Running some coax

bowen

Hey folks, I need some advice from you wiring geeks.

I need to run coax from the living room to the bedroom of my apartment. It's already kosher with the landlord that this be done, but I'd rather not have time warner come in and charge me $500 for running about 50 feet of coax if it can be avoided at all. I can end coax no problem, I just don't own a pair of crimpers myself. I'd prefer to run it under the carpet to avoid the unsightly black cable along the wall or in tubing if at all possible. How do I go about doing this?

My apartment is as follows:


The blue circle is where it's originating from, the green circle is my target. I'd prefer it on the other side of the room, but whatever, as long as it's in the god damned room so we can watch TV in bed.

Suggestions? Guide?

JohnnyCache

assuming wireless isn't an option and the dead space is a closet, I'd go under the carpet at the door sill between the hallway and the living room, run along the living room wall, through the closet, and into the bedroom. If the dead space is the, ah, shitter, in the parlance of our times, you're probably going to have to run it as you've got it drawn unless you have a suspended ceiling by the grace of god.

bowen

JohnnyCache wrote: »

assuming wireless isn't an option and the dead space is a closet, I'd go under the carpet at the door sill between the hallway and the living room, run along the living room wall, through the closet, and into the bedroom. If the dead space is the, ah, shitter, in the parlance of our times, you're probably going to have to run it as you've got it drawn unless you have a suspended ceiling by the grace of god.

All drywalled up.

That was the shitter, yes.

I am interested in this wireless you speak of for television, last I heard the quailty was shit, and it was one channel, is this no longer the case? Can this be used for TV with ease? I don't need digital, just like, standard cable channels.

bowen

In the case the wireless doesn't work. What do I need to do to pull up carpeting and get it back down?

JohnnyCache

dogg you just said coax that means cable internet to this dork

You need a carpet stapler, a carpet staple puller, and carpet staples. Try to minimalize the number of staples you pull as well-installed carpet is stretched into place. Optional kneepads are soothing on the job and fun in the bedroom.

You could also just run it in the seam of the carpet in the doorway, across the hall and into the bedroom, and then under a runner in the beadroom, so you are basically just going under 3 feet or so of carpet.

OR you could just cross the hallway with a runner, too, and maybe put an extra area rug over it or something.

MichaelLC

The carpet should just be tacked down along the walls. You pull it towards the wall a bit, than up. Usually you can jam the cable between the tackstrip and the wall; so it's behind the carpet.

I would run the cable along the wall from the jack, then across the livingroom doorway, and along the wall in the hallway. Cross the hallway, then into the bedroom.

bowen

How do I get it across the hallway then, that's probably my biggest problem, I'm worried about getting the carpet up and never being able to get it down. Is it cost effective for me to even bother rather than just quoting out someone else who has the tools? I guess that's what this boils down to now.

JohnnyCache

You pull up, like, 2-3 tacks or staples on each side and run it through the resulting tiny incision and out the other one, like a doctor doing endoscopic surgery on your floor.

bowen

JohnnyCache wrote: »

You pull up, like, 2-3 tacks or staples on each side and run it through the resulting tiny incision and out the other one, like a doctor doing endoscopic surgery on your floor.

Okay cool, I shall try this pull towards and up method and see what I come up with. I shall also wear scrubs when I do this, so I'm properly attired for surgery.

MichaelLC

JohnnyCache wrote: »

You pull up, like, 2-3 tacks or staples on each side and run it through the resulting tiny incision and out the other one, like a doctor doing endoscopic surgery on your floor.

PRetty much this. It's not RJ-11; you should be able to "push" it underneath. If you think you'll ever do cabling in the future, get a cable snake/fish tape.

JohnnyCache

and either terminate the end of it or don't cap it until you push it through. For something this short, you could make a fish with a yardstick or something some fishing line or something and some good tape.

cccccccccccccccc____________YYYYYYYYY

The underline being the string and he underlined letters being the well-taped portions. Then you run the yardstick under the carpet and through and you have a guide string to kind of "steer" the front (note: Still push the cable mainly from behind, correct any jive it gives you with the string)