Phil Addison wrote:

One does not usually make a patch panel a source (unless using it to say
split a phone line into two). Typically the source will be the PABX or
Ethernet Switch, or broadband router etc. The proper rack mounting
versions of these usually present RJ45/RJ11 sockets to the front to make
patching to the panel simpler.

I'm probably reading too much into the term 'patch'. To me it indicates
connecting sources to destinations via patch leads, as in the original
telephone exchange where someone making a call is connected to the
receiver (although in this case the sender and receiver will sometimes
be reversed). In your photo all the patch-panel sockets appear to be

In most cases there is no sender or receiver - both PABX and ethernet
are fully bidirectional with connection equally likely to be initiated
at each end.

destinations, the actual patching being done between the 'patch-panel'
itself and the other equipment. In effect the 'patch-panel' is only
being used as a termination panel. Nothing wrong with that, but could do
with clarifying for newbies to the subject, like me ).

Yup I see what you mean, and you are correct in the sense that each
socket is like a connection to a "subscriber".


If I'm on the right track then, in your photo the grey cables are phone
line 'patch cords' linking your phones to the PABX at the bottom, and
the blue ones are short catx 'patch cables' linking the central network
switch to various remote computers or other network devices.
Yup. Some PABX systems may use RJ45 sockets - which means ordinary
ethernet patch cables can be used for everything. The one pictured uses
RJ11. So I simply bought a number of long RJ11 to RJ11 cables and cut
them in three - adding extra connectors to make up some shorter phone
patch leads.

Then they are RJ11 to RJ45 patch leads now?

No, RJ11 to RJ11. You can take advantage of the fact that the smaller
versions of the RJ45 (more correctly 8P8C (eight pole, eight contact)[1]
such as the RJ11, will plug into sockets with more ways and still
perform correctly.

You can even plug a RJ10 (4P4C) as found on a telephone handset, into
the 6 and 8 way sockets.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8P8C

All this, or the real answer, must be obvious to those that have done
it, but I just spent 1/2 hour googling and nowhere, even
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_panel, could I find what wiring lies
behind the front of a patch panel!
Well its a bit dull, but have a look near the end in the wiring up section:

http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?...anelWiring.jpg

That is the group of krone type punch down connections for sub section
of six sockets. The terminal positions are colour coded for 568A and B
wiring schemes (somewhere on the back it tells you which is which in
small print!) (I have used 568B wiring there)

So the wires come into the back of the cabinet, and get terminated one
to a socket as shown here.

I can't reconcile that
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?...anelWiring.jpg
photo with this
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?...PatchPanel.jpg one
because the spacing between the RJ45s in the 1st is much less than the
punch-down blocks in the 2nd. Why 2 rows in the second pic, or are we
seeing the rears of two patch panels? I suppose there must be a catx
wire connecting each terminator block on the rear of a patch-panel to
its corresponding RJ45 on the front?

I could do with another photo I think that shows you the patch panel
from the top. Yes the second photo is the back of the patch panel.

If you could "look through" from front to back you would see each socket
is tracked to a krone strip, and they alternate side to side to make
space for the strip of 8 punch down terminals which is wide than the
physical 8 way connector:

1 3 5
###### ###### ###### - krone strips on the back - odd numbers
_______________________
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | - sockets on front

###### ###### ###### - krone strips on the back - even numbers
2 4 6

What other explanations / photos do you think would make it a bit clearer?

Ideally a photo of a patch panel from above showing the complete route
through from a patch (or other input) lead at the front to a loom lead
at the back, plus the bit above explainning that patching does not have
to, or doesn't usually, happen on the patch-panel itself .

ok, will see what I can do.

Thanks for the additional clarification, of an already excellent article
- its taken me from "what thef' is structured cabling all about?" to "I
think I've got it"!!

Now all we need do is get to the "where can a buy one" and the job is done!

;-)


--
Cheers,

John.

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