Patch Panel
A patch panel is a panel that houses multiple cable connections. It is also known as a jackfield or patch bay. The back of the panel has wiring or other connective cabling that runs to disparate equipment. The front of the patch panel allows easy access to connect the different equipment with the use of short patch cables.
Before automatic telephone switching became widespread, huge arrays of patch panels were used, in which early telephone operators would connect callers to their intended parties manually by plugging in a cable on the switchboard.
Applications
Patch panels are used in a variety of fields and applications. Some of the key applications of patch panels are listed below:
- Telephone and cable companies build patch panel cabinets at strategic points in their coverage areas. This allows their roaming technicians to make a quick change at the cabinet to deploy or disconnect service to homes.
- Auditoriums and stage theaters use patch panels connecting the various audio-visual components to aid with performances and presentations.
- Radio stations, recording studios, television broadcast studios, and other media-heavy services require extensive abilities to connect and route data and media to different devices as a part of their productions.
- Local Area Networks (LANs) and larger networks such as the global Internet make extensive use of patch panels.
Alternatives to Patch Panels
The patch panel implies a connection of a transitory nature, where the connection can be easily redirected or completely disconnected. There are other connection matrices of a more permanent nature, such as the breakout box, punch box, distribution frame, and termination panel. While they perform very similar functions, these interfaces are usually of a more permanent nature because they involve direct wiring to terminals instead of plugs and removable cabling.
|
|
- Patch Cables
Patch cables act as a patch, making an electrical or optical connection between different devices. There are many different types of patch cables, and they are usually quite short, anywhere from a few inches to several feet in length. Although they can be called patch cables, they each perform a specific function based on how [...]...
- Cat 5
Cat 5, short for Category 5, is the current accepted industry standard for network and telephone wiring. Cat 5 is an unshielded twisted pair type cable exclusively designed for high signal integrity. The cable consists of four pairs of 24-guage twisted copper pairs terminating in an RJ-45 jack. If a wire is certified as Category [...]...
- Ethernet Fiber Media Converter
An Ethernet fiber media converter is a device that allows a connection to be made between an Ethernet and a fiber optic cable. This type of connection is important in situations where both cable types are used in a single household or office. Because telephone companies often use fiber optic cables to deliver telephone and [...]...
- RF Connectors
RF connectors, also known as a radio frequency connectors, include a number of different types of connectors constructed to work with a wide range of multi-megahertz applications. RF connectors provide a quick and easy way to connect coaxial cables to each other and to other devices. There is a range of capability among the different [...]...
- Cable Ties
A cable tie, also commonly called a zip tie, is a length of strong Nylon lined with a gear rack. On one end of the tie is a small square case through which you can feed the other end of the tie. The teeth on the tie are arranged in a saw-tooth pattern, and the [...]...