I know I should be pointing out products at Solid Signal. Signal Group, the parent of SolidSignal.com, finances this blog. I do my best to drive traffic there. It’s not just that they sign my paycheck. I actually think the products at Solid Signal are really cool. There are over 35,000 different products for everyone from occasional hobbyists to professional broadcasters. No one, not even Amazon, has more types of audio and video equipment.
Occasionally, though, I find something so useful that I feel like people need to know about it. Even if it’s something we don’t sell. This is one of those times.
Keep cables under control
If you’re like me you’re always moving stuff around. Cable management is very important, not just because it keeps things clean but also so you know what goes where. I used to rely on velcro straps or zip ties but both had their limitations. There are a lot of cable management solutions available at Solid Signal. They’re perfect if you want things to look clean for the long term.
But, what if you just need to clean things up for a short while? What if you’re just looking for a quick way to get cables out of the way. Velcro cable wraps are great but it’s hard to keep an unlimited supply on hand. Sometimes it’s nice to have a backup plan.
Not just for plants anymore
A few years ago I came up with a great solution while browsing through the garden section of my local big-box hardware store. Velcro makes a product specifically for training plants. It’s about $3 for a roll of 45 feet. It provides just enough “stick” for keeping cables organized and you can cut it to the length you want. If you drop one of the ties, don’t worry; they’re cheap enough that you just cut another length.
Generally these come in green so if you’re trying to color-code your cable management pick up a starter set of model paints in the toy section of your local store. These work great, or if you’re so inclined you can also use nail polish. The ties are also not as “fuzzy” as regular velcro so you can write on them easily with a permanent marker.
It’s an easy choice for organizing any cables you have in bins, too. Rather than let your spare cables twist and turn into each other, wrap them up with one of these plant ties. Remember that coaxial cable doesn’t like to be wrapped too tightly, and no cable likes to be folded or kinked, so use plenty of these to keep your cables in shape.
Serious about cables?
If you have a lot of cables around, check out the great selection of Wire and Cable at Solid Signal. Whether it’s a simple jumper for connecting video equipment or the most serious commercial cable, Solid Signal has it all. We’ll even make custom cables for you if you don’t find what you’re looking for! It’s all part of the service we provide.
