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Would you have a problem "wiring" a rental home?

SunnyD

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
I rent. I'm hesitant to even paint a wall let alone hang up pictures in a rental. But alas, my wife wants to rearrange the bedroom accommodations for the kids, and that means my "computer room" is going away. I knew it was coming eventually, since the baby will eventually need to be forcibly removed from our bedroom (it will be so nice to have a sex life again).

Anyway, where my computer is going, there's no cable jack, hence the cable modem won't go there. I'm contemplating getting a few keystone jacks and a spool of cable, which would be fine for the living room since there's cable jacks there I can convert, but the designated location for the computer would be elsewhere. It would mean some... "remodeling" so to speak. What to do, what to do.

Update: Don't tell the landlord, I've started putting holes in the wall. 🙂
 
Just setup a wireless bridge or two. That's what I have setup (using Linksys WRT54g routers running DD-WRT) and it runs great for my computers and my living room components (Tivo, XBox360).
 
Originally posted by: Leros
I learned to live with wireless.
Click to expand...

Yeah... With the new wireless n routers, there isn't much of a speed difference between a 10/100 mbit wired connection and a wireless one unless you're moving really big files.
 
Originally posted by: ultimatebob
Originally posted by: Leros
I learned to live with wireless.
Click to expand...

Yeah... With the new wireless n routers, there isn't much of a speed difference between a 10/100 mbit wired connection and a wireless one unless you're moving really big files.
Click to expand...

Funny, I did this before many years ago. One thing I noticed was a constant and very repeatable "beacon lag" every 7 or 8 seconds that made gaming just plain suck. I wonder if it's better now.
 
Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Go wireless
Click to expand...


yeap. i would not do any "remodeling" at all. Since its a rental when you move they can have you pay for it to be fixed.


go wireless.
 
Is there a crawl space under the house? Are the rooms in question carpeted?

A sneaky way I learned to wire for surround when I rented was to run it under the crawl space and drill small holes through the floor. Just pull up the carpet a bit in the corner to drill and pass the wire. When you move out, pull the wire and put the carpet back down on the tacks.
 
I've done far worse to rental houses over the years than just running some cable, installing a simple jack and cover plate.
As long as YOU have the wall(s) fixed and restored to their "normal" condition before you move, there should be no problem. (remember, it's easier to beg for forgivness than to ask for permission!) 😀
 
I'm renting our house right now and I did pay an electrician to put several ethernet drops in here. Only cost....$150 plus tip for around 10 drops. Electrician was very fast and they charged by the hour instead of per drop. I obviously game him a very nice tip for it, excellent job I think. I terminated the drops myself though.
 
Originally posted by: SunnyD
Originally posted by: ultimatebob
Originally posted by: Leros
I learned to live with wireless.
Click to expand...

Yeah... With the new wireless n routers, there isn't much of a speed difference between a 10/100 mbit wired connection and a wireless one unless you're moving really big files.
Click to expand...

Funny, I did this before many years ago. One thing I noticed was a constant and very repeatable "beacon lag" every 7 or 8 seconds that made gaming just plain suck. I wonder if it's better now.
Click to expand...

gaming probably still is iffy. wireless is still prone to interference but maybe the n stuff is better *shrug* i dunno. i dont game and i dont have wireless n.

ask your landlord...unless hes uptight he might not mind you adding a couple of outlets, as long as they look good when theyre done and you leave it there. basically argue that he gets free outlets in his rental home. he should be happy and it wont cost you much.
 
personally i just ran an ethernet bridge downstairs for my xbmc. Wireless is your safest option.

I really wouldn't try and have the running of cable done since the renter might construe that as damage and nail you when you move out.
 
Originally posted by: Amused
Is there a crawl space under the house? Are the rooms in question carpeted?

A sneaky way I learned to wire for surround when I rented was to run it under the crawl space and drill small holes through the floor. Just pull up the carpet a bit in the corner to drill and pass the wire. When you move out, pull the wire and put the carpet back down on the tacks.
Click to expand...

No. Slab foundation. However I have full access to the attic. I still plan on running cable anyway, along side the TV cable and replacing those wall plates with keystone jacks for both cable and ethernet. Need to get the XBox online somehow anyway. The only catch will be my computer. My desktop is really my gaming machine, so I'm hesitant with wireless. I'd also like a TV drop so I can use Media Center to DVR stuff eventually.

Originally posted by: BKLounger
personally i just ran an ethernet bridge downstairs for my xbmc. Wireless is your safest option.

I really wouldn't try and have the running of cable done since the renter might construe that as damage and nail you when you move out.
Click to expand...

Again, other than this single room, running cable is a non-issue as I have access to the attic, and would just replace the current cable TV plates with keystone jacks. This would be a whole lot easier if my wife wouldn't care if the computer was in the living room.
 
Originally posted by: MajorMullet
I bought a pair of powerline ethernet adapters because my wireless connection kept dropping in and out where I have my PS3 and 360. To me they're perfect - just as fast as my normal wired connections and you get the added bonus of being able to use it wherever you have a power outlet. This is the pair I got: http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-...&qid=1231264904&sr=8-7
Click to expand...

Interesting! I hadn't heard of that but it seems like it has been around for a while in various forms.
 
Originally posted by: MajorMullet
I bought a pair of powerline ethernet adapters because my wireless connection kept dropping in and out where I have my PS3 and 360. To me they're perfect - just as fast as my normal wired connections and you get the added bonus of being able to use it wherever you have a power outlet. This is the pair I got: http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-...&qid=1231264904&sr=8-7
Click to expand...

Really? What find of throughput do you get on them for internal transfers?
 
Originally posted by: SunnyD
Originally posted by: MajorMullet
I bought a pair of powerline ethernet adapters because my wireless connection kept dropping in and out where I have my PS3 and 360. To me they're perfect - just as fast as my normal wired connections and you get the added bonus of being able to use it wherever you have a power outlet. This is the pair I got: http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-...&qid=1231264904&sr=8-7
Click to expand...

Really? What find of throughput do you get on them for internal transfers?
Click to expand...

I used to have an HTPC hooked up to the adapter and there was no difference between copying stuff from there to my server versus copying to it from my main PC. I don't have hard numbers, but it was certainly plenty fast enough for me.

On 360 and PS3 there's no lag when gaming online either. I stream HD content from Netflix to the 360 all the time through the adapter and there is no slowdown.

I remember reading some things when I was researching them about how the condition of electrical wiring in the home can affect the throughput. My home was just finished in December 07 so that hasn't really been an issue for me. I guess if you live in an older home it may not be as fast.
 
If you only have to add one box, I'd go ahead and run it. When you move out, just cover the empty box with a blank faceplate that matches the rest and the landlord will probably never know.

Use an old-work box.

Edit: Be sure to level the outline before cutting the hole. Off-level faceplates are an eyesore.
 
What Mr pickins said. I didn't ask the landlord if I could run my cat5- I just did it. We also ran wire inbetween 2 apts across the complex- burried the wire at night and everything. No one has noticed yet.
 
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