[Tfug] Patch panels

[Adrian]

On Monday 27 August 2012 21:04, Bexley Hall wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have all of my network drops in a closet off the kitchen.
> Currently, they just exit the wall via a crude hole cut in
> the drywall and connect to the switch, there.  I think there
> are 50 or 60 runs, total (data only).
>
> I plan on mounting a patch panel there to dress things up
> and make some order out of this tangle of cable.
>
> The physical space (and location) places some limitations
> on how I do this, though.  E.g., a panel for a standard
> equipment rack is far too wide.  OTOH, *half* (width)
> would be just about perfect!


I am currently going thru this... 30-some pairs of CAT5 drops thru the house 
and 20-some siamese coax as well, pulled into a central closet. The short 
answer is, there is no good answer.

One option is to put in a full rack with 19" patch panel. This obviously takes 
a lot of space, not terribly conducive to a closet install.

The second option is to install an in-wall "media center" box, it mounts 
between the studs flush with the wall or can e surfacemounted. This seems 
like a great idea until you look at the media center modules and realize the 
designers of these panels have no freaking clue about anything to do with 
network punchdowns or cable layout... An "advanced CAT5E" module that only 
has 8 punchdown ports, has jacks that stick out horizontally so cables hit 
the door, and they want $50 per module?!?!? It is a joke...

The media center boxes themselves are really nice (hinged doors, locking, 
knockouts for electrical outlets, etc.), but the module suck. So I installed 
just the box and, after a bit of debating, I purchased a couple 48 port patch 
panels. I haven't got there quite yet, but I am either going to mount the 
patch panels on a custom bracket vertically (19" up/down), perpendicular or 
at a 45 to the back of the panel. Or, like you, I'm going to take the 2x6 
punchdown boards out of the patch panel and cutup a custom panel to mount in 
the box. Mounting the patch panels vertically seems to work fairly well in a 
mockup I did quick. The panels can be on either side of the media center 
leaving the center open for switches/etc.


 Adrian