Table Top, Built In LAN Jacks

[Kelemvor]

Howdy,

At work we have training classes going on all the time. We just have standard rectangular tables that get setup in the rooms. TO get LAN access, they have a bunch of Netgear, 8-port hubs, that they set on the tables and plug into the LAN jacks which are on the floor.

I want to come up with a way that we can basically have LAn jacks built into the tables so the hubs don't have to be sitting on top of the tables and the cables can be underneath, etc.

Preferably I'd like something that is mostly flush with the top of the table.

I know I can just buy a bunch of keystone jacks and stuff like these: http://www.lanshack.com/Keystone-Flush-Wallplate-P17C56.aspx

and then punch down the cables and such. Then I could just mount the hubs underneath the table, hardwire the hub jacks to the backside of the keystone jacks under the table, and then have the cable going back to the LAn jack run down the table leg or something.

I'm just looking for other ideas on how we could accomplish something lke this.

I'd either want to have 2 set of jacks,one at each end, or a line of jacks running down the center of the table. I don't think that makes much difference.

The goal is to do this as cheap as possible.

From LANShack.com, for each table, I'd need a 4-port panel, a 3 port panel, and 7 keystone jacks. That'd come to about $18. We have plenty of cabling and we already have hubs. Since they are 8 port hubs and 1 port has to go back to the LAn, that leaves 7 for use on the table...

Thanks for any other ideas.

 

[Juno]

if i were you i'd cut the hole in the middle of the table and insert the router there so you can have all cables connected to the middle of the table. 😀

 

[rudder]

spend a few bucks and go wireless you cheap $#&$#*&$#*

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: Juno
if i were you i'd cut the hole in the middle of the table and insert the router there so you can have all cables connected to the middle of the table

Well there's no way we can mount the actual router into the table because they aren't designed for that kidn of mounting and we'd have to Jerry-Rig something. But we can mount it under the table and put the jacks right next to it down the middle.

This is similar to the hubs/switches that we currently have a bunch of.
http://www.netgear.com/products/details/FS608.php

Originally posted by: rudder
spend a few bucks and go wireless you cheap $#&$#*&$#*

We already have wireless. But having 100+ people on one AP doesn't make for good connections. And since it's a corporate network, we can't just plop down wireless routers in each room.

 

[mzkhadir]

what about something like this ? http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=659114

 

[dabuddha]

What'd wrong with the way it is setup now?
If it ain't broke....

 

[blakeatwork]

If you're going to wire the tables, go with the keystone jacks, run the cable up jiffy poles to the ceiling, and run through the drop-ceiling (assuming drop-ceiling), to a closet or rack with all the gear on it...

Or go wireless..

 

[Kelemvor]

The way it's setup now, the hubs keep gettinb broken because they just sit on the tables and peopel knock them around and abuse them.

And the tables are mobile and get rearranged for each room so the cables have to run down to the floor. We already have tons of LAN jacks in the floor so this isn't a problem, it's just getting the jacks up onto the table in a way that looks nice (no ugly hub on the table) and that saves the hardware from abuse (no ugly hub on the table).