Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with cables

Seeking Wifi cable vendors ...

bhance — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:23:13 -0800

Help me find a good WiFi 'cable extender' vendor ... Point me in the direction of a good (cheap) vendor for WiFi 'extension' cables? They need to ship to the US.

I have several situations where I'm looking to extend the distance between a Wifi device and its antenna by adding a 5 or 10 foot extension cable where the antenna screws into the device.

I.e. I need a cable 'extender' for a Linksys WMP54GS PCI card, a Linksys WRT54G, and some various Netgear devices -- all of which seem to have different screw-type connectors and plastic antenna connector thingies.

(Bonus points if you have already done business with the company and would recommend them to others.)

Speaker Cables?

god particle — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:00:46 -0800

I have a Sonic Impact T-Amp 2 that works really well but I'm wondering what kind of cables I'm supposed to get for it. I don't know much about sound systems, so I don't know exactly what kind of cables I need to plug into the amp. Right now I have a pair of banana-plug cables that plug fine into my speakers, but on the amp end I had to cut off the plugs and basically shove the raw exposed copper cable into the amp. The problem is the cable is too thick to fit in properly and I have a lot of connection problems with the sound cutting out. It frequently requires me messing around with cables until the sound starts working again (which is really frustrating in the middle of a party). So what sort of cables should I be looking for?

Here's what the back looks like.

How do I use computer speakers with an old amp?

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:03:47 -0800

How do I use computer speakers in a vintage amp? Posting this anonymously so I don't get mocked by certain people for being clueless, which I am.

I recently got my hands on a decent old amp but at the moment, I just can't afford speakers. I need something to use to get me through the next couple of months, till I can afford a decent set. The only thing I have at the moment is some computer speakers- they're actually pretty nice ones, with a decent subwoofer. Obviously NOT what I should be using but again, this would be a temporary fix.

The problem is is that the amp has the old spring-loaded connectors that require the bare speaker wire, obviously. The speakers go into the subwoofer which then is meant to connect with a jack- the jack doesn't fit into any of the inputs on the amp (and I'm not sure that would work anyway). So the question is, can I strip off the jack somehow, or is there a connector of some kind I can get that would accept the jack on one end and be bare wire on the other? If I manage to disconnect the jack, is there actually speaker wire in there?

I have searched and searched various audiophile forums for an answer but I have a feeling this is way too basic a question that nobody on there would bother asking (or answering).

Thanks in advance...

Table Hockey in the dark?

DrAlbin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:12:18 -0800

Table Hockey in the dark? I was cleaning out my workshop today and came across two identical devices packed in separate bags, that for the life of me (or Google), I can not figure out what they are. There isn’t a pic link, because it really didn’t get to me until I got to work, and now I have hours to ponder with no answers.

Please me-fites, you’re our only hope.

They were in a crate filled with cables (computer, stereo, TV (Direct TV + Cable)). One end there was a 6-8” piece of black plastic shaped like a hockey stick, But with uniform thickness throughout, near the bent end (think: on the top of the hockey stick blade) there are 2 clear LED’s protruding from the plastic. On the other end (think; hockey stick butt end) there was a wire (approx 4 ft long) terminating with a 3.5mm male stereo jack. (Headphone jack). I hooked it up to my phone, just to see if maybe the lights would light up when sound was played, to no avail.

Anyone have any ideas? Or proof that you are the Google ninja?

Snow Chain Recommendations?

|n$eCur3 — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:32:57 -0800

Snow chain recommendations? I'm looking for a good pair of snow chains* for an upcoming trip. Both thick chains or thin cables will work on my car. Please describe why you like them and how long they take to install.

I don't have a price range, and would prefer a quality product. What are some brands that have worked well for you?

* An online purchasing option is preferred but not required.

Help an editor get organized with plugs and accessories

captainscared — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 07:43:27 -0800

I am a Final Cut editor working on a first-class Mac Pro. But since I work at a shop with three other editors, I always seem to be hunting for various cords and cables (headphone splitters, rca to quarter-inch connectors, DV deck firewire cables, etc). I'd like to create something like a first-aid bag for myself, complete with all the accessories I seem to lose time searching for - like a CF card reader. My question is what would you put in the bag and what kind of small, manageable bag would you use. Links welcomed. Thanks.

Which FireWire Cable Do I Need?

mdavis1982 — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 18:40:15 -0800

Which FireWire cable do I need? I have a PreSonus FirePod and an iMac.

I already have a firewire hard disk plugged into the firewire 400 port on my iMac, and need to connect the FirePod to it tomorrow.

Am I right in thinking that if I use a cable such as this one it should work without a hitch?

Please help me hive mind! I need to get my studio set up going really quickly!

audiovox D1730

raphael19 — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:14:59 -0800

how do i use audiovox D1730 as a pc monitor? this device have 3.5mm audio and video plugs at the back along with an in/out switch. the problem is that i don't know any 3.5 video jacks, except the ones used with ipods/video-cameras, etc. (the 3.5mm jack with 3 rca output). do i use that cable, or any other cable which i am not aware of? (i will take the video input from the vga port of the pc with the audiovox's back switch at out position, so as to have a very light lcd monitor)

Cable Management For Dummies?

yellowbkpk — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:36:55 -0800

Where can I find a simple tutorial on structured cabling? I am a software engineer that has recently started working on my team's build servers. The build servers are in a rack with a very messy blob of cables hanging off the back of the rack. Since I've had to start fiddling with the cables, I decided to take on the task of making the cables "prettier."

This leads me to my question: where can I find a tutorial on structured cabling? My Google searches come up with stores that sell cable management hardware. I'm looking for something that looks like this:

Materials: 

1. infinity meters of velcro ties



Procedure:

1. Do this

2. ???

3. Easy cables!

Some more details: we have 2 or 3 cat-5 cables going to each of the 10 or 12 machines (thankfully, they are currently color coded), power cables running to PDUs, and a few servers need to be run off of a UPS.

Please recommend a Belden alternative for my XLR cables

Your Time Machine Sucks — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 10:54:14 -0800

I'm about to make a bunch of XLR cables. I have everything but the cable and I'm hoping for some brand advice. I'm good for heatshrink and Neutrik connectors. My question: what is some great mic cable that I can buy in bulk in Europe for a tolerable price? Belden is expensive here. Those who solder your own, share your favorite brands (also sources) if you don't mind! I'm in Berlin, Germany if it matters. Thanks!

How to identify USB cables?

nowonmai — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 07:58:27 -0800

I have about a million USB cables. How can I tell which ones are USB2 and which are USB1, and is there really a difference?

Electromagnetism vs. The BBC

boosh — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 13:55:44 -0800

TV Signal Problem: Co-axial cable suffering EM interference (I think), and it only affects the good channels! I recently built a Home Theater PC and it works perfectly except for one thing: some of the TV channels suffer from terrible interference, ranging from stuttering to total loss of signal. I'm receiving UK Freeview (from the Crystal Palace transmitter 30-odd miles away) through a Hauppauge WinTV Nova Digital Freeview PCI card. The current cabling is standard co-ax from the roof aerial, which comes into the house and runs through a couple of boosters and then through whatever el-cheapo co-ax cable came with the boosters into the TV card. The same signal also goes direct into my digital TV and provides a flawless reception. The HTPC box is tucked into a corner behind the TV cabinet.

The whole BBC output is affected (i.e. BBC 1 through 4 and News24) plus a few others (Five Life, Five US and abc1 but I'm not really bothered about them). All of the other digital channels are absolutely fine through the TV card.

However... if I pull the HTPC out of the corner, so the co-axial cable is at full stretch and away from all the other cables and power supplies, the signal problem instantly disappears, and all of the channels get a flawless reception. This leads me to think that I might be getting some kind of EM interference when all the cables are bundled up together in the corner. It's not an issue with one particular co-ax cable, as I've tested 3 different ones (although they're all the same standard quality cables).

Repositioning the unit or the route of the cable is not really an option, so I guess that I need a cable with better shielding to keep the interference out (but please correct me if I'm wrong). I've done a load of googling and come across options like 'quad shield RG-6' and 'triaxial', but what do I actually need and where can I get it in the UK? My bullshit meter always goes haywire when I browse any site selling cables and interconnects, so recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Is 80s MIDI gear still useable now?

garfy3 — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:53:57 -0800

i happened upon an old Korg Poly 800 synth (vintage 80s!). i understand it is one of the earlier MIDI synths--but i don't really grog MIDI. what additional cables/equipment will i need to use it to control the many possible sounds i see in garageband on my macbook?

I don't want to have Monster Cable nightmares!

ostranenie — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:47:43 -0800

AVFilter: Can I extend HDMI over CAT5? No baluns or fancy equipment - just copper, baby! Is there anything special about HDMI / DVI / VGA cables that would prevent me from just splicing a few Cat5/Cat5e/Cat6 cables and video extension cables and make up some panels? I know there are boxes that will drive HDMI over one ethernet-ish cable, but let's stay I have access to unlimited Cat5 and I want a 50-ft. HDMI cable under $20. Can I tie-wrap three Cat5 cables in between the HDMI female jacks and create an "uber-cable"? I've done it with composite and S-Video over 50 ft. with great success, so I figure..why not a digital signal, right? But before I go slicing up cables and making promises, I thought I might ask over what the benefit is over buying "real" cables. Yes, I'm more willing to splice cables for a half hour than I am to pay $250 for a cable which appears to be nothing more than a fancy connector and some copper stranded wire.

Also I'm asking because of the egregious price differences in USB cables example given on this page (a $30 difference between two seemingly identical six-foot cables).

Thanks in advance!

Is there a science of strings?

elgilito — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 08:09:31 -0800

How and why cables/strings/hoses/lines/cords etc. become entangled? Is there any scientific explanation of the process and more generally a science studying the physical/topological properties and behaviour of string materials? It's always been a mystery to me that any number of cables left alone for a while end up in complex structures (like knots) that would take some energy to create from scratch. Of course, they're not really "alone": energy is brought by the external forces (people, wind...) that move them. But I'm still wondering whether the process of transforming a series of separate cables into an unruly (or organised?) tangle is being studied? Is there a "science of strings" like there is a science of granular materials?

Help me organize my gadgets.

jacobian — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 10:20:24 -0800

Like any self-respecting geek, I've got a bunch of cool toys I carry around. Each of those toys, unfortunately, comes with a bunch of wires -- chargers, adapters, connectors... Help me keep them organized! I'm looking for some sort of carrying case that I can stuff all my gadgets and their wires into. Right now I just drop stuff into my backpack, but it all falls to the bottom. This sucks because I have to root around to find what I'm looking for, and it doubly sucks because it puts all the weight at the bottom of the pack.

So I'm looking for some sort of zippered container, roughly paper-sized (so it'll fit nicely in my backpack), with a whole bunch of pouches for gadgets and/or elastic/velcro for cables. Something like a Trapper Keeper for gadgets, or one of those "business organizers" with a bunch of extra pockets.

I'm totally game for a DIY solution involving modifying something that's not quite there, but I'd really prefer just to plunk down some cash for the perfect thing.

Cables cables everywhere, and not a stereo 1/4" to dual mono 1/8" to be found

Eothele — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 16:24:08 -0800

Solutions for organizing lots of different kinds of cables (xlr, 1/8 in, 1/4 in, rca, usb, firewire, ac) for easy access where space is at a severe premium?

NTLOADER is missing.

Effigy2000 — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:20:53 -0800

I have two SATA drives installed on my machine. My computer works fine except for the fact that roughly every two or three weeks my computer will fail to boot with a message reading "NTLOADER is missing. Press CTRL ALT DEL to reboot." I can fix the problem temporarily by opening up my computer case and swapping the drives around on the motherboard (putting the cable for Drive 1 into SATA 2 and vice versa), at which point Windows will boot up fine and function without a problem but as I said, within the space of two to three weeks, the problem comes back. Hope me, please! System specs inside. The System.

* AMD Athlon64 x2 4600 operating at 2.6Ghz with a 512k Cache.

* Motherboard: ASUS M2N32-SLi Deluxe.

* Big cool case with lots of room inside with an internal 430watt power supply.

* 1x Western Digital 320GB 7200rpm SATAII KS 16meg Cache.

* 1x Western Digital 320GB 7200rpm SATAII KS 8meg Cache.

* 2GB RAM

* Video Card: NVIDIA 7950-GT

* Running WinXP with SP2 and all the latest hot fixes.

I'd really like to know why this is happening (so if I need to go to the computer shop due to any broken hardware I can speak with some authority) and, if possible, a solution that can stop this from happening ever again. Any and all help is, of course, greatly appreciated.

Is it possible to very quickly learn how to terminate network cables?

aerotive — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 21:20:49 -0800

Good news: I have been offered a job. This job involves running and terminating network cables. Bad news: I do not really know how to terminate network cables. Please help me learn how to do so. I have worked as a computer tech/junior sysadmin for the last 5 years. No jobs where I had to know cabling in depth. For the last year I've done mostly temp/contract type jobs. I have very very limited experience terminating Cat 5 cables, I may've done 10 in my entire life, and none in the past 2-3 years. I need to be able to do this fairly efficiently by next Thursday.

So, is it possible to learn this skill that quickly? If so, can someone point me to some high-quality tutorial-style sites?

The job lasts 3-4 months, pays well, and I need the money, but I would prefer to not make a fool of myself and get fired after half a day.

Are RCA cables and Component cables the same?

tpl1212 — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 05:34:54 -0800

Can one use RCA cables (red/white/yellow) in component jacks (red/blue/green)? I understand that the jacks carry much different data/signal/whatever, but I was told that there is no need to buy (very) pricey component cables...you can actually just hook up good quality red/white/yellow RCA cables to the component jacks for the same purpose. My backstory: for some reason, I am a complete AV dolt. I don't get it and can't wrap my head around wiring and hooking up my new digital video box, home entertainment receiver, and new LCD tv with all sorts of in/outputs.

So, I went to radioshack (ugh...hate that place, but I was in need of a quick fix to get this all hooked up) and the guy asked if I had component outputs, and that hooking these up with component wires (the three red/blue/green wires) would give me the best possible picture. So I bought some $45 package of Monster component cables (knowing full well that this guy was probably upselling me and raking me over the coals...but not understanding enough to be able to know for sure...hate that feeling).

I got home and my friend who was helping me set everything up mentioned to me that it was merely the inputs that were different; the component jacks were what carried "better" picture data...the cables (within reason) were more or less irrellevant. The cables just carry that signal.

I tested it out...and over the short distance hooked up (about 2'), I noticed no change in picture quality whether the component jacks were connected by dedicated (expensive) component cables or by good quality (but 1/2 or more as pricey) RCA cables.

I found this discussion on Yahoo Answers...but it seems like there if just a lot of back and forth ("yes, they are the same" and "no, they are totally different.").

Should I return these expensive cables and just go with some high quality RCAs in the component jacks? Are dedicated component cables really only marketed for suckers like me?

Thanks!

Making a MacBook my World

pzarquon — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 20:11:34 -0800

Advice for using a MacBook as a primary machine? I'm giving in to my machine lust and am "upgrading" from an iMac G5 PPC 2GHz (the machine I asked about here) to a MacBook 2GHz. My dream is to use this MacBook as my primary home machine, with the added benefit of being portable. While I'd like to think I'll only carry it with me when I need it, I know the Mac fanboy in me will probably insist it travel almost daily.

Basically, I'm looking for simple tips from others who've used a MacBook or MBP (or maybe, really, any laptop) as a main machine. I want my desktop experience to be equal or superior to the all-in-one iMac, but take it out on a whim.

I'm already going to bump up the RAM to 2GB (the RAM will probably arrive a day before the MacBook - oh, the agony!), and will upgrade the internal SATA HD sooner rather than later. I'm getting a 19" wide-screen monitor (ViewSonic VA1912WB), and my current USB hub will reduce a dizzying array of devices to a single plug. Further minimizing wires, I'll be using my bluetooth keyboard and mouse.

My specific questions - some probably in the "duh" category - include:

1. Even though it's a MacBook and not a MBP, and even though the MacBook has integrated video, this is still an upgrade from my PPC iMac, right? At least with 2GB RAM and using Universal applications wherever possible? I mess around with audio (podcasting) and video (mostly cut-and-paste editing in QuickTime Pro, but the occasional iDVD project as well), so I'm hoping for some improvements on the Intel Core Duo. I know all the marketing says "at least twice as fast," but benchmarks smenchmarks. How is it for real people? I do feel the MacBooks at the Apple Store, even with only 512MB RAM, are snappier in many ways than my iMac (also with 2GB RAM).

2. Recommendations for a monitor stand? To save desk space (it's a small desk), I want to have the MacBook, lid closed, under the monitor rather than in front of it (despite the obvious appeal of an "extended desktop"). This is fine, isn't it? I've read elsewhere that the MacBook is fine in lid-closed mode. Now, there's a cheap, simple stand here, but in addition to being cheap, it's exactly 15" wide, and the ports on the MacBook are on the side, not the front. So obviously I want something wider, maybe sturdier, but I don't want one of the monstrous ones (with drawers and stuff) I've seen out there, either. The simpler the better. Any ideas?

3. I want to go all digital for the display (DVI-Mini/DVI), right? The difference versus analog is obvious, right? I ask only because I already have a DVI-Mini/Analog adapter, but the local stores are out of the DVI-Mini/DVI adapters. Sigh. I might have to live in analog hell for a few days...

4. Of course I'll be gentle, but I'm still worried about plugging/unplugging the display cable, Ethernet cable, and USB cable all the time. (The Magsafe ostensibly saves the power cable from such wear, provided I'm gentle with it, too.) Any reassurance that daily use won't kill the ports prematurely?

5. I have a Wireless G router sitting exactly three inches from where the MacBook will sit. Is using the Ethernet (wired) cable even neccessary?

By the way, the iMac didn't die, but it didn't get better after the archive and restore, either, so they nuked the drive entirely. Since I'm back where I started, anyway, I figured, why not upgrade, and move the Macs in the house down the line of succession once more (iMac to the wife, wife's mini to the daughter, daughter's G4 tower to the son...)

Thanks for any "I do this myself" tips, and even "if I did" tips, too. And a happy fourth to those for whom the fourth should be happy.

cables

matthelm — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 11:53:04 -0800

So many cables!!! Is there a product out there that one can wrap such cables as headphones, usb mini cables, ipod cables etc around...???

Can I use a Direct TV dish as the antenna for my Sirius receiver?

poppo — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 12:24:09 -0800

Can I use a Direct TV dish as the antenna for my Sirius receiver? So, I have Sirius and I get spotty reception at home. Their FAQ says I should have my antenna facing a Northwest direction. Now, of course I can run the cable across the house to the Northwest side, drill a hole to the outside, etc etc, problem solved.

However, it just so happens that I have an unused DirecTV dish already mounted on the Northwest side of the house, and it's already cabled through the house. It would save me a lot of work if I could just use this as my Sirius antenna.

Can I just splice together the cable running from the dish to the cable that needs to go into my Sirius receiver? I'm pretty sure they're just both copper inside.

FYI, I am not a DirecTV subscriber so the dish is at the moment unused.

For answerers who have seen neither a DirecTV dish nor a Sirius antenna but may be able to answer, here are what they look like:

The DirecTV dish:
http://prosatellitesupply.com/images/DirecTV_PHASE_3_DISH.jpg

The Sirius antenna:
http://www.directed.com/audio/sirius/images/acc_windowsill.jpg

Trouble setting up Tivo

ebeeb — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 00:32:58 -0800

I am trying to set up my non-DirecTV TiVo to a DirecTV box. The Tivo is asking me what type of cable I have connected: a) IR Cable, b)serial cable MPG, c) serial cable APG. Have looked around online (and tryed calling DirecTV) and can't seem to find which cable I have. How can I tell? Do I need to purchase a new cable? Currently using the coaxial cable that connected the DirecTV box to my television. Thanks for your help!

Cable, Wires and Cords, Oh My!

dgeiser13 — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 18:41:54 -0800

What do you do with the assortment of cabling and other electronic doodaddery (especially that not currently being used and not wanting to throw away!) that one tends to accumulate in the course of lifetime when you have a love of almost all things electronic? My wife and I just moved from an apartment to our first house (yay us!) and the move confirmed my nagging suspicion that over the last 20 years of apartment living and roommate having I've collected a whole lot of cables, wires and cords (boo me!). I don't mind so much the ones that I regularly or continously use for my TV, DVR, Videogames, Stereo, Computer, Digital Camera, etc. but rather the ones that are NOT needed for anything at this particular moment but that I might need somewhere down the line be it next week, next month or next year.

I've got speaker wire, power cords, power supplies, coaxial cable, av cable, usb cable, cat5, power strips, phone cords, phone adapters, adapters for european quipment (both power and av), sets of computer speakers, dsl adapters and on and on. It seems like those all have a great similarity and could be stored in a somewhat organized fashion but I always end up getting annoyed, loosely sorting them, throwing them in some unwieldy cardboard boxes and hiding them away somewhere...until I need something akin the next time and either haul them out or just buy new.

I don't really want to throw them away as it seems like a waste.

I'm looking for an elegant solution be it something I may buy in a store or online or perhaps build or even a mindset or way of looking at and dealing with these necessary evils. My ultimate solution would allow me to easily access the cabling, identify what I have (so I don't keep buying more of something I don't need), note the length of each piece, and would allow me to store or organize it compactly so I can fit more than just 3 coils of co-ax in a box that could hold 10 times more in volume.

Whatever the method I'm sure a non-ugly solution would also win me points with my wife as well.