I have written much about the individual phases of working with Ethernet cable, such as how to terminate a keystone jack or RJ45 8P8C connector. What has not been covered in much detail is the actual network layout and strategy employed, nor the equipment to actually make all the physical Ethernet cable useful. Quite simply, coming up with an example of an “all inclusive” local area network (LAN) is nearly impossible since each installation is different. There are some common denominators such as cabling, connections, and network gear but nearly all of them differ significantly. The reasons are multifold. Everything from the structure itself to what you are looking to do will dictate what you purchase and how you install it. That said, we will cover an advanced residential installation! In this blog we will go over:

This blog post provides a step-by-step guide on how to dress Ethernet cables into patch panels. The post covers the following topics: preparing the cables, marking the cables, cutting the cables, punching down the conductors, and bundling the cables. The post also includes a video that demonstrates the steps involved in dressing Ethernet cables into patch panels.

One of the most simple, yet vexing operations for newcomers to Ethernet installations, is the installation and removal of keystone jacks in wall plates and tool-less patch panels. Upside down insertions, hand injuries, and frustration abound. There is a way to insert and remove keystones effectively and safely, but very few professional installers have stopped long enough to explain the procedure. Let’s explain and simplify this process!

We often get asked questions from our customer through email, live chat, social media, and over the phone. We decided to take them all and throw them at Don and Dave, not literally, to see what they had to say! This time we picked one product in particular to quiz them about. Can you guess what it is? I will give you a hint! It starts with Keystone and end with Jack....you got it! Our trueCABLE Keystone Jacks! Stick around, you might be able to learn a thing or two!

Chances are, if an Ethernet installation involves more than one or two cable drops, it’s also going to involve the use of a patch panel. A patch panel provides a common termination point for all of the cables that will eventually connect to a common distribution device, such as a switch or router. An Ethernet patch panel consists of a method to permanently attach the solid copper cables that are part of the permanent infrastructure (horizontal cables) to outlet ports where flexible patch cords can be connected between the patch panel and a switch.