I am shoring up a sagging fence that I will help replace in a year. The original posts are not in cement and are rotting at the base. I'm trying to figure out how to attach some support posts. [more inside]
posted on Jun 27, 2008 - 9 answers

What kind of wire is this? It was buried in our back yard. [more inside]
posted on Jun 12, 2008 - 12 answers

Where online can I find a list of vocabulary from "The Wire" and some plain-language definitions? [more inside]
posted on May 16, 2008 - 18 answers

I bought one of these xlr connectors to hook up to a video light I have. However, I needed to change the connector on one end to a set of spade terminals. Unfortunately, I can't figure out which wire coming from the XLR connector is the positive one. The only thing I have to go on is that one of the wires has writing and a dashed line imprinted on it. Does that tell me something about its polarity? I also tried looking at XLR pinouts online, but they all seem to be different. I know that the wire with the writing on it is going to pin 1.
posted on May 3, 2008 - 5 answers

Our home builder installed cat6 network cable for me as a favor, but now that we've moved in, a cable tester now reports it as shorting out. Wires 5&6 are shorting. I guess they treated the cable too roughly. Does anyone have any advice for me on using the old cable to pull new cable through the walls to the second floor? If I was to install a messenger cable for future pulls at the same time, what should I use for that? [more inside]
posted on Apr 25, 2008 - 11 answers

How do you avoid hitting a live wire when nailing or drilling into your drywall? [more inside]
posted on Apr 23, 2008 - 13 answers

I have a question about Season 4 of The Wire. Spoiler inside. [more inside]
posted on Apr 17, 2008 - 21 answers

Best way to send money from the U.S. to Canada? [more inside]
posted on Feb 16, 2008 - 18 answers

On The Wire, how many of the cops have fired their weapons at someone? [more inside]
posted on Feb 7, 2008 - 15 answers

I managed to slice most of the way through both the rubbery insulation and the copper cable on my stereo condenser microphone. Don't ask me how (I'm a total idiot). Is there somewhere I can send it to have the cord (miniplug stereo) replaced? I realize it's basic geek task, but I'm not quite confident enough myself. And I have zero idea where to send such a thing to be done. I could just solder the existent cord myself and crimp it, but that wouldn't work 'cuz the mic gets lots of rough use.
posted on Feb 6, 2008 - 10 answers

What can you tell me about soldering? Not the electronic kind, but more for crafty/domestic purposes. Bonus if you know anything about metalwork. [more inside]
posted on Oct 7, 2007 - 9 answers

How do I splice a laptop power cable? [more inside]
posted on Sep 13, 2007 - 9 answers

Wireless speakers for a Philips HTS3555 surround sound system? [more inside]
posted on Jun 26, 2007 - 2 answers

TeleComTechFilter: I have recently come into the possession of a number of lengths of think coax-looking wire/cable. Are they worth much anything? [more inside]
posted on May 15, 2007 - 4 answers

Anyone know who does the theme song on this season's (season 4) The Wire? Damn it's good.
posted on Nov 17, 2006 - 8 answers

Help me hotwire my POS truck. [more inside]
posted on Jul 17, 2006 - 11 answers

I'd like to trigger a relay that momentarily closes a switch based on the voltage of another wire. Maybe. I think. Please help me with this basic (I hope) electronics project. [more inside]
posted on May 14, 2006 - 6 answers

Does anyone have any experience running their own telephone cables over a distance of about 500 feet? [more inside]
posted on Aug 31, 2005 - 10 answers

RanchFilter: Has anyone here done a barbed wire fence? I can't figure out how to tension wire. [more inside]
posted on Aug 20, 2005 - 13 answers

Does anyone have tried and tested tips for keeping slugs and snails out of the garden? I live in the northwest so there are a lot of them. I have heard using copper wire is a good barrier. Any ideas on this?
posted on May 3, 2005 - 21 answers

I just got a new TV and a six speaker home theater audio system. The front and satellite speakers are small and sort of designed to be wall mounted. I want mount them (at about chest level) without obvious speaker wires. [more inside]
posted on Apr 2, 2005 - 9 answers

Computer workspace wiring mystery [+]
posted on Oct 25, 2004 - 4 answers

At the end of the most recent episode of The Wire (episode 28- dead soldiers), what was the song they sang at the wake?
posted on Oct 8, 2004 - 5 answers

You are building a new home. What networking will you provide between your office/computer/router and a media closet in your living space? Between your office and a living room desk? Between that desk and the media closet? Details ?
posted on Feb 3, 2004 - 7 answers

My house was completely rewired a few years ago by a previous owner. In doing so he put in the power, but left some rather large openings in the walls around the plug boxes. I have not repaired these, as I thought I would eventually get around to running some Cat 5 cable and phone jacks to every room. My question is, is it worth doing anymore? I can think of a few places I might want a hard connection to my network, but my WiFi set up makes me think this is no longer worth the trouble. The land line is not going away anytime soon, but it no longer seems worth the trouble either. Is there anything I should consider installing before I lock down the walls and lose my easy access?
posted on Dec 30, 2003 - 12 answers