Patch panel for home network - yay or nay?

[feo]

Seems my last few threads just show how n00bish I am at home networks.

My home is gonna be wired with CAT6 very soon and I came across a few tutorials that talk about patch panels.

What exactly are they and would you recommend using one in a very simple home network.

 

[ElecEng]

Yay.
I have done so and the flexibility it introduces to your home setup is definitely worth it. They are only a few hundred rand. The main idea is that you don't plug and unplug fixed cables, instead use patch cables. You can however easily run other services and reconfiger your cables very easily with a patch panel. I.e. need a poe port, simply swap patch cables. Want a telephone line instead of Ethernet, swap a patch cable, etc.

 

[feo]

OK and in terms of how exactly it works?

Say I want to run ethernet through the walls from one central room in the house (i.e. where the phone line + router sit) to 3 other points in the house.

How exactly would the patch panel help? I'm just trying to visualise the setup.

 

[ElecEng]

You terminate all the cables run to the other rooms to the patch panel in the central room. Then patch leads from the patch panel to the router, switch, servers, phone line, etc.

 

[ElecEng]

Also if you are running in wall use keystone Jack's not just loose cables in the other rooms.
http://www.major-tech.com/veti/Website/ProductList.aspx?CategoryID=105

 

[feo]

Do you get patch panels that are wall mountable?

The central room is actually a bedroom so I need the patch panel work to "blend in" as much as possible.

 

[ElecEng]

They are usually rack mountable but that doesn't stop you from making a simple bracket. You do need to get behind it so maybe do the terminations and then wall mount it. You will also need a krone tool. http://www.scoopdistribution.co.za/product_info.php/krone-tool-p-580

 

[feo]

Also if you are running in wall use keystone Jack's not just loose cables in the other rooms.
http://www.major-tech.com/veti/Website/ProductList.aspx?CategoryID=105

Yup I already plan to have those wall plates in the rooms I'm running cable to.

It's just I'm struggling to figure out the best way to have the wires come in to the central room.

So do I have this right:

Wires will come down into the central room through a conduit in the wall. If I'm gonna be using a patch panel then I guess this room doesn't need a wall plate with the CAT6 keystone jack. right? The wires come out the conduit and then get 'patched' onto the back of the panel and then we have the corresponding wires go from the front of the panel to the router?

Any advantage over going straight to the router (i.e. not having a patch panel)?

 

[ElecEng]

Exactly. The advantages are flexibility and reduced wear and tear on the cables. Solid cables are not meant to be rerouted constantly. You use solid cables for long runs because they have better electrical characteristics and stranded cable for flexible fly leads.

 

[feo]

Solid and stranded cables?

i.e. twisted and untwisted?

 

[ElecEng]

No, solid and stranded refers to the conductor cores

 

[ElecEng]

All Ethernet cables are twisted. Utp is Unshielded Twisted Pair, not UnTwisted Pair

 

[feo]

No, solid and stranded refers to the conductor cores

So when I buy the ethernet cable, I gotta make sure I get solid cable?

What is a conductor core?

Sorry for all the questions, it's just easier to ask a human instead on wading through Google.

 

[grim]

So when I buy the ethernet cable, I gotta make sure I get solid cable?

What is a conductor core?

Sorry for all the questions, it's just easier to ask a human instead on wading through Google.

Here: http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/directron/leenetpic2.gif

 

[feo]

Here: http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/directron/leenetpic2.gif

I don't get it then.

How is a solid cable connected to a patch panel then when it's not multiple smaller cables?

 

[SauRoNZA]

In my opinion it's a bit silly for a home network.

Because it doesn't stop there.

To use a patch panel you need a mini rack to mount it to, then you also need a rack mountable switch to go with it. Unless you are running 16 points around your house this seems a bit silly.

Rather just run the three cables straight into the switch and be done with it.


If you want to make it a bit more neat and tidy just put RJ45 wall boxes on the ends of the cables in the room they come together.

 

[ponder]

So when I buy the ethernet cable, I gotta make sure I get solid cable?

What is a conductor core?

Yes. Between the patch panel and outlet jacks you use solid core cable.
The patch & fly leads use stranded core you crimp the rj-45 connectors onto.

The core refers to the copper in each individual wire within the cable, there are eight cores per cable.
Solid core just means that it's a single solid piece of copper whereas stranded the core is made up of several strands of thinner copper which provides for more flex and also works better when crimping rj-45 connectors onto them.

Stranded on the left and Solid on the right.

If you have built in cupboards that go up to the ceiling I suggest you hide everything inside the top of the cupboard.

 

[ponder]

I don't get it then.

How is a solid cable connected to a patch panel then when it's not multiple smaller cables?

Those multiple smaller cables are what contain your cores, there are eight of them. In solid core the inside is a single thick run of copper whereas the cores in stranded cables are maded up of a multitude of thinner copper strands kinda like you household flex electrical cable you would use for lamps and stuff.

 

[Drunkard #1]

Let's start from the top.

Patch panels are nice, and if you're running more than 6 points, they're essential (less than 6 points can be run to a wall box). I don't install them anymore, because almost everyone would rather have wireless. As ElecEng said, they're very versatile - you can use the cat 6 for Ethernet, phone, fax, intercom, or even HDMI - simply by routing the signal using patch cables, but most of those services aren't used any more by most households.

You don't get wall mount panels, but you've got a few options. From most, to least expensive: Crabtree Diamond Range had modular boxes for up to 18 ports; Scoop sells some nice panels that you can fit into a piece of appropriately sized ducting (if you're friendly with a laser cutting 'shop, or handy with a Dremel); You can mount it using some home-made brackets. Option two is best, but most difficult.

Cat 6 cable comes in two varieties, solid and stranded. Stranded is more flexible, more resilient, and is designed to mate properly with "RJ45" connectors. Solid offers better signal transmission (for long, fast, reliable runs), and is designed to mate with the IDC connectors at the back of your wall boxes and patch panel. Scoop sells both. A note on solid cables - some are not solid copper - they'll work, but don't have a good reputation.


Shuttered Clipsal wall box.


Patch panel with DIY brackets.


Patch panel in duct - open.


Patch panel in duct - as it would look installed.


6 Way Clipsal wall box.

 

[BigAl-sa]

Why not wireless?

I'd go wired to major data consumption devices and wireless for everything else.