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Patch Panel question.. Network gurus come halp pls

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Im thinking of getting a POE switch because i will be getting a POE device. ( Patch panel will be a passthrough )

Im also thinking of adding a patch panel. From the switch to the patch panel im planning on using cat6 or cat6a, but the existing wiring to the rooms(to devices ) are using cat5e.

My question is can i use cat6 from the switch to the panel and from the panel to the device cat5e ? Will POE work and will there be any issues ?

Ideally i would prefer to wire everything with cat6a... but current circumstances would not allow me to..
 

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I'd really like to help with this one but in truth I'd not be 100% sure. I'd like to hope that there'd be no issues with the POE but then I'm not sure if you could mix the 5e and 6 or 6a together. I think there are differences between the cable but I'm unsure if those differences would stop it from functioning properly? I'll have a chat with our networking expert at work, I'm sure he'd know :D
 
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iirc, you will only have the limitation of the cat5. IF you can live with that, dont sweat it. most people dont notice.
 

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My question is can i use cat6 from the switch to the panel and from the panel to the device cat5e ?

Yes, there is nothing wrong with doing that and it won't cause any problems.

Will POE work and will there be any issues ?

Yes, POE will work just fine doing this. The only limitation will be 10Gb might not work depending on the length of the Cat5e run.
 
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iirc, you will only have the limitation of the cat5
He will be using CAT5e, not CAT5. There is a BIG difference and so despite their similar names, they should not be confused. CAT5 has a theoretical top speed of only 100Mbps while CAT5e theoretically can go all the way up to 1Gbps (1000Mbps).

I agree with newtekie1 - AS LONG AS all your cable terminations are done properly and are not damaged.

I recommend you make your own cables. Factory made cables are expensive but typically receive little or even no quality checks before leaving the factory. I have seen way too many that were defective right out of the packaging. :(

Just make sure you "invest" in a quality crimper, good connectors and get a cable tester too. I spent nearly $90 on a quality $45 crimper because the first two crimpers I bought ended up being junk. A cheap crimper will result in frequent poor quality crimps that waste connectors, cable and time. :( So investing in quality tools pays back good dividends in the long run.

Be ready to sacrifice a few connectors in the beginning by practicing on a few test cables.

There are several advantages to making your own cables. You can drill smaller holes through barriers (studs, joists, walls, floors and ceilings). The cable is easier to pull through those barriers. And if you need a 38 inch cable and a 17 foot cable, you can make them instead of having to buy a 6 foot and a 25 foot cable. I have a 13" cable connecting my modem to my router. That's much nicer than leaving nearly 5 feet of cable back there to collect dust in a rat's nest.

Fortunately, you don't have to spend a fortune on a cable tester. But do get one unless you have lots of free time on your hands, are already bald, already have high blood pressure and are not worried about strokes or punching holes in the wall!
 
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Thanks for the input while i think in theory it will work fine the only way to know (poe) is to actually test it out. Will update this thread with my testing results in the future.

Just make sure you "invest" in a quality crimper, good connectors and get a cable tester too. I spent nearly $90 on a quality $45 crimper because the first two crimpers I bought ended up being junk. A cheap crimper will result in frequent poor quality crimps that waste connectors, cable and time. :( So investing in quality tools pays back good dividends in the long run.
I have my own crimp and cable testers. I won't call my self an expert as im still getting used to it, however i find it difficult arranging the cable colors in order while pushing it into the rj45 head, do you any easy way to do it because once i arrange the twisted correctly and push it in it will start to "move over" thus making the arrangement incorrect.

Thank you everyone for your input
 
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however i find it difficult arranging the cable colors in order while pushing it into the rj45 head, do you any easy way to do it because once i arrange the twisted correctly and push it in it will start to "move over" thus making the arrangement incorrect.
That's where practice, practice, practice comes in. And good lighting.

I now also use 2 piece RJ-45 connectors that come with loader bars. See this little video:

You might also check out pass through connectors.
 

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Thanks for the input while i think in theory it will work fine the only way to know (poe) is to actually test it out.

I mean, it does work fine. Maybe you are just talking about your specific setup? I've ran POE through patch panels numerous times and currently do at my house. I power two cameras, two APs and a phone they are all terminated via my patch panel.

If I CAN give you a tip, I would 100% always make the POE cables different colors IE: Orange/Red from POE injector/switch to patch panel. THEN/OR Orange/Red cable TO the jack.

At that point I use something like this to differentiate the socket.

1601313618263.png
 
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If I CAN give you a tip
I second this tip. I use different color cables all the time. When crawling under a desk and you have a blue Ethernet cable from your computer to the router, a red cable between the router and the modem, and a yellow running from the router to a switch, following the cable to the switch is a lot easier when it is the only yellow than it would be if all the cables were gray. Labeling cables is great, but color coding them makes cable tracing even better.

Sadly, there is no industry standard for this - maybe some day. But it is not uncommon for companies, institutions and organizations to come up with their own standards for their in-house networks.
 
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