Home tips: Make the connection--wiring

Make the Connection

The most common way to get on the Internet is through existing phone lines. Essentially all you do is plug the computer into a phone jack, and let the modem do its work.This is slower than other methods, and without a second line, your phone stays tied up. Here are some alternatives.

* A DSL connection provides a faster, always-on connection through phone lines, but it can cost more than $70 a month and is not available everywhere. Check with your local phone company

* Cable is also fast and always on, but it can be expensive-from around $30 to more than $80 depending on the service. Cable providers, however, have begun offering well-priced packages for a flat fee. If your wiring can't handle the upgrade, often your cable company will rewire your outlets free of charge. Consult your cable provider to see what type of service they offer.

* A satellite connection is great for rural areas where DSL or cable is not an option. This method can also get expensive, starting with the purchase of equipment and then costing $60 or more for monthly service. Check with a satellite TV provider to see what's available in your area. (Tip: Before installing a second phone line, consider your other options. A second line, taxes, and other charges might add up to the same price as a higher speed connection.)

With school just around the corner, now's a great time to see if your home meets your wiring needs.

Getting Started

A good place to start is by taking inventory of how you use your phone, TV, and computer. Monitor your usage habits; jot down how much you spend for cable, phone, and Internet services; and list any places you'd like to have a connection but don't. By going through these exercises, you'll probably find that you are paying for services you don't use. Or you may discover the need for additional jacks or even a complete upgrade.

Upgrading Your Home

Whether you live in a new or old house, don't fret. You can get additional connections in many ways. Probably the best way is to upgrade wiring and add in-wall phone and cable jacks.

When considering where to add a jack, the easiest rooms are those you can access from an unfinished space above or below. Try to keep the new jack on an interior wall, so you don't have to contend with insulation as you run the wire. Finally, try not to place your communication wire right next to an electrical wire to keep interference to a minimum.

If you find that running the wire in the wall proves too difficult, try coming up through the floor right in front of the baseboard. Then you can mount the jack on the face of the baseboard and hide where the wire comes through the floor. Surface-mount jacks are available at home-improvement stores.

Surface Wiring

Sometimes, however, none of these tricks work and you're stuck. What do you do then? There are a number of products on the market to help.

Probably the most common solution is surface wire. Using a plastic or metal channel, you route the wire where you need it on top of the wall. To best hide the channel, run it right on top of a square-edge baseboard or along the bottom to simulate a piece of shoe molding. At the very least, however, stain or paint the channel to match the trim or walls. For more information visit www.wiremold.com or a home-improvement store.

Another option is to use a flat wire. Nearly as flat as tape, telephone and speaker cables can be run almost invisibly along the wall and then painted. To learn more check with a local electronics specialty shop, or visit www.crutchfield.com.

Signal Senders

Finally, a number of companies make products to repeat a signal to another room of the house. For example, you can plug a transmitter into an additional telephone or cable jack in one room, then place the receiver in another room for a telephone or TV connection. Be aware, however, these products can slow down data transfer, degrade a television picture, or be susceptible to interference. Nothing beats a hardwired connection. (Note: Please keep in mind that these tips only work for low-voltage wiring such as telephone and cable. If you need to add an electrical outlet, please contact a licensed professional.)

DERICK BELDEN

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Aug 2002
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