Labelling network cables

[Saba'a]

Hi

Currently using masking tape to label my network cat 5e and cat 6 cables.

Looking for an off the shelf and more professional looking solution.

Any suggestions and links?

 

[Dairyfarmer]

Actually labelling the cables? If so, why?
If you have so many cables that you need to label them then you should be using a patch panel. They come with pre labelled ports.

Else use a Brother label maker. Most models have a sequential or pattern function

 

[ubercal]

Hi

Currently using masking tape to label my network cat 5e and cat 6 cables.

Looking for an off the shelf and more professional looking solution.

Any suggestions and links?

get a brother labelling machine with the correct tape.Look on the brother site for the exact model of machine and the compatible tape.

 

[Saba'a]

I have:


8 x poe cameras
2 x routers LTE and fibre
3 x mesh nodes for fibre
2 x ACLRs for LTE
2 x game consoles
3 x computers

Etc etc

I'll read up on patch panel to see if its the solution for me.

 

[Dairyfarmer]

get a brother labelling machine with the correct tape.Look on the brother site for the exact model of machine and the compatible tape.

Most of the EZ tapes work well. My wife has put items in the dishwasher multiple times with labels on and they stay stuck with no lifting.

 

[Dairyfarmer]

I have:


8 x poe cameras
2 x routers LTE and fibre
3 x mesh nodes for fibre
2 x ACLRs for LTE
2 x game consoles
3 x computers

Etc etc

I'll read up on patch panel to see if its the solution for me.

You can often find them second hand. They should be in good nick. Remember to buy a punch down tool if you don't have one or you will waste your time.

Example of prices on Gumtree

 

[ubercal]

Most of the EZ tapes work well. My wife has put items in the dishwasher multiple times with labels on and they stay stuck with no lifting.

yeah as far as i remmember the ez tapes are for home usage , and then there is another range of professional tapes.I recently brough the professional tapes for network cables but havent used it yet.

 

[TheMightyQuin]

I have:


8 x poe cameras
2 x routers LTE and fibre
3 x mesh nodes for fibre
2 x ACLRs for LTE
2 x game consoles
3 x computers

Etc etc

I'll read up on patch panel to see if its the solution for me.

With 20 cables a patch panel is definitely the way to go for proper management. Inside a small switch cabinet.

Get a 24-port Unpopulated patch panel with with RJ45 pass-through keystones. Some neat pigtails and a brush panel.

 

[Dairyfarmer]

yeah as far as i remmember the ez tapes are for home usage , and then there is another range of professional tapes.I recently brough the professional tapes for network cables but havent used it yet.

"Professional" as in home version + % mark-up for the word professional.

 

[TheMightyQuin]

You can often find them second hand. They should be in good nick. Remember to buy a punch down tool if you don't have one or you will waste your time.
View attachment 1140614
Example of prices on Gumtree
View attachment 1140616

We've stopped using these patch panels that you punch down in, a very long time ago TBH. They eventually degrade and some modules just stop functioning.

 

[Dairyfarmer]

With 20 cables a patch panel is definitely the way to go for proper management. Inside a small switch cabinet.

Get a 24-port Unpopulated patch panel with with RJ45 pass-through keystones. Some neat pigtails and a brush panel.

Also look out for small cabinets to house router, modem, nas.....

 

[Dairyfarmer]

We've stopped using these patch panels that you punch down in, a very long time ago TBH. They eventually degrade and some modules just stop functioning.

You youngsters and your shortcuts. In my day we ran, patched and tested 200 runs each by lunchtime. No fancy tool free do-hickies and double sided cable testers. Feed through RJ45 were a myth and we could strip cable to the exact length every time.

I still wake up some nights mumbling W/O O W/G Bl W/Bl G W/Br Br

 

[TheMightyQuin]

These patch panels are awesome and so easy to use.

 

[TheMightyQuin]

You youngsters and your shortcuts. In my day we ran, patched and tested 200 runs each by lunchtime. No fancy tool free do-hickies and double sided cable testers. Feed through RJ45 were a myth and we could strip cable to the exact length every time.

"youngsters" hehehe...OK. Started my IT company 21 years ago...grey and balding now already.

I stripped cables and crimped and punched down for hours and hours when I started my company. Fingertips so sore you couldn't touch anything.

Then we started working smarter not harder...

 

[Dairyfarmer]

These patch panels are awesome and so easy to use.

I don't like those panels. So much easier to punch down then put RJ45's on.

 

[Dairyfarmer]

"youngsters" hehehe...OK.

I cut my teeth on coaxial. Always had a pocket full of terminators and mouse balls. Still have some laying around.

 

[ubercal]

I cut my teeth on coaxial. Always had a pocket full of terminators and mouse balls. Still have some laying around.

same here , i recently crimped a coax cable for our cctv system , but now i just give it to the cctv guys to sort out .

 

[Saba'a]

You can often find them second hand. They should be in good nick. Remember to buy a punch down tool if you don't have one or you will waste your time.
View attachment 1140614
Example of prices on Gumtree
View attachment 1140616

Thanks got a punch down tool. Still unused

 

[Saba'a]

We've stopped using these patch panels that you punch down in, a very long time ago TBH. They eventually degrade and some modules just stop functioning.

So I should look for:

patch panel with "RJ45 pass-through keystones".

 

[Saba'a]

These patch panels are awesome and so easy to use.

View attachment 1140618

View attachment 1140620

Model numbers or description?

I'll start second hand, otherwise I'll try new.