I’m planning out my next homelab when I move soon. I have the floor plans and it looks like the best place for my computer is not centrally located, so the Wi-Fi won’t be ideal. I’d like to run the cables a short distance so the router would be in a better spot.

I’m just renting and will likely only be here for a year so I don’t want to do any drilling. I just want to secure the cables somehow to the crease where the wall and ceiling meet.

The total length will only be about 20 feet to the router.

  • aprilmay@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    13·
    9 months ago

    I use a long cable and command brand sticky cable clips to route the cable around door frames to get where it needs to go

    • jws_shadotak@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
      3·
      9 months ago

      I’ll look at that. My main concern is leaving a residue or taking paint off with it but command strips are usually good about that.

  • SmashingSquid@notyour.rodeoEnglish
    9·
    9 months ago

    If you have carpet you can get a flat Ethernet cable and tuck it around the border. That’s how I have mine set up because my ONT is in the closet.

      • maiskanzler@feddit.deEnglish
        1·
        9 months ago

        But also unshielded so uncoil them entirely and do not lay them next to other data lines. I had so many dropped packages because of that.

        • wholeofthemoon@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          9 months ago

          Ohhh so my bundle at the start and middle of the line probably isn’t good? If my internet has any issues in the future ill go and sort that 🙃

          • maiskanzler@feddit.deEnglish
            1·
            9 months ago

            Yeah that made a massive dufference for me. Then again, it was unshielded cable so what did I expect?

    • hummingbird@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      9 months ago

      Be careful with those, they can interfere/kill your or your neighbors DSL connection. Terrible to diagnose these.

    • Shadow@lemmy.caEnglish
      2·
      9 months ago

      Don’t buy dlink ones if you have arc fault breakers. They’ll randomly trip them, even on totally different circuits.

      Fuck powerline over Ethernet. Took me way too long to identify the cause.

    • rambos@lemm.eeEnglish
      2·
      9 months ago

      Its best to run a cable, but if you cant then power line is the way to go IMO. I didnt have any issues in 3 different houses with Dlink and TPlink

  • phillaholic@lemm.eeEnglish
    4·
    9 months ago

    Painters tape is great… but it’s blue. Maybe attach white tape to the top of painters tape? Not sure how it’ll look. Right now I just have the cable running at the floor and I’ve forgotten about it

        • whynotzoidberg@lemmy.worldEnglish
          3·
          9 months ago

          Yup, expect a residue if you delay removal. Painters tape is meant to be removed relatively soon after application. Rubbing alcohol can typically remove the residue.

    • surewhynotlem@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      9 months ago

      Painters tape is fucking gold. I use it SO much, from labeling food in the fridge to holding table cloths on. It’s the best.

  • empireOfLove@lemmy.oneEnglish
    4·
    9 months ago

    Is there trim in the crease or it is a sharp corner? If there is trim and its not painted clean over, you can cheat and use paperclips. Fold the long leg out straight, so its horizontal, and the short U curl down at a 90, so it forms a hook. If you stick the horizontal wire in behind the trim itll usually wedge in without damaging the trim or paint visibly and hold enough for a cat5e.

    If no trim, the sticky hangars are probably the best. Be careful not to buy cheap ones that might fall down, leave residue, or stick too hard and rip the paint off when you go to remove it.

  • sj_zero@lotide.fbxl.net
    3·
    9 months ago

    You can get surface mount cable raceways that connect to the wall with adhesive. Works well and also looks great.

    https://www.amazon.com/Raceway-Management-Channel-Paintable-Concealer/dp/B07GPFDL1K/

    Another option is called “sticky backs”, they’re not as nice looking, but they’re commonly used by electricians in cabinets to secure wires:

    https://www.amazon.com/Adhesive-Mounts-Holders-Multi-Purpose-Sticky/dp/B08XLR46Y7

    One thing is if you’re really concerned about the walls, maybe put a strip of masking tape on the wall before the sticky backs or cable raceway. That way you don’t need to worry about the adhesive on them taking the paint off afterwards.

  • 8adger@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    9 months ago

    I had a friend that ran theirs though the air conditioning ducts. For mine though I ran them in the corners and under area rugs.

  • tabular@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    9 months ago

    Buy rug, put rug over cable on floor, disregard any discouragement of steps 1 or 2.

  • Treczoks@kbin.social
    1·
    9 months ago

    If you don’t care for the looks, just put it down where needed, and fix it to whatever is around with cable ties.

    I did the same in my daughters shared accommodation. Officially they had wifi in all the student rooms, but my daughters room basically had no reception, so I ran a cable from the other end of the flat where the router was down the staircase into her room for a local AP. When she moved out, it was a quick job with a pair of pliers to get it out again.