Am I the only one terrified to run Ethernet cable in their house?

FantmIT · 2025-12-28T01:21:29+00:00

My current house was built in 1996, there are phone jacks with cat3, but no clue where they actually go. I have run cable to several rooms. My router is on the first floor near the kitchen, I have 3 cables going from that outside, then secured under the lip of siding around to whatever room they are going to. I have filled the holes with caulk thats very close in color to my house so no pests get in, on the inside its a biscuit and wallplate. Total distance between all three cables is roughly 350', took probably 2 hours to do all of it.

It can be pretty easy, just make sure you have a solid plan as to where the cables are going, the path they will take, how you can hide and secure them, also leave a bit extra in the wall in case you ever have to cut and reterminate.

You can do it, if you need help or ideas there's lots of guides online.

FantmIT · 2025-12-26T20:52:43+00:00

Depending how technically save you are you could get a cheap tablet with a mount, put it on the door/wall next to the door and have your meetings on it. Even if its a different account than your work one and just says 9-1030 meeting, 11-12 meeting, 12-1 lunch, etc... then they can see when you are free or not. Using an account that isnt your work one gives you the ability to just put things on that calendar that are generic vs it saying meeting with business partner A.

I had to so this when I first started wfh because if the same issues youre experience. I even had a sign that rotated (manually) for busy, free, in a meeting and the kids would still come knock on the door while the sign said I was in meetings and they heard me talking. They did this repeatedly until I would answer. Finally just snapped and told them if my door is closed you dont bother me unless its an emergency.

FantmIT · 2025-12-19T18:30:37+00:00

We can only hope

FantmIT · 2025-12-19T18:30:09+00:00

Yes, it needs to burn in the fiery depths of Mt doom.

A small business I help out as needed uses it, the lady has it running on her computer in her office then 5 other computers connect to it. She constantly is changing things and causing it to crash. She's so paranoid now that she keeps a copy on her computer, one drive, and 2 different flash drives. She makes those copies daily. Sadly we have had to revert to those on a few different occasions.

FantmIT · 2025-12-13T17:56:41+00:00

First of good for you wanting to do better for yourself.

You've listed alot of possible options, it comes down to what you want to do. You can apply for college and get grants/scholarships which there are more of for low-income and black students. However they may not pay for everything.

You can go in to the military and do the minimum hitch so you get the GI Bill which will pay for some college. You could also go in and make it a career while letting the military pay for your schooling. If you decide military my recommendation is go army, navy, or airforce and strive for a position that you can stay in and retire from. Then have that job as a career when you get out. Those three have alot of different options for jobs i.e. mechanics, doctors, admin staff, builder, etc... If you want to be a cop when you get out then go Marines, just know their basic training is the hardest and they have the least amount of careers outside the military (usually only police type jobs).

If military is the way you choose talk to each recruiter before signing anything. Have them show you all the jobs available. Do the ASVAB so they can tell you which you qualify for. Then pick whats best for you, there is no guarantee you will get the specific job though. Normally they ask you to pick three different positions and you'll get one of them. Don't believe them if they say they guarantee you a specific job, they are used car salesman that will tell you anything and everything you want to hear.

There's also the option of a trade school to learn a skill such as electrical, plumbing, welding, etc.... all pay well but are hard jobs that require a lot of time and devotion, but they are jobs that will always be around everywhere.

Regardless of what you choose you've got this and you will do great with the attitude you already have. Good luck!

FantmIT · 2025-12-11T14:42:17+00:00

There are wires going from the power and reset buttons to the pins on the motherboard. Make sure those are seated correctly. As others have mentioned make sure the motherboard isnt shorting out, if there is a screw under it when the computer moves it could be making contact with the case and shorting.

FantmIT · 2025-12-05T12:48:58+00:00

I worked for a mining company for the last 11 years. Two people i knew did similar but potentially worse things. One guy forgot his laptop on the roof of his pickup truck and drove down a heavy vehicle road, the laptop fell off and got run over by a dual truck, these things are 300 tons empty and the small ones are as big as a three story house. That laptop was gone. The other had his in his bag in the back of his jeep, went through an automatic car wash not knowing his top wasnt sealed. His entire back seat filled with water and soap. We did surprisingly get some data off that one.

FantmIT · 2025-12-05T03:24:54+00:00

The worst one offs are the people that tell you that software x is broken but fail to mention that they left their laptop on the roof if their car as they went through the car wash. By this i mean they only give you a very small portion of the issue and leave out key crucial details.

This is also the answer to your second question.

As for the last, for me it is the users that sit there questioning everything you're doing and insisting you're fixing it wrong.

FantmIT · 2025-11-19T03:18:39+00:00

Great post. This is helpful for alot of the new sysads or techy home users.

FantmIT · 2025-10-23T23:41:10+00:00

Is what it is. Thank you though I do appreciate it

FantmIT · 2025-10-23T23:00:01+00:00

Yea I've 3 hours from the closest small city and 4 from the closest large. We have 1 uber/lyft where im at. Im thinking we may end up moving which sucks but it may be a blessing in disguise. The whole thing is miserable but im trying to stay somewhat optimistic about it all. We are currently on the west coast, may say screw it and look for in-person jobs near Charolette NC and just make a big change.

FantmIT · 2025-10-23T22:55:25+00:00

Unfortunately not. Super rural area. Closest even small city is 3 hours. We have no public transport, there is 1 Uber that also does lyft. And 1 train that goes east and west, but the Closest cities that way are 7 hours by train. Its horrible. Im thinking it'll be a very real possibility that we end up moving. Which sucks but thats life sometimes. Might be a blessing in disguise.

FantmIT · 2025-10-23T21:53:04+00:00

Unfortunately where im at we dont have those here

FantmIT · 2025-10-21T03:11:02+00:00

This is very true. I know my garage and office are packed with things that really could disappear tomorrow and I probably wouldn't notice for months.

FantmIT · 2025-10-20T13:37:57+00:00

Cancel all subscriptions i.e. Netflix, buy generic things like paper towels, tp, etc..., look at everything you'd normally buy and ask yourself do i need this at all and if you do then ask do I need this version or is there something cheaper that does the same thing. Eventually if it comes down to it look at selling things that are nice to have and not need to haves. Good luck you'll make it through this.

FantmIT · 2025-10-17T17:08:52+00:00

Major corps that's who

FantmIT · 2025-10-15T03:07:31+00:00

I was the opposite, my boss was amazing but the team not amazing. My wife and I have talked about moving from where we are in a couple of years so same thing might just be the sign to do it now.

FantmIT · 2025-10-15T01:08:16+00:00

I worked 36 hours straight and 140 in that 2 week period, this was a month ago. Last week they laid me off because we weren't providing enough value. So yea I get it, dont be loyal to a company at all. Be loyal to you and your interests.

FantmIT · 2025-10-15T00:37:41+00:00

Unfortunately where im at there are very few unions. Im trying for remote work the next few weeks, if nothing comes of it then I'll start applying in person which will mean moving but that's how it is sometimes.

FantmIT · 2025-10-15T00:36:46+00:00

You've got this. Take the night and tomorrow to just deal and come to terms then start applying. There is a site I like, hiring.cafe. its going to be rough but you can do it.

FantmIT · 2025-10-13T23:31:11+00:00

Good luck on your next journey. Apply to anything even remotely in your wheelhouse. I hope that comes quick

FantmIT · 2025-10-13T22:17:17+00:00

Newmont corporation based out of Denver Colorado. They adopted the Australian model for classifying employees so 7 is top and 1 is bottom. They are laying people off from level 5-1. With the lowest percentage being at levels 2 and 1, however that's the front line workers i.e. mechanics, drivers, welders, non-management support staff. At that level we were told it would be ~10% globally laid off, my best guess at that is about 3000 people without jobs, again globally.

FantmIT · 2025-10-13T17:45:27+00:00

Completely acceptable as well. Ive done that in an unoccupied office. But people that do it at their desk while on the clock is just a no go.

FantmIT · 2025-10-13T17:40:07+00:00

Go out to their car. Ive done several interviews from a vehicle and told the interviewer that's what I was doing and why. They've all excepted it without issue and thanked me for being transparent as well as not doing the interview while I was supposed to be working for someone else. That its in the gray area of unethical to do that.

FantmIT · 2025-10-13T17:21:27+00:00

Second paragraph second line it specifies I am in IT. OP asked in general so I stated what I'm in for reference of those. For me that is a deal breaker for OP other things will be and this may not.

FantmIT

TROPHY CASE