks.
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Non-contact voltage tester (NCV)
Quick AC presence sense on enclosures.
Not a substitute for DMM proof of de-energized.
Toner / probe kit
Identify cables and drops in pedestals and bundles.
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TDR (when issued)
Locate opens, shorts, and distance-to-fault on coax.
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Access equipment
Tool
What it does
Notes
Fiberglass extension ladder
Short aerial access when bucket is not required.
4:1 angle; inspect feet, rungs, locks; fiberglass near power.
Stepladder (fiberglass)
Low work only — fully open with spreaders locked.
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Ladder levelers / stabilizers
Safe setup on uneven ground when approved.
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Bucket truck / aerial lift
Primary platform for strand and pole work.
Daily inspection, outriggers, power clearance, fall protection.
Fall-protection harness / lanyard (as required)
Arrest falls in bucket or when company rules require tie-off.
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Body belt / positioning strap (if authorized)
Pole positioning only where still authorized by company policy.
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Aerial & strand
Tool
What it does
Notes
Come-alongs / strand grips
Tension and control messenger strand during work.
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Lashing wire tools / lashers (as issued)
Secure cable to messenger on aerial spans.
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Cable blocks / rollers
Support cable during pulls and transfers.
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Handline / rope
Raise tools and material — never throw hardware aloft.
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Bolt cutters
Cut locks, heavy wire, and approved hardware only.
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Site control
Tool
What it does
Notes
Traffic cones
Mark and buffer the work zone near live traffic.
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Work-zone signs / flags
Advance warning per company traffic control plan.
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Wheel chocks
Secure truck on grade when required.
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Fire extinguisher (truck)
Vehicle and small-fire response.
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Spill kit / absorbent
Contain fuel or hydraulic leaks from trucks/lifts.
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Pedestal / lock keys & 7-pin tools
Open company pedestals and enclosures.
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Truck & consumables
Tool
What it does
Notes
Cable ties / lashing ties
Dress cable and secure tags.
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Plant labels / tags / photo board
Identify actives, document before/after, WO evidence.
