How to run network cables from upstairs to basement?



Quote:
Originally Posted by hoogs /forum/post/0


Im not very handy so I would like to avoid cutting a hole in the drywall upstairs to fish the cable through..........would semi high power magnets work if I attached them to a coat hanger and stuck it up through the hole from the main floor to the upstairs.

Click to expand...

Chances are no, they won't work. The amount of ferromagnetic material in an ethernet cable is minimal at best, so you won't get any magnetism between the cable and the magnet. Simply put - the cable won't stick.


If you can get a fish tape down from the upstairs duct you should be able to tape the cable to it and pull it back up. Failing that, take a deep breath and cut the drywall. Fixing a small hole is absolutely no big deal, even if you have ten thumbs.



-drin

You would not run the cable from where your cable TV is upstairs to the basement. where does your Cable service enter the house? normally this will be a ground or basement level, you then take the signal with a splitter from there and route to where you want it, or call and have the Cable Company do it.


I cannot see any reason you would be going from the bedroom to the basement theater with any wireing unless you did not state something you are trying to accomplish here.

I think they mean ethernet cable for computer networking, but I could be wrong.


-drin

In that case, ethernet, what about wireless with the boosters that plug into your electical system? I have one in my house to get from the router to my bedroom 70 ft away.

I have wireless now and it works OK, but the PS3 keeps disconnecting. I'd rather just have a wire so I never have to worry about it.


The problem with using fish tape is that like I said I followed the cable wire from the basement up to the 2nd floor and took off the panal where the coax plug is. All I see basically is insulation and the hole cut in the wall isnt big enough for me to stick my hand in there and follow the cable down through the insulation to the hole going to the basement.


That is my problem, if I could find that hole it would be a peice of cake, I was just going to try magnets using a coat hanger going up through the hole in the middle level and then using a magnet where the coax is on the 2nd level to see if the coat hanger will go through.........get me? I know its kind of confusing.

go ahead and cut a hole just big enough for an Old Work electrical box.

http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/e...oldworkbox.htm


That will give you a hole big enough to reach in and feel around and if you are lucky exactly where the existing cable is going.


Then if you are really lucky and can get a cable in for your network, just use a wall plate termination that fits on the single gang box.

Patching dry wall really isn't a big deal (you won't believe this if you read my HT construction thread) but I've had to patch holes for recessed lights due to gas pipe blocking the can.


You can put a piece of wood across the hole a screw on either side and then a couple of screws through the piece you cut out into the beam you just put behind the drywall. I wish I had a couple of pictures to explain. You then just need to put mud on the cracks (and tape if big enough), do some sanding and then paint of it. If you do a good job of cutting, which means don't hack it, you won't even have to texture it even if you have some kind of knock down.


I wouldn't let that scare you. Fixing one hole in dry wall would only take 10-15 mins. It's a good skill to have!


Matt

Hoogs, does the wireless you are using now use just wireless or does it also use your electrical system?

the one I mean you plug in near your router and you plug in the reciever where you want to work in this case the basement. Just wondered if we are talking apples to apples.

Hey guys just wanted to update, I got a double gang box and cut a hole in the wall big enough for that which allowed me to stick my hand in the wall and find the fish tape very easily. After that it was a breeze to run the cable, thanks for you help!!