Drilling through floor to run cable from basement to mid floor...

[mvbighead]

So I have options, one being to simply buy a more powerful wireless router... but the trouble I have right now is that my DSL line is in a corner of my basement so my wifi source is on one end of the house, and upstairs has little to no access.

Now, I can simply buy a Nighthawk or similar router to boost the range, but I'd like to drill a hole from the basement through the ceiling (or vice versa) to get a cable up to the main floor so that the router can simply be used as an access point more centrally located in the house. And I may still buy a better router than the Trendnet Archer AC router I have now...

That being said, my furnace, hot water heater, and water softener are in a utility room centrally in the basement. I believe the kitchen sink is 'roughly' directly above that room somewhere. I am thinking I can drill down there with the jig bit I have (a flexible shaft drill bit measure about 40" plus). Trouble is, I am hoping to avoid missing and ending up somewhere that I shouldn't.

Ultimately, the kitchen sink is on the opposite side of the wall as my living room, so if I can get the cable into that wall and over by my TV/entertainment hutch, I can get the router in a sensible location.

Previously, when using the jig I was drilling up to the attic, so there was very little to worry about, but now I am looking to drill into living space, somewhere, potentially. How would one go about making sure they are where they think they are between floors. Is it simply a 'here, hold my beer' kind of thing, or is there a better way to figure out EXACTLY where I am from one floor compared to the next? Typically I'd just do a pilot hole, but that is somewhat hard to accomplish when the jig bit is required. Perhaps I can drill through carpeted floor in the living room to see if I can find the spot below/above using a smaller bit? I am thinking of maybe drilling through the 'ceiling' in the utility room and seeing where I can get... but I am simply not 100% sure on this whole scenario.

Thoughts/suggestions?

 

[stormkroe]

If you can't simply look up into the joist space from the basement (due to a finished ceiling or other obstacle), just cautiously drill through the floor and stop before the bit plunges into the joist space. Then gently probe downward by hand without spinning the bit until you're 'tap-tap-tapping' on the inside of the basement ceiling, repeat the cautious drilling. Perhaps you could find a heating register in the same joist space, easily remove it and take a snapshot down the space with your phone.

 

[Blain]

Have you considered powerline networking adapters?
No drilling required, and very portable.
I've only used Netgear adapters, but they performed quite well.

 

[skyking]

Do what stormkroe said. but use two people. Once the bit is in the joist space, enlist one of your kids or your spouse to tap that bit on the sheetrock below. You can go down there and locate the tapping easily.

 

[boomerang]

I've drilled a small hole adjacent to the baseboard in carpeted areas, found the hole in the basement and moved over an appropriate amount to drill up into a partition wall with the appropriate sized bit several times before. It works well. Just be mindful of where the joists are in that wall. It would be a real bad stroke of luck to drill up into the end of a stud.

Just an FYI, if you are going to use a ready made network cable you will need a 3/4" hole. 5/8" is too small. So, the measuring becomes more critical. Now, if you can make up your own cable, obviously a much smaller hole is required.

 

[mvbighead]

I've drilled a small hole adjacent to the baseboard in carpeted areas, found the hole in the basement and moved over an appropriate amount to drill up into a partition wall with the appropriate sized bit several times before. It works well. Just be mindful of where the joists are in that wall. It would be a real bad stroke of luck to drill up into the end of a stud.

Just an FYI, if you are going to use a ready made network cable you will need a 3/4" hole. 5/8" is too small. So, the measuring becomes more critical. Now, if you can make up your own cable, obviously a much smaller hole is required.

No doubt on the cables. Fortunately I'm very familiar with the cables and doing the ends and such, just not quite as familiar with drilling into the house so I've been cautious to proceed with it as I don't want to create any significant eye sores.

 

[skyking]

Measure very carefully and you can be sure of landing in that utility room. It is a great place for a random hole in the ceiling.

 

[DrPizza]

I've drilled a small hole adjacent to the baseboard in carpeted areas, found the hole in the basement and moved over an appropriate amount to drill up into a partition wall with the appropriate sized bit several times before. It works well. Just be mindful of where the joists are in that wall. It would be a real bad stroke of luck to drill up into the end of a stud.

Just an FYI, if you are going to use a ready made network cable you will need a 3/4" hole. 5/8" is too small. So, the measuring becomes more critical. Now, if you can make up your own cable, obviously a much smaller hole is required.

About a 10% chance of hitting a stud. Two choices: not worry about it, possibly hit a stud, and simply move 3 or 4 inches. Or, spend an extra 20 seconds or so rapping the wall with your knuckles to roughly locate a stud. No stud finder needed - you're not trying to hit the stud, just avoid it, so center on a more hollow sounding area.