[malcolm]

Hi there,
Behind my powerbook screen are a Medussa's headful of firewire and USB cables that go every which way. Even with USB and firewire hubs, I have to unplug something, to plug something else in, and often the only way I can tell what goes to where is to follow along the (usually) black cable, in one direction or the other.
So I'd like to mark, or label, or colour-code or somehow identify both ends of each cable, and I'm wondering if anyone's come up with a really elegant way of doing it. I thought I was onto something, the other day, when I used a big drop of my wife's fingernail polish at both ends of one cable, and then another colour of fingernail polish (is that what it's called, polish?) on another cable... but really, the colour difference isn't that great - - they're all variations on red - - so I think I need a better solution.
Ideas, anyone?
Malcolm

[Taskiss]

Well, I take them on and off so often that I have them memorized. I really do suggest that method over any other.

[malcolm]

Hi Taskiss,
If I could send you a snapshot of what this mess looks like, you'd know I have to find a way. Would I be able to attach a jpg to my next reply?
Malcolm

[turtle]

As odd as this is, I just remember where they are too. And I can show you my nest if you'd really like. Now one thing I do though it take a white-out pen and write on the wall block what it is.

[Kickaha]

Go to Radio Shack (or your local equivalent) and get a pack of cable labels. Write on it, slap it on each end, voila. Use different ink colors for easier ID if you want. $2.

[Yonzie]

http://global.dymo.com/enCA/Home/default.html
Don't buy Brother, it's just a cheap copy.
Put the same text twice on the same label, with a generous space inbetween and you can make a tag that sticks on the cable with text on both sides.
If you don't feel like spending any money, the same method can be used with paper and tape.

[malcolm]

Turtle, you and Taskiss have better memories than I do... I even have trouble following my cables from one end to the other, it's such a rat's nest back there... I'm going to have to follow Kickaha's advice... Off to RadioShack (now renamed 'The Source', or Circuit City or something like that here in Canada). Thanks all,
Malcolm

[Taskiss]

Originally Posted by malcolm Hi Taskiss, If I could send you a snapshot of what this mess looks like, you'd know I have to find a way. Would I be able to attach a jpg to my next reply? Malcolm

It's quite possible that I could tell you where they go

I've worked as a sysadmin for close to 30 years. After hooking up a number of PDP-11's and VAX 11/780's, a Mac or PC is a piece of cake!

[PB PM]

Originally Posted by malcolm Turtle, you and Taskiss have better memories than I do... I even have trouble following my cables from one end to the other, it's such a rat's nest back there... I'm going to have to follow Kickaha's advice... Off to RadioShack (now renamed 'The Source', or Circuit City or something like that here in Canada). Thanks all, Malcolm

Yeah its the 'The Source.' Kind of silly, but it is a totally different company, not just renamed.

[malcolm]

I'll check this out too, Yonzie.
Cheers,
Malcolm

[kieran]

Originally Posted by malcolm Would I be able to attach a jpg to my next reply? Malcolm

You won't be able to attach an image to your reply, but you could upload the image to a free hosting site (Flickr or the like) and then post the link to the image in your reply.

It took me a while at first to get it, but now It's second nature.

Let me know if you need any more help.

[malcolm]

Hi k. - - I just checked out Flickr... do I have to create a yahoo account to join Flickr? I'm leery of having too many email accounts. Cheers, Malcolm

[kieran]

How about Imageshack instead?

Then you won't have to get a new email.

[Yonzie]

Someone blatantly copied my idea and made a guide: http://www.macinstruct.com/node/82

And use imageshack.us or just use Skitch, it kicks ass.

[Bryson]

Well, at work, when we're marking mic cables and suchlike, we use a wrap of coloured electrical tape - possibly with a written label in sharpie on that if required. But we're talking 25+ cables here, not 5 or 6.

[Kickaha]

I find it most useful at the AC plug end of things - I know I only have n USB devices, and only m Firewire, and only x video displays... but they *ALL* have AC plugs, and they all look alike.

So all of my power plugs are labeled. It *really really* sucks to go unplug the printer, and take out an external drive by mistake.

[Taskiss]

Unless you use USB extender cables, there's really no way to go wrong these days. Off the top of my head, there's no way to plug a cable in a wrong connector.

[thegeriatric]

I have used coloured tape at both ends of cables in the past, when i used to change pieces of hi-fi equipment on a regular basis. It worked well for me.

[Kickaha]

Originally Posted by Taskiss Unless you use USB extender cables, there's really no way to go wrong these days. Off the top of my head, there's no way to plug a cable in a wrong connector.

Ha.

Try plugging a Firewire drive into itself while daisy chaining a string of them, and see how well that works for ya.

[Taskiss]

Originally Posted by Kickaha Ha. Try plugging a Firewire drive into itself while daisy chaining a string of them, and see how well that works for ya.

Used to be that connectors could be attached to cga, ega, and mga monitor connectors...and RS-232 serial connectors. I've seen people attach the wrong one, end up buying a new video card.

Uphill. In the snow. Both ways.

[Yonzie]

Originally Posted by Taskiss Uphill. In the snow. Both ways.

And you were only 3 years old.