Electrician's Training

I've had quite the last few days working at home. For some time now I've wanted to hook a computer up to my new TV. I've also wanted that computer to have internet access so that I can download movies (legally), music, pictures, etc. Plus, I keep all of my music and pictures on the computer upstairs, so it would be nice to be able to access that from the TV as well.

I could have bought a $50 wireless network card, but that would have been lower speed than what I wanted. I wanted a high-speed, dependable connection. In other words, I needed a wire. Since I was doing that I thought I would also like to run a phone line for my satellite system. Oh, and I'd also like to move the HDTV antenna to the attic, so I might as well run some coax cable as well.

So that's what I've been doing. I found a plug cover for the wall that had swappable units for it. I got a three-hole plug and filled the holes with a Cat-5 (network), phone, and coax connection. I actually fit a "professional" electrical box into the wall and ran stuff through it. From there I ran up the pantry wall and concealed the cable behind some plastic casing. It looks fairly slick.

At the top of the pantry I had to make the transition to the second floor. I noticed that the old security system wires ran through the top of the pantry and broke out on the top stair. The stairs to the second floor are above our pantry. So I just pulled up the carpet and drilled a hole through the floor. That was nerve-wracking!

The other problem I had was getting all three wires over that last stair and under the carpeting. I tried just laying them on the edge and that looked stupid. So, in another nerve-wracking event, I took out a chisel and carved a groove out of the step. That ended up working pretty nicely.

From there I ran the coax to the attic, the Cat-5 cable to the office, and the phone cable to the jack in the bedroom. Some quick connections at the end hooked it all up and by some miracle of God it worked.

So now I have phone and network connections at the TV and I also have nicely hidden away the TV antenna in the attic. It's times like this that I really enjoy owning my home. They sure wouldn't let you chisel away at the stairs in an apartment! :^)