On Tuesday 22 October 2013 18:41 polygonum wrote in uk.d-i-y:

At work we have our network kit mounted on the wall. The idea is that we
can show people exactly what kit we have - two modems, a Meraki device
for load balancing, etc.

Part of the concept was that we would be able to "see" the data flowing
by using cables that flash. (Especially useful when one of the lines is
borked.) Unfortunately, now it comes to implementation, it is head
scratching time. Is there such a thing as network cable that flashes? Or
is that a mis-remembered thing which was actually USB or one of the
other types of flashing cable that are available?


You could string a bit of neon "string" down the cable under a clear sleeve.

http://www.neonstring.com/

However you would have to knock up a circuit that could control that.

Unless you have access to engineers that could design a pickup that will a)
work and b) not bork the signal, you would probably be better off making a
little opto-detector that could be mounted over the port LED on the swictch
that the cable is plugged into - then put a driver between that and the
string.

Also, neon string is probably quite a source of EM noise - it may not matter
but it is worth bearing in mind.

Clear sheathed Cat5e with a bloody bright blue LED taped to the end(s) could
be another method if you can find clear Cat5e.

It would all be very Heath Robinson - but it would certainly be cool so I
for one am not going to disuade you!


--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://squiddy.blog.dionic.net/

http://www.sensorly.com/ Crowd mapping of 2G/3G/4G mobile signal coverage