Cable Chaos 45
thames writes "I have recently moved in to a new college-dorm, and I'm reinstalling all my electrical equipment, such as DVD-player, CD-player, Stereo Receiver, Computer, Speakers, Mini-Disc-player, Video, Playstation, TV and so on... All these things are connected via multiple cables, so I have approximately 50 cables running in my room, and it isn't pretty...
My question is: How do I get rid of all those (or most) cables, without throwing my stuff out the window??"
Duct tabe & cable ties. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Get rid of the stuff or learn to live with a me (Score:1)
Re:Get rid of the stuff or learn to live with a me (Score:1)
Ha! You guys are obviously very young. (Score:1)
Back in MY day, we programmed with ones and zeroes. We didn't have any of those new-fangled Assemblers.
Get rid of ALL of it. (Score:2, Informative)
Beside, having the whole entertainment kits will seriously hinder your study time!!! Get rid of all of it except computer (to write Thesis) and you will succeed, graduate with top honor which might lead you to lucrative job thats big salary... enough to buy all the entertainment center in the end!!!!!!!
just a thought....
Re:Get rid of ALL of it. (Score:2)
Apparently he's already got it.
I got bad enough grades in my first year when I got a 10mbit net connection, with trek episodes and uberping games. 2nd year in a house, 56k modem, however I splashed out on a widescreen, dvd player, etc. Much better.
Re:Get rid of ALL of it. (Score:1)
Also, don't your roommates have anything to contribute? Some of your stuff is going to get wrecked for sure.
Re:Get rid of ALL of it. (Score:1)
Yeah right, would YOU do that if you owned all that stuff?
> keep the computer and have DVD/CD-RW/CD-ROM/HD for MP3, kick ass video card, blah, blah
Nice, I have the ability to watch DVDs OR use my computer, and NOT play games that I already have for the playstation and not on the PC. Good advice. Crap, I have to reboot now. Goodbye music.
Re:Get rid of ALL of it. (Score:1)
What happens when you reload? Shit, gotta find all the drivers before I can watch TV decently. Damn, compatibility issue. What the hell did I do differently last time??
You brought this to a dorm? (Score:4, Funny)
At that point, the cables will be covered with dirty laundry, stolen signs and a bunch of bags from fast food restaurants (placed there after you notice that the union food is made of the four nonfood groups cement, slime, sawdust and grit).
In short - don't worry - you're at college. Enjoy yourself, study enough to stay in school, and learn to deal with the distorted realities of life that are campus existance.
--
Evan
Re:You brought this to a dorm? (Score:1)
Read the instructions and get rid of some of it. (Score:2, Informative)
You could ask yourself what you need, and when you use each system.
For the game system, I would keep it packed away in a box. This way it would be harder to get distracted. When you do decide to play it, you just have to unpack it and plug it in to a usual spot.
I must admit, that I don't keep abreast of the latest technology, but you shouldn't need the CD player and minidisk player.
Gotta agree (Score:3, Interesting)
Okay, let's say you are a genius who doesn't need to read the books, and you bust your hump over breaks to pay for the toys. You have a few choices:
Consolidate. Assuming you have a PS2 (don't know about PS1), get rid of the CD player and the DVD player. When I was in school ~ 10 years ago, we used carousel and cartridge cd changers. Your PC should have enough storage and a good enough sound card to obviate the need for that. So, to recap, no need whatsoever for the CD player. Probably no need for the DVD player.
Minidisc player? What for? Burn to CD's, get rid of the MD player. Or just queue up some mp3's.
That doesn't leave much. Speakers shouldn't be a problem. Any dorm room I've ever seen didn't have enough space for 5.1 sound, no matter what you try to tell yourself. But in any event, there is no way around cable clutter for speakers. Well, no good way.
Which leads to the second alternative: wireless. You know those pop-under X-10 ads you dismiss? They've got some stuff for doing exactly that. Or go to Rat Shack. Plenty of stuff.
This is worse than "won't type 'http://www.google.com'". Why? Because the X-10 ads come right to your screen:)
Re:Gotta agree (Score:1)
Assuming he has no other way to play DVD's (computer is a weak thing, and he only has a PS1), most DVD players will play audio CD's. So, in short, no need for the CD player.
Speakers: Don't use your computer speakers if you're strapped for space... just route it into your stereo AUX in.
Re:Gotta agree (Score:2)
PSX and PS One's play audio CDs (or certain PSX versions have a port that you can slap on a device that also plays CDs full of MP3s and VCDs).
--
Evan
Re:Gotta agree (Score:2)
He probably has a portable Minidisc player, like most people. CDs/Queuing MP3s is not an option, besides MD sounds much nicer than MP3, as anyone who has used both will tell you.
--jquirke
Step 1 (Score:2, Insightful)
You're starting college. Get good grades, lose the junk you don't really need. You will flunk out before the term is over if you have your small dorm room packed with distractions.
Umm (Score:1, Informative)
If you have the gear, be prepared to set up (AND MAINTAIN) a cable arrangement that simplifies things and organizes them. Get a couple of packs of those cable ties and label BOTH ENDS of every cable, even down to the L and R of each stereo pair (sometimes colors get mixed up).
I've got eight computers, a TV/VCR/DVD setup, turntable, CD player, MD player and three game systems. I don't get mixed up. Label and tie off everything. Don't use forty foot RCA cables for stereo components on top of each other. Coiling it up may seem OK, but you're losing signal and when that coil gets undone, you're still fucked.
You could do this: (Score:1)
Easy... (Score:2)
Next, if you have a big TV, consider leaving it at home and purchasing a cheap 19-23 inch TV instead. Anything larger is going to be too big for a dorm room anyway.
Now, get a shelf. A good shelf, preferebly from a hardware store, and tall. Put all of your crap on shelf, except for your computer, which goes on the desk.
Thus, all of your cables are now between stuff on the shelf. Go for the cable ties to keep all of them in order. Tape the rest of the wires (that would be the surround speakers and whatever goes between your PC and entertainment system) down to the floor.
Take the MD player with you. (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Take the MD player with you. (Score:1)
whaa? (Score:1)
some help (Score:5, Informative)
i have a weekend hobby doing video performances for parties and clubs. the environments i work in are probably similar to dorm life - dirty and prone to chaos. my setup involves a couple computers, projectors, playback decks, cameras, mix boards, switchers, modulators, amps, midi instruments, the occasional game console and roughly 281 linear miles of cable - all to be connected together, installed in a venue, run all night in a room full of drunken idiots, and torn down again before dawn. in doing this, i've learned a few tricks to deal with the rougly 40-50 connections that need to be made each time i setup.
CABLE TIES ARE YOUR BEST FRIEND
can't say it enough. buy em in bulk. get a couple pair of diagonal cutters to cut them off with. if you have a unit that has 2 or 3 or more cords, ties the cords together every few inches so it can be handled as 1 cord. go to your local hardware or auto parts store and buy some split loom tubing. it's that bendy plastic tubing with a slit run down the length of it that covers all the wires under your car's hood. if you are planning on it being semi-permanent, but still easily removeable, staple cable ties into the wall and afix your wires to the mop boards with those ties. and when you're not using a particular cable, wrap it up in a loop, cable tie it, and throw it in a box or bag. if every cable in that box is cable tied, you'll never have to deal with the rats nest it will otherwise certainly become.
if it's a complicated setup, and you have the time, try labling both ends of every cable. you can get a good and cheap label printer from target for $20. label the jacks the cable will plug into while you're at it so you'll be able to do it in the dark (or by black light, strobe lights, or bic lighters).
buy yourself a nice switch unit to run the whole thing. either a decent receiver or an outboard switch will allow you to have one source or one destination for every cable. i ebayed myself a 10x10 av switch for $100, but i'm running quite a few outputs in addition to inputs. having enough inputs will also prevent the frequent reconfigurations that take your nice cable setup and turn it back into the spaghetti it wants to be.
and i couldn't go without mentioning this site [ucf.edu] showing you how to cheaply make great looking and great performing audio and video cables. you can make cables 10 times nicer than monster cable for 1/10th the price.
Re:some help (Score:4, Interesting)
And then, if you got good, solid long ties, late at night with an attractive and adventureous coed, cable ties are a girl's best friend. (Sometimes I think BDSM is so popular among educated people simply because those dorm room beds are so sturdy and have so many tie points). ;)
--
Evan
Get or make some shelves and/or cabinets too (Score:2)
By sturdy, I mean, that any flat spot larger than a drunken college student's foot, should be strong enough to support a drunken college student. Likewise, any piece of equipment not strong enough to support a drunken college student, should not be exposed.
Gaff tape (Score:1)
Do what the professionals do... (Score:3, Informative)
As such, I have encountered many similar cable management issues of my own such as those being alluded to in this 'ask Slashdot'. In my experience, the best available answer is to follow the lead of professionals and use professional-grade cable management solutions.
The easiest and most cost effective that I have found is simple conduit. Examples can be found and purchased online here [bownet.co.uk] and here [bownet.co.uk]...
Dollar for dollar, this is the most affordable and, if done right, most attractive and eloquent solution available for the cable intensive electronics aficionado. Plus, all-important to an environment such as a dorm, this is a rather invasive solution that is both low impact to existing structures and portable!!!
Or, of course, he could simply follow one of the many creative suggestions on proper "disposal" of said equipment - not discounting throwing it out the proverbial window...
I'm gonna get flammed (Score:1)
Mmmm.. Tesla! (Score:1)
Lots of ways. (Score:1)
You can buy those velcrow thingys at the hardware store
You can tape em down and toegether
But what i find works rather well is basicaly a good shelfing/cabinate system preferably with a solid back with a 2-3 inch hole cut in for cableing.
one componet per shelf. wich means roughly 2-3 cables comming out of it. 1 for power 1 for audio or other signal and for the dvd player maybe a seprate video cable. then comptuer goes next to your techno shelf and run what ever needs to hook to what from there.
The holes will keep wires from running all over and you can keep them bundeled this way and for the most part going the same direction. and you can use zip ties and tape or what ever in conjuction with a shelf.
Based on my college experience.... (Score:2, Informative)
Dont Listen to Them (Score:1, Informative)
I'll disagree, when I was a college student after my sophomore year I had 4 computers (windows, linux, mac , and another windows that just played mp3s (thank god i only used one monitor however)) DVD player, 27" TV, VCR, DVD Collection (up to ~130 now) VHS collection (~60)
,turntable (~150 albums), A/V Receiver , Main Klipsch Sp-1's, SS-1 Surrounds, SC-1 Center, Ks-10 Sub, (the sp-1s have built-in subs, so I actually have 3 subs) And all the rest of my gear (random other stuff, like USPs for all of it, which adds even more cables, game systems etc)
And my grades were just fine.
Anyway to get back to the question, There are a few different routes to go depending on how much you want to spend/ what you are going for as far as the "look" is concerned.
1. As far as speaker wires, if you are running across the room (surrounds) check out flat speaker wire. Then put rug or carpet over it.
2. For the Tv/VCR/Game Consoles (and in a lot of cases the stereo receiver wires and interconnects) if you have some money to spend get a decent rack/stand to put your equipment on. A lot of the decent stands have hollow legs or other compartments where the wires run so they are completely unseen.
The best general tip without seeing exactly what equipment and where it is I can give is to bind the cable, Cable ties are pretty effective in a lot of cases. However, you can also by cable conduit at a lot of electronic or automotive stores. It's basically just a plastic shell that the wires all run through. This always seems like the best solutions to me. (Watch out about running speaker wires with power wires if you're really into sound quality) This looks good, keeps wires from tangling, and if you are into things looking neat/interesting you can get it in a variety of colors and sizes.
Plan carefully, and hide as much stuff as you can under a rug. (Or ontop of the drop ceiling if you have one)
Re:Dont Listen to Them (Score:2, Informative)
Bieng a Network admin I understand that anyone wishing to study entropy only need look at an unbound computer/electronics mess.
Cable Ties exist for the sole purpose of binding anything to anything.
Now if you are a student and cannot affort a decent rack (wich always goes well with cable ties.) You can either build your own rack by following these Instructions [ocmojo.com] or you can get one used pretty cheap.
Now I have a lot of electriacal crap. AV Studio and 4 systems on a network. not Includeing my home theatre, PS2/PS1/Sega/Snes.../VCR Speakers, and so on. Cableing should alswas be taught enough that you can move your items around a bit (like 1 foot) but not so loose as to knot itself.
Cables are a good example of entropy! They go from orginized to complete chaos in less than one instant.
Home Depot run waiting to happen (Score:1)
... for a few sections of PVC tubing. Yep, PVC. There are a couple of ways to go with this.
- If you're concerned with the "tackiness" factor, you can spray paint the tubing to match your decor, and run it only along baseboards and such.
- If you're a Geek's Geek, you'll want to invest in showing off your mad skillz. To this effect, run the PVC tubing in such a manner that your entire dorm room resembles a demented tinker toy nightmare.
Of course, if you're gonna be taking any courses involving structural engineering, you can get ahead of the game by tossing out the PVC and building your enclosures entirely from toothpicks and thread. No gumdrops allowed here, as the aroma from their slow yet steady decomposure might lessen your chances of getting laid by the local female population somewhat.Then again, to heck with it, either go with the gumdrops, or even bake tubular enclosures from wheat dough. This will probably score you a few points in chemistry, and may in fact prove to be the groundwork on an eventual doctoral thesis (think of the myriad uses for bread-based tubular structures in today's competetive marketplace!).
Or perhaps you could just leave some of the equipment at home and spend more time studying? Eh, what do I know
Put it in the trash. (Score:2)
Gah (Score:3, Interesting)
Here was my setup when I moved:
Dreamcast
PS2
N64
DVD player
Tivo
Cable Box
TV set (duh!)
There's no easy way out of the tangle, and I've added a GameCube since then, as well as splitting my cable input so I can get broadcast channels and still record a separate channel on the Tivo.
Your best bet is to have a receiver that can take everything else hooked into it, and has a quick hookup to your speakers. Use the shortest cables that you can handle, and just stack up your components. If you need to move them, move them as a single pile of gear. If you really want, build an enclosure for all of this, including a sliding tray for your console (Unless you've got a PS2/XBox, in which case, it doesn't matter.)
For a dorm, you *definitely* want this all in one block, and either hidden under a desk, or at least positioned under a shelf. Theft isn't an issue. If someone wants to free you of you burden, it'll happen. There's no escaping that. However, you don't want some idiot (even a sober one) using your receiver as a stepladder, and the best way around that is to tuck it away.
I don't have a surround sound rig just yet, but I'm doing fine with a 4-way S-Video switch box.
Finally, for you fools who are about to tell me to toss my DVD player and just use the PS2, you clearly don't understand what good hardware is. My DVD player beats the crap out of the PS2, and I already had the component video cables. No way that I'm about to buy another cable for my PS2 in addition to a remote just to get something that still isn't as good as a standalone unit. Of course, YMMV, and in terms of space, the PS2 really is the best all in one option.
But wait... (Score:1)
And if you have 18 credits...well....
Do i look like your mother??? (Score:1)