Passive equipment differs from active equipment primarily in that it is not powered directly from the mains and transmits the signal without amplification. Passive network equipment is divided into two groups. The first group includes equipment that is a route for the cables: brackets, cable channels and accessories for them, metal trays, embedded pipes, clips, corrugated hoses and patch cabinets. The second group includes equipment that serves as a data path. This includes outlets, cables and patch panels.
Patch panels provide connections between ports of active equipment and cables. Two types of cables are commonly used: shielded and unshielded twisted pair (STP and UTP). Depending on the type of network, telephone or computer outlets may be used.
Metal trays, cable channels, brackets and corrugated hoses are usually used for cable routing and protection, and clips are used to attach corrugated hoses. Accessories for cable channels are used for aesthetic reasons. They include: inner and outer corners, plugs, T-shaped branches and connecting bracket. In the case where you want to pull a bundle of cables used ties.
Cable
A structured cabling system begins with a cable. It is its basic and longest part. Two basic types of data cables are used in SCS: copper and fiber optic. The first type includes coaxial cable used in telecommunications, telephone cable, and the most common network cable – twisted pair (UTP). The second is fiber optic, the most advanced medium for transmitting information today.
Cable trays
Plastic (PVC) and metal trays and boxes protect data cable from damage, kinks, aggressive influence of the environment and access of strangers. On trunk lines and technical facilities are mainly used metal trays (galvanized, non-galvanized or stainless steel.), due to their high capacity.
Cable channels .
Inside the premises, where cable must be led to the end user, are used smaller plastic cable channels (boxes). Aesthetically, they are more attractive and fit well into the interior. Design and color can be chosen according to taste, from standard glossy white to any modern colors and textures.
Socket
The socket outlet is the end point to which the cable duct or cable concealed behind the wall leads. The socket is built into the wall and securely holds the cables that are connected to it. The standard RJ 45 (8P8C) computer jack and RJ 11 or RJ 12 for the telephone jack. The main function of the socket is to organize data cables in the room and provide a reliable connection of the patch cord.
Patch Cord
A patch cord is a patch cable that connects the end user to the network, or that is used to connect active network equipment. The type of patch cord corresponds to the type of cable used: twisted pair, telephone or optical. Requirements for the quality of its manufacture are very high. In order to crimp even a relatively simple twisted pair patch cord, you need a professional tool for cable stripping and crimping connectors. Optical patch cords are much more complicated. Therefore, it is better to use prefabricated factory patch cords. They are much stronger, tolerate more switching cycles, for which they are equipped with special “shanks”. “Tails” allow you to pull the patch cord out of the connector without the risk of pulling the cable itself out of the connector, or breaking any contact (as can happen with homemade counterparts). You can read more about why a factory patch cord is better than a homemade one here.
Connector
The connectors found at the ends of a patch cord are called connectors. The RJ 45 connector, a twisted pair (UTP) standard, is crimped according to a color chart (sometimes called a “pinout”). For its connection, a direct crimping scheme is mostly used, less often a reverse crimping scheme. Standard optical connectors include the following types: ST, SC, LC, FC and FDDI. They are mounted on the ends of an optical cable by chemical welding or mechanical fixation. To connect a thin coaxial cable, mainly VNC connectors are used. They are either soldered or crimped onto the end of the cable. The main types of coaxial connectors are: the T-connector, which connects the network cable to the network board; the barrel connector, which is used to splice two sections of cable; and the terminator (stub), which is installed at the ends of the cable.
Patch Panel
A patch panel is an essential element of SCS, streamlining it and facilitating its maintenance. Patch panels connect all cables from workstations, which are then connected to the ports of active network equipment. Patch cords are used for switching. A patch panel allows you to easily change specific cables without disturbing the lines that are next to them. Simply switch one or more patch cords on the panel. Standard patch panel has 12 or multiple of 12 connectors (ports) and is mounted in a 19-inch rack, but there are also wall-mounted panels.
Crimping tool
You can’t do professional crimping without professional tools. These include a knife for stripping the twisted pair (UTP) jacket, pliers for crimping connectors (crimper), and a tester – testing equipment that checks the twisted pair for proper functionality, or determines the cause of failure. Reliably crimped twisted pair cabling results in a loss-free connection, which has a positive effect on the operability of the entire system.