Cable Management

[FudgeNuggets]

So, I've got sitting on top of my 51" projection TV, an upscaling DVD player, A Wii, A PS3, a 360 with HD-DVD player and a center channel speaker. Beside it I have a media cabinet with my Kenwood surround sound receiver and a DirecTV receiver that I just got and on the other side a sub-woofer. So the other day I'm pulling the TV out and plugging the coax cable into the back of it for the DirecTV dish and WHAM! I feel PAIN!!!! My Wii has fallen on my head and left a nice bloody gash. I don't know if it still works, I suppose I'll test it tonight. Anyway, the reason it fell was due to my ratsnest of wires so in order to avoid future Wii-conking incidents and firehazzards, can you guys show me some pics of how you've got your behind TV home theater/console games wire management done so that it doesn't look like **** too? I've seen people use those tubes and run the wires through them but they look terrible. This isn't like wire management in a PC case :/

[ratbuddy]

I've got a similar (but possibly worse) situation going on. TV, DVD/VCR combo, Oppo, PS2, PS3, Gamecube, Xbox, cable box, receiver, a 4 port A/V switch box, and a 5 port component switch box. My rack is open-shelf style. It's a frigging nightmare. Why do consoles always come with 12 foot cables? I'd love to hear some ways to get things organized better..

[FudgeNuggets]

I've got a similar (but possibly worse) situation going on. TV, DVD/VCR combo, Oppo, PS2, PS3, Gamecube, Xbox, cable box, receiver, a 4 port A/V switch box, and a 5 port component switch box. My rack is open-shelf style. It's a frigging nightmare. Why do consoles always come with 12 foot cables? I'd love to hear some ways to get things organized better..

yeah me too! Surely not everybody has a rats nest (pardon the pun) behind their cabinet or TV. Mine isn't even on a rack, they're on top of the TV itself since the TV is so big.

[rainless]

So the other day I'm pulling the TV out and plugging the coax cable into the back of it for the DirecTV dish and WHAM! I feel PAIN!!!! My Wii has fallen on my head and left a nice bloody gash.

AAAAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAA! :D

I'm sorry man... I'm glad you're alright. But I would've had a hard time keeping a straight face at the wake if you'd been killed by a F'N Wii. :beer:

Anyway... I can't be of any help either... my cable situation is a nightmare. I've got my PC in back of my TV, my PS3 in front of my TV, my PS2 on the side of the TV, the keyboard and mouse next to the PS3, Printer, scanner, USB hub, card reader, charge cables for PS3 controller and Blutooth headset...

It's a CATASTROPHE... and I see absolutely no way out until Intel starts marketing their wireless electricity.

[shard]

I like to use those Mesh velcro cable wraps, nice, clean, and looks good too. IMO I would do a wrap on each cluster from each system, ie. DVD, 360, Wii, PS3, etc. and use a cable strap to hold them together as they go towards the reciever. (make sure its the velcro strapping ones, and not your run of the mill plastic cable tie) With the velcro strap it does give each cable run a bit of slack so you can move things around without entangling everything else that is part of the bundle.

[FudgeNuggets]

It's a CATASTROPHE... and I see absolutely no way out until Intel starts marketing their wireless electricity.


Well they better come up with wireless HDMI and Component while they're at it. From what I heard the wirelessl coax and composite isn't very good.

[deathman20]

Well its not my main TV in the house but my computer desk has enough cables around it. I had a major cable issue and still my situation isn't the best but looking at, making it even better at some point. Got the computer, TV, X360, DVD, Printer, multiple external HDD's, cable/router, VOIP, and phone hooked up to 1 power strip and 2 UPS systems. I have a cable tray mounted behind my desk and a mini book shelf (3 feet tall, 2 bays, 1 foot wide and about a foot deep) to hold the UPS's and major power bricks to keep it off the visible floor.

Can you upload pics of the area? Don't know if something like such can be done. You could also cable wrap, maybe zip tie common wires to each piece of equipment together. Maybe use some velcro to attach it to piece of equipment to hold it in 1 spot. Maybe mount a small shelf to set the devices in that "semi" hold it into place, but with a stylish look?

I have a crappy home theater thing, this thing they call a 27" tube television sits in my entertainment center, can't wait to some day and replace the sucker. Then I might be able to enjoy your pain with cabling for various pieces of equipment.

[defiant79]

This doesn't really help, but my entertainment center is rather tall and i have it across one corner of my living room, and all the wire are piled up behind it. Only way to see them is to pull the entertainment center out away from the wall.

I know a while back Woot had a pack of those velcro cable ties, I should have grabbed some then. Have to keep an eye out for them again.

[TheGreySpectre]

buy a pack of zip ties, they work great, I find it works well to zip tie all the cables from one system togethor, then you can zip tie those bundles togethor in packs of say, all your game systems and then have your dvd player on a seperate bundle. It works espcially well if you get the color coded zip ties.


Granted...this solution only works if you don't plan on moving your gaming systems

[NettieZoom]

I have to agree with the zip ties!! They are god when it comes to cable management.