Searching for a cat 5e patch panel

[mrEvil]

Couple of quick questions here, as I am getting close to finishing my cable runs and need a little advice.

Need a 8-16 port patch panel and I need a little advice on what to get. This is for a home network, so I do not need top of the line stuff, but something that will last and get the job done.

If anyone even has suggestions on places online to purchase one, that would be a bonus. Bonus if they have a panel that will also do video. Got my signal amplifier, but hate the splitter that the cheap electrician left. Actually, I hate the cheap electrician period, but that's another story.

Thanks in advance!

 

[WhiteKnight]

I don't know about a video panel but I got my patch panel for a pretty good price (which I can't recall right now) at Page Computer.

 

[ScottMac]

Thre are a couple ways to go.

First, panels tend to come in 6-12 port increments. So, after 12 ports, 24 is what you're most likely to find. The extra ports can still be put to use, even though you have no "runs" to connect up: You can cross-connect two adjacent ports for crossover (exchange the orange and green pair - for GigE crossover, also exchange the brown and blue pair).

This way, if you need a PC-to-PC connection, or a switch-to-switch connection, you can pass it through the crossover ports on the panel instead of buying (or making) a crossover.

There are a number of coax panels, again, they tend to come in 12 port increments. If you want to shop some, check out www.anixter.com and browse the catalog.

There are some "multimedia" panels, they are basically a panel face with a bunch of square holes: you then buy the combination of inserts you need for the media you have. The problem I have with multimedia panels is that the inserts don't take much abuse before they snap out (especially with the stiffer coax cabling).

It's less of a problem if yoy tie down the back-end tails (going to the jack field), but they are not made for a lot of action ... after a few connect / disconnect cycles, they start to loosen and / or break out of the hole.

Multimedia panels also tend to be more expensive than just buying a UTP panel and a coax panel ... even with the extra port count.

FWIW

Scott