A Guide To Patch Panels (2ww-31197)

We are all familiar with black and white films where the stars needed to be patched through to one another by an operator. Although this practice no longer continues the technology used at the telephone exchange has developed and has many uses for in the modern world. Also known as a jackfield or patch bay, patch panels are the modern incarnation of this technology.

Also See:
Advanced Techniques For Unclogging Print Heads - Some inkjet cartridge clogs are very difficult to clear. When you run onto one of these you will need the most powerful methods available. This article gives some of the methods used by printer techs to clear these clogs.

What are patch panels? A patch panel is a hardware unit, typically rack mounted, that contains a group of sockets in an electrical or communications system. They look like switchboards and connect incoming and outgoing lines in communications and electronic systems.

What do Patch Panels do? The patch panel allows circuits to be arranged and rearranged manually by plugging and unplugging the patch cords. Equipment can be inter-connected in various configurations. They provide a flexible way of routing restoration for a variety of circuit types. In a typical setup, the connection consists of a shorter cable plugged into the front side of the patch panel and a longer cable plugged into the back.

Also See:
Tips For Upgrading Your Computer's Memory - Before you go out and start buying new memory for your computer upgrade there are a few questions you will need answers to. What type of ram does your PC have, how much ram should you buy, and how much can your machine hold.

A history of patch panels The technology was first used in telephone exchanges where a room of operators were required to man the telephone switchboard. Patch panels are still used in today's telephone system but they no longer require manual input.

What can patch panels be used for? Patch bays are used at installations where it is necessary to connect and reconnect various hardware devices. They are used for data transfers, telephone transfers and in audio and video applications.

Also See:
Inkjet Cartridge Ink-fills - A look into why businesses should correctly use inkjet refills and save money.

Where are patch panels used? They are used at technical control facilities, patch and test facilities, telephone exchanges, broadcast studios, recording studios, Audio and video production studios, Communications networks and Computer networks. Local Area Networks (LANs) incorporate patch panels by using them to connect the computers of a network to one another and to the internet.

Pros * Cheaper than alternative switching equipment. * Transmit signals from one cable to another without any loss of signal or data * Enable user to change and interchange the individual cables on the front. * Most patch panels have redundant power supplies attached to ensure that power failures do not result in data transfer failures. * Can be routed to different destinations, including processing equipment, testing stations, etc. If a piece of equipment fails, patches can be re-routed to by-pass it. This gives the operation a great deal of flexibility to adapt to new situations or problems. * Wireless patch panels are also available that provide the cross connections by flipping a switch rather than plugging in wires.

Also See:
How to Speed up Computer - 6 Ways to Improve Computer Performance - 6 ways to speed up a computer and improve computer performance. Contains step-by-step instructions for setting computers to work at optimal speed.

Cons * Can be more expensive. * Can increase the amount of cable required. This can make increase hum and noise rejections. Alternatives: Dedicated switching equipment can be an alternative to patch bays in some applications. Switchers can make signal routing as easy as pushing a button, and can provide other benefits over patch bays, including routing a signal to any number of destinations simultaneously. However, switching equipment that can emulate the capabilities of a patch panel is much more expensive.

How much do patch panels cost: Patch panels come in a wide variety of sizes and specifications A 24 Way Value Cat5e UTP Patch Panel 1u may cost 25.85 whilst a 48 Way Krone Cat5e High Density Shielded PCB Patch Panel retails at around 445.91.

About the author: Shaun Parker has been at the forefront of the Networking Industry, specifically Patch Panels for several years. For more information visit Comms Express.