Patching Network Cables

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Apatch cable, patch cord or patch lead is an electrical or fiber-optic cable used to connect ("patch in") one electronic or optical device to another for signal routing. Devices of different types (e.g., a switch connected to a computer, or a switch to a router) are connected with patch cords.

Patch cords are usually produced in many different colors so as to be easily distinguishable from each other. Types of patch cords include microphone cables, fiber optic spectroscopy cables, headphone extension cables, XLR connector, Tiny Telephone (TT) connector, RCA connector and " TRS phone connector cables (as well as modular Ethernet cables), and thicker, hose-like cords (snake cable) used to carry video or amplified signals. However, patch cords typically refer only to short cords used with patch panels.

The term "patch" came from early use in telephony and radio studios, where extra equipment kept on standby could be temporarily substituted for failed devices.[citation needed] This reconnection was done via patch cords and patch panels, like the jack fields of cord-type telephone switchboards. Furthermore, patching could also create temporary atypical connections between devices for unusual needs. Analog music synthesizers typically use patch cables to interconnect functional sections, such as oscillators, filters, etc.

A patch cord cable differs from a standard structured cabling in that a patch cable is stranded for flexibility, whereas a standard cable is solid copper. Because the patch cord is stranded copper construction the attenuation (signal loss) is higher on patch cords than solid cable so short lengths should be adhered to.[1]

They can be as short as 3 inches (76 mm), to connect stacked components or route signals through a patch panel, or between 6 and 50 metres (20 and 164 ft) for snake cables. As length increases, the cables are thicker or more shielded, or both, to prevent signal loss (attenuation) and the introduction of unwanted radio frequencies and hum (electromagnetic interference).

Patch cords are often made of coaxial cables, with the signal carried through a shielded core, and the electrical ground or earthed return connection carried through a wire mesh surrounding the core. Each end of the cable is attached to a connector so that the cord may be plugged in. Connector types may vary widely, particularly with adapting cables.

A patch cord is always fitted with connectors at both ends. A pigtail is similar to a patch cord and is the informal name given to a cable fitted with a connector at one end and bare wires (or bare fibre) at the other. In the context of copper cabling, these cables are sometimes referred to as blunt patch cords and the non-connectorized end ("the pigtail") is intended to be permanently attached to a component or terminal. Optical fiber pigtails, in contrast to copper pigtails, can be more accurately described as a connector than a cable or cord. A fiber pigtail is a single, short, usually tight-buffered, optical fiber that has an optical connector pre-installed on one end and a length of exposed fiber at the other end. The end of the fiber pigtail is stripped and fusion spliced to a single fiber of a multi-fiber trunk. Splicing of pigtails to each fiber in the trunk "breaks out" the multi-fiber cable into its component fibers for connection to the end equipment.[2]

A variety of cables are used to carry electrical signals in sound recording studios and with electronic or electrical musical instruments. Microphones are typically connected to mixing boards or PA systems with XLR microphone cables which use three-pin XLR connectors. A huge range of electric or electronic instruments use 1/4 inch mono patch cords to connect the instrument to the amplifier, such as the electric guitar, bass guitar, synthesizer, electric piano, or electronic drum machine. Musicians playing electric or electronic instruments often use longer cables (from 10 to 20 feet) between their instrument and their amplifier, and then use shorter patch cords (from a few inches to one or two feet long) to connect chains of effects devices, "stomp box" pedals, or other signal processors.

DJs using record players connect their turntables to mixers or PA systems with stereo RCA connectors. DJs sometimes have to use equipment with multiple cable types, which can create connection difficulties; for example, the DJ's record players and DJ mixers all use RCA connectors, but if they use a drum machine or a bass synthesizer, it may have a 1/4 inch mono connector. To resolve this problem, DJs can either use adapters or special cables (e.g., RCA to 1/4 inch mono). Heavier-gauge cables are used for carrying amplified signals from amplifiers to speakers (both in a PA system and with instrument amplifiers). " TRS phone connector cables can carry stereo signals, so they are used for stereo headphones and for some patching purposes (e.g., inserting an effect into an insert connection in a mixer).

Music venues, concert halls, and recording studios also use a thicker, hose-like cord called a snake cable (or a "snake"), which consists of a bundle of many individual cables with patch panels at either end so that audio gear can be connected. The patch panel is a flat panel of audio connectors where XLR cables (often both "male" and "female") and 1/4 inch jacks can be plugged in. The "snake" cable makes setup more convenient, because if a sound engineer did not have a "snake", she or he would have to run 20 or 30 individual microphone and instrument cables from the stage to the mixing booth. The cables could get tangled or mixed up, and it would be hard to know, when faced with 20 connectors at the end of the cable run, which cable was associated with which microphone or instrument. The patch panel is numbered, so that the engineer can note which microphone or instrument is plugged into each numbered connection.

In today's connected world, Ethernet cables act as the lifelines of any robust networking setup. Whether you're setting up a home network or configuring a complicated data center, the quality and type of cable you use can have a significant impact on performance, reliability, and ease of installation. C2G offers a range of ethernet/network cables (Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6a) that are designed to meet the diverse networking needs of businesses and individuals alike.

A device used to join electrical conductors and create an electrical circuit. Select the first desired connector on the one end of a cable, then a list of Connector 2 will appear to select the second connector on the other end.

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I recently need to fix damaged end of the Ethernet cable (CAT5). This is due to wear and tear, but this cable use to work with no problem out of the box. So, I bought the necessary tools like crimper and male jacks. Then, I watched videos after videos on How to do this. Then, I tried to match the wiring setup used on other end of the cable. I connected the cable no lights came on (orange or green blinking light at the Ethernet port). After that, I decided to follow the wiring T586-A as follows below.

At this point, orange and green light came on; Green light blinked away as if it was communicating, but when I looked at my system it reported that it has NO INTERNET CONNECTION but it kept trying to connect with no success. So, I thought maybe I need to use T-586B wiring diagram and I redid the connection again using T586B. When I plugged it in the socket, once again orange light came on and the green light started to blink away as if there was Internet Connection, but the computer system said NO INTERNET CONNECTION. I was bit confused. I tried the cable on another system. Again, that computer reported NO Internet Connection. However, as soon as I plugged the store bought cat5 cable. It works within few seconds and the computer has Internet connection. So, again I thought I made a mistake in my wiring and try to follow this working CABLE wiring setup. Sadly, this too didn't work, even though ethernet port lights came on.

However in my opinion, just as important (if not more so) is a quality crimping tool AND RJ45 plugs. Cheap ones will often result in bad cables. You dont have to get top of the line, but dont go for the cheapest either.

Believe me, when you have made as many cables as I have that didnt work and someone gives you their quality crimping tool and plugs to use, your mind will be blown at how much easier and faster it is. Not to mention you will make far, far fewer bad cables.

With post-2000 consumer-grade hardware it doesn't really matter which scheme you use, because network devices will detect if you're using incorrect wiring scheme and "cross" the cable internally. Both writing schemes will work. Also, it doesn't matter of you use A or B - what matters is if both ends are done using the same scheme (technically cables using the same and different wiring schemes both have their specific use cases, and with professional-grade hardware it would matter).

That brings us to the probable issue: the other end may not follow neither the A or B scheme. In that case you would have to either wire the other end using the same non-standard scheme, or - and that's the better and easier way - make both ends follow the standard. Using non-standard schemes will only lead to confusion and more wasted time down the line.

It's also possible that one (or more) of the 8 wires is broken. You could check for continuity with a multimeter or some creative battery + LED set. Such cable could be wired for 100 Mbps Ethernet if you could find 2 working pairs (and by "pair" I mean two wires of the same color, one striped).

Manage your cable with ease. Learn how we do it.Low-voltage tools and accessories should keep your networking installations clean and organized. trueCABLE has a variety of high quality cable management tools, accessories and informative blogs for all your installation needs.Check out our Cable Academy.

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