Trying to run network cable behind a wall

[ds2chan]

OK, so this is my first time trying to run any cable behind any wall. I'm trying to run a network cable from the upper floor to the main floor (going down just 1 floor). I tried to use the metal electrical fishing line (I think that's the correct term) but I wasn't able to see it on the main floor. Also, I shoved the entire thing (about 25" I believe) into the wall.

So, I took a fishing line and tied a few small metal weights to it and threw it down the hole. For some reason it was getting stuck somewhere (sounds like halfway down as I could hear them jingling on the main floor). Then the fishing line broke.

So, now I'm stuck. Does anybody have any experience with this or have any suggestions?? Could there be a piece of wood going horizontal from one 2x4 to the next that is blocking the path?? Any electricians here that could possibly tell me how it's done?? Do I need a magnet to find out where the weights are and where they were getting stuck??

Thanks for any suggestions and help.

[bluntman]

I fed my network cable through the cold air intake for the furnace, it's a shaft going from the basement near the furnace to the second floor (usually on the floor). No need for fishing tape or dealing with wall top plates and bottom plates. Your only problem will be running it laterally to the computer.

[PCLoadLetter]

Wifi = win :)

[SirWanker]

I fed my network cable through the cold air intake for the furnace, it's a shaft going from the basement near the furnace to the second floor (usually on the floor). No need for fishing tape or dealing with wall top plates and bottom plates. Your only problem will be running it laterally to the computer.

++ with this unless you're willing to deal with drywall repair with your initial method. You probably do have some structural "beams/joists/posts" blocking your path. As PCLoadLetter indicated, go with a wireless router and a wireless range extender if needed.

[ZeroChalk]

or use a power-line connection.

[cwp_sedan]

or use a power-line connection.

I would chose these as a last resort but it still is an option.

[ZeroChalk]

why?

[ds2chan]

I'm running Wifi right now to my main floor (router is upstairs) but I just wanted the gigabit speeds when streaming movies to my TV. Also, my VOIP line, which is connected to my wireless bridge on the main floor would make a beep sound now and then (like if you were to press a button on the phone). I don't know if it's because of the Wifi but I was hoping to run the cable just for the reliability. I was hoping the electrical fishing tape would be able to get around some of these horizontal beams if there were any but so far no luck.

[cwp_sedan]

why?

I've had some bad experience with them (connection/speed) and have heard others have as well. I'm not saying all people will have problems, but that is just my experience.

[n00bMeiSter]

Paul (the guy with the Celestial Blue Speed3) is an electrician, he knows how to run wires like this. Maybe he can help.
Sorry, I have no idea what his username is lol

Edit: his username is Celestespeed3

[SirWanker]

How about through the floor?

[ds2chan]

Paul (the guy with the Celestial Blue Speed3) is an electrician, he knows how to run wires like this. Maybe he can help.
Sorry, I have no idea what his username is lol

Edit: his username is Celestespeed3

Thanks. I'll send Paul a PM later and see what he says.



How about through the floor?

I thought about this but I want to try to run the cable so that it can't be seen. If I drop it down through the floor then I'll have a cable just hanging there against the wall.

[m_bisson]

My dad and uncle did the whole hosue. There's cable TV, and 2 ethernet ports in every room (not the bathrooms) and there's a whole switchboard thing in the basement lol. I have no idea how they did it though.

[XTOTHEL]

Just my guess, but you might have to take out sections of the drywall and drill a little hole for it. The space available between behind the drywall is almost always sealed off on all 4 sides by wood framing. So I would imagine that's where it is getting stuck between floors.

Somewhat like this:

http://www.hometips.com/images/sunset/buildwall.5.jpg

But imagine it closing off between floors.

[ds2chan]

Just my guess, but you might have to take out sections of the drywall and drill a little hole for it. The space available between behind the drywall is almost always sealed off on all 4 sides by wood framing. So I would imagine that's where it is getting stuck between floors.

Somewhat like this:

http://www.hometips.com/images/sunset/buildwall.5.jpg

But imagine it closing off between floors.

That's what I was afraid of. My friend's father told me how to patch up the wall (like this -> Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?pn=Patching_Large_Holes_in_Wallboard&langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&cm_sp=d27-_-electrical-_-know_how-_-project_guide-_-Installing_Audio_and_Video_Cables_Behind_Walls-_-Project_Step_Three)) so I think I'll go and do this. I was hoping running the cable wouldn't take so long but looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and actually do some work.. :P

Thanks for all the input. If you guys have anything else to suggest or add please go ahead.

[SirWanker]

That's what I was afraid of. My friend's father told me how to patch up the wall (like this -> Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?pn=Patching_Large_Holes_in_Wallboard&langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&cm_sp=d27-_-electrical-_-know_how-_-project_guide-_-Installing_Audio_and_Video_Cables_Behind_Walls-_-Project_Step_Three)) so I think I'll go and do this. I was hoping running the cable wouldn't take so long but looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and actually do some work.. :P

Thanks for all the input. If you guys have anything else to suggest or add please go ahead.

Before you start, make sure you have either the correct paint shade or wallpaper FIRST in the appropriate quantities. Then start your demolition.
Have fun!

[breakfasteatre]

there is framing preventing you from going down the wall into the basement, its called the bottom plate of the wall, and is a 2x4 sitting on its face.

I have several flexible drill bits that you use to drill through the bottom plate from the hole that you want the wire to come out of. once the bit goes through the bottom plate into the basement, you locate the end of the bit, tie a string or the wire to a hole that is drill in the tip of the drill bit, and pull the but back up through the hole with the string or wire trailing.

i just did some sidework last week that involved this exact practice

[breakfasteatre]

just reread your post, you said from top floor to main floor, same technique

[breakfasteatre]

[img]http://www.lashen.com/vendors/Greenlee/images/DVersi6.jpg/[img]

[ds2chan]

there is framing preventing you from going down the wall into the basement, its called the bottom plate of the wall, and is a 2x4 sitting on its face.

I have several flexible drill bits that you use to drill through the bottom plate from the hole that you want the wire to come out of. once the bit goes through the bottom plate into the basement, you locate the end of the bit, tie a string or the wire to a hole that is drill in the tip of the drill bit, and pull the but back up through the hole with the string or wire trailing.

i just did some sidework last week that involved this exact practice

Damn, I didn't realize how flexible these drill bits are.

Aren't flexible drill bits only about 6 feet long?? I was able to drill through the horizontal beam I found along the floor upstairs but when I dropped the fish tape and the fishing line they were getting stuck somewhere behind the wall on the main floor. So, it looks like there is another horizontal beam somewhere on the main floor. From upstairs, I estimate it must be about 8 feet down. I bought 14 feet network but I estimate the drop is about 12 feet. Everything is finished so it isn't as easy as finding the end of the drill bit. Did you run into this problem at all?? Thanks for the help.

[eguiyab]

It can be a difficult task. During our latest reno we took the time to open up a panel on every floor in the same location to run a line from the top floor to the basement. We even got all the nice fancy plug in face plates setup. It allowed us to run hardlines on both floors, and set up two separate wifi systems.
If the Gigabit speeds isn't as significant concern to the machine the router is hooked up to upstairs, why not just switch the locations?
Move the router closer to the TV, Hardline it ... and let the machine upstairs run via wifi.

[Rob23]

im an electrical apprentice. it would be much easier if you cutout some drywall near the floor, then you need a good long auger drill bit that will go through the 2x4/plywood to get the wire down to the next floor you will need to use the fish tape and push it down the hole. then down stair you may need to feel around in the wall to find the fish tape. attach the wire to it as neatly as you can with electrical tape, make sure its smooth so it doesn't get stuck, and go upstairs and pull it up. there shouldn't be any 2x4 horizontal in the wall on the next floor but there could be. BTW how old is your house?

[xxSlidewaysxx]

im an electrical apprentice. it would be much easier if you cutout some drywall near the floor, then you need a good long auger drill bit that will go through the 2x4/plywood to get the wire down to the next floor you will need to use the fish tape and push it down the hole. then down stair you may need to feel around in the wall to find the fish tape. attach the wire to it as neatly as you can with electrical tape, make sure its smooth so it doesn't get stuck, and go upstairs and pull it up. there shouldn't be any 2x4 horizontal in the wall on the next floor but there could be. BTW how old is your house?

I cut my wall to add an overhead fan in my familyroom. If you do it right, when you put the cutout back in, have the cutout 1/4 inch into the wall. Let the mud and sanding do the rest. Or you can get "On-the-wall" tracks that can be painted, these would work too.

[XTOTHEL]

I don't know how much you've researched, but I think blu-ray's bit rate is about 40mbps, I'm not sure how much overkill gigabit is. It might be less expensive to have better wireless router or some signal repeaters. But I would think gigabit would be helpful if you were to move huge files over the network, but then how often are you going to do that? It would be faster to use a flash drive anyways.

[mazdilla]

I'm a licensed carpenter.

Since you are intent on intrusive surgery, use an axe and chop a channel from the second floor to the first floor, or .....

... buy a wireless router and the associated dongles required. Plug and play, get on with your day.

[ShortBus]

if it's a non structural wall you'll probably looking at going through a bottom plate, top plate and the subfloor. if it's a structural wall you have to deal with another top plate.
you also have to make sure you're not hitting a stud when you drill.

[Noisy Crow]

you also have to make sure you're not hitting a stud when you drill.

Or a gas pipe or a water pipe or an electrical wire.