[mythtv-users] All those cables

[Brian Wood]

On Aug 29, 2006, at 2:30 PM, Ross Campbell wrote:

> On 8/29/06, Rick Smith <rick_t_smith at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>> I wondered if any one had a good scheme for managing the cables  
>> needed
>> for even a modest myth setup.  How do you avoid the endless hours  
>> of fun
>> tracing the wires when the machine moves just a couple of inches?   
>> How
>> do you stop cables getting pulled and loosened?
>
> - Go buy velcro cable management straps, UPS/power strip, and cable
> ties (labels too if you're obsessed)
> - Use some piece of furniture/TV stand where you can close the front
> and hide your MythTV system under the TV
> - Unplug everything and uncable everything
> - Connect cables one by one to your box taking care to keep them
> separated from each other
> - put velcro ties around cable bundle at server so that you can still
> attach/detach all cables and have a little bit of wiggle room
> - Put more cable ties or velcro ties every few feet.
> - Coil extra cable lengths at the end and tie individually
> - Make sure that you have enought cable slack to pull your server out
> and open it up if necessary without unplugging everything.
> - Hide cable bundle and any other cable "rat's nest" behind or  
> under TV stand
>

All good advice. Be sure to label each end of each cable as well. The  
best labels include where it is coming from, where it is going to and  
what signal it is carrying - sometimes even with an arrow showing  
direction of flow if appropriate.