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Cable Chaos
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??"
Why bother with all that ...throw/sell all of it and keep the computer and have DVD/CD-RW/CD-ROM/HD for MP3, kick ass video card, SoundCard and you will have "FULL ENTERTAINMENT" in one box!!!!
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....
I'm not trying to be sarcastic, but usually the instructions should give you an idea of some alternate configurations.
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.
testing out my trending skills
How the fuck do you think that all these things hook up? Bluetooth?
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.
Hey Taco! Looks like you're using the "infinite monkeys and typewriters" scheme to generate Ask Slashdots again...
If you use minidiscs as a portable format instead of carrying around a CD player, you might want to invest in a portable md recorder instead of a component sized one. I know that I prefer to use MDs to cds because of their live recording, smaller size, easier editing and of course coolness factor.
after wading through 30 posts telling this guy to get rid of it all, i feel i have to pipe in.
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 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.
While I certainly concur with the many previous posts pointing out how positively unnecessary owning this mass of redundant equipment truly is, I also admit to being a bit of a electronics junky myself. From my audiophile tendencies to my true geek nature, if it's electronics - I want it!
:-)
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 and here...
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...
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. -- Benjamin Franklin
Don't take anything to college that you can't afford to have broken, stolen or puked on.
Think For Yourself. Question Authority.
All the posts I've read so far pretty much said "leave it at home, you dont need it at college"
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)