Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater WHAT Completion - Step 1 of 4...

Ha ha, that was actually my first thought when I saw the pictures.

P'shaw. He's just too cheap to buy a house built within the last 150 years, so he has to improvise.

Been up since 5 (until 7) preparing cables (testing layout and labelling).
My goal is to have every device connected in such a way that I can pulling out (or near enough) without have to unplug everything or pull hard on cables.

To be accomplished with sufficiently long cables and wire guides.

I am putting the cables where each device will end up being so I don't create a new mess just preparing!

Love the pix, Eric. You are an inspiration. But, I'm sure it will pass if I sit quietly.

And you sir, are truly an inspiration.

I admire your enthusiasm for the project Eric. All those cables are a reminder of why I want to consolidate down to as close to one device as possible.

Another 3 1/2 hours of work... Now that all the individual cables were selected, labelled and separated by device, it was time to assemble them in "trains" so that tomorrow or Friday I can put them in their "rails". Lots, lots, lots, lots of cable ties! Just the subwoofer+12v-trigger cable (25 feet) took 35 minutes!

1. Some mega-cables ready to be attached to the unit. That picture only shows 60% of the cables. Ethernet and the subwoofer are not there (it was already getting messy) and the HUGE 50' super-train to bring the good news to my writing room is not done yet (I anticipate a good 60-70 minutes).

2. The sub-woofer cable and its trigger. Note: it is not labelled... I figured I would remember what that green thing is for...

3. The floor after the last 3 cables... I had already swept three times already!

4. Reminder of the plan on where I will "attach" the cable trains to the unit!

BEER TIME!

Those are awesome. Gorgeous cable organization.

Pfff. Up at 5 (now 7)... Just finished the mother of all cables! 50 feet carrying 1xHDMI, 6-ch analog audio, 1 SPDIF + 2 spare coax, 1 1/8" stereo cable (12-v trig, IR-blast or future) and 1 ethernet cable so I can extend by 1G backbone to the back room.

It took TWO HOURS!!!! Just cutting the tips took 12 minutes!

I have now used between 300-400 cable ties and three full roll of labels.

Well, off to the office, now! Er... maybe I should shower first...

This is why we use velcro wraps in our data center. Another benefit is the lack of sharp pokey bits that can give you gashes in your hands when reaching for something.

Yeah, I had my share of sharp poking this PM. One more step done. The unit is "nailed".

1-2: Unit-mounting of ethernet switch and IR blaster

3. "Before" picture of the back

4. To avoid the huge mess of cables for 6-ch analog switch and component switch, I have decided to use the drawer for this sole purpose. A IR blaster is also in there to switch. Now I know why it was only 20$... the connectors are not equal. Some are tight, some are loose. I will have to use DuckTape to make sure it does not disconnect by itself.

5. The "atfer" of the before. Lots of cables! Lots of nails. Lots of cable ties. I have NOT yet, pass in the back and cut all the new wraps.

6. The top of the unit

7. The bottom right

8. A view from the other side. I may wall-mount the Wi-Fi access-point/GW.

9. The end point of everything! No matter as much organization, the mess ends up reaching the processor !

10. Where I will start either tomorrow or Sunday. Passing the mother of all cables, subwoofer cables and better hiding of speaker cables up to the back.

Now I don't even think I can get my old TV to work as I was using one of the cable from the mother of all cables and I am not sure it reaches the back without the future hole in the wall!