A patch cable or patch cord is an electrical or optical 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, and are relatively short, perhaps no longer than two meters. Types of patch cords include microphone cables, headphone extension cables, XLR connector, Tiny Telephone (TT) connector, RCA connector and " TRS 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. Patch cords can be as short as 3 inches (ca. 8 cm), to connect stacked components or route signals through a patch bay, or as long as twenty feet (ca. 6 m) or more in length for snake cables. As length increases, the cables are usually thicker and/or made with more shielding, 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. Patch cords may be:

single-conductor wires using, for example, banana connectors coaxial cables using, for example, BNC connectors Twisted pair Cat5, Cat5e, or Cat6 cables using 8P8C (RJ-45) modular connectors with T568A or T568B wiring Optical fiber 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 fiber) at the other. The nonconnectorized end ('the pigtail') is intended to be permanently attached to a component or terminal. [edit]Music

and sound recording

Patch panel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A remote broadcast trailer's jackfield

Diagram of an Ethernet network with a patch panel

A patch panel, patch bay, patch field or jack field is a number of circuits, usually of the same or similar type, which appear on jacks for monitoring, interconnecting, and testing circuits in a convenient, flexible manner.
Contents
[hide]

1 Uses and connectors 2 Normalization 3 Switches 4 See also 5 References

[edit]Uses

and connectors

In recording studios, television and radio broadcast studios, and concert sound reinforcement systems, patchbays are widely used to facilitate the connection of different devices, such as microphones, electric or electronic instruments, effects (e.g. compression, reverb, etc.), recording gear, amplifiers, or broadcasting equipment. Patchbays make it easier to connect different devices in different orders for different projects, because all of the changes can be made at the patchbay. As well, patchbays make it easier to troubleshoot problems such as ground loops; even small home studios and amateur project studios often use patchbays, because it groups all of the input jacks into one location. This means that devices mounted in racks or keyboard instruments can be connected without having to hunt around behind the rack or instrument with a flashlight for the right jack. Using a patchbay also saves wear and tear on the input jacks of studio gear and instruments, because all of the connections are made with the patchbay.
[edit]Normalization

It is conventional to have the top row of jacks wired at the rear to outputs and bottom row of jacks wired to inputs. Patch bays may be half-normal (usually bottom) or full-normal, "normal" indicating that the top and bottom jacks are connected internally. When a patch bay has half-normal wiring, then with no patch cord inserted into either jack, the top jack is internally linked to the bottom jack via break contacts on the bottom jack; inserting a patch cord into the top jack will take a feed off that jack while retaining the internal link between the two jacks; inserting a patch cord into the bottom jack will break the internal link and replace the signal feed from the top jack with the signal carried on the patch cord. If a patch bay is wired to full-normal, then it includes break contacts in both rows of jacks.

A patch bay for patching circuits tostage lighting instruments

[edit]Switches

Dedicated switching equipment can be an alternative to patch bays in some applications. Switchers can make routing as easy as pushing a button, and can provide other benefits over patch bays, including routing a signal to any number of destinations simultaneously. However, switching equipment that can emulate the capabilities of a given patch bay is much more expensive. For example, an S-Video matrix routing switcher with the same capability (88) as a 16-point S-Video patch panel (8 patch cables connects 8 inputs and 8 outputs) may cost ten times more, though it would probably have more capabilities, including audio-follow-video and built-in distribution amplifiers. There are various types of switches for audio and video, from simple selector switches to sophisticated production switchers. However, emulating or exceeding the capabilities of audio and/or video patch bays requires specialized devices like routing switches and crossbar switches. Like patch panels, switching equipment for nearly any type of signal is available, including analog and digital video and audio, as well as RF (cable TV), MIDI, telephone, networking, electrical, and just about anything else.

Switching equipment may be electronic, mechanical, or electro-mechanical. Some switcher hardware can be controlled via computer and/or other external devices. Some have automated and/or pre-programmed operational capabilities. There are also software switcher applications used to route signals and control data within a "pure digital" computer environment. Distribution frames are cheaper, but less convenient.

Ethernet crossover cable

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2011)

Gigabit T568B crossover cable ends

An Ethernet crossover cable is a type of Ethernet cable used to connect computing devices together directly. Normal straight through or patch cables were used to connect from a host network interface controller (a computer or similar device) to a network switch, hub or router. A cable with connections that "cross over" was used to connect two devices of the same type: two hosts or two switches to each other. Owing to the inclusion of Auto-MDIX capability, modern implementations of the Ethernet over twisted pair standards usually no longer require the use of crossover cables.
Contents
[hide]

1 Overview

2 Crossover cable pinouts 3 Automatic crossover 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit]Overview

8P8C modular crossover adapter

The 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Ethernet standards use one wire pair for transmission in each direction. By convention, one wire of the pair is designated "+" and the other "-". Following traditional telephone terminology, the + signal from each pair connects to the tip conductor, and the - signal is connected to the ring conductor. This requires that the transmit pair of each device be connected to the receive pair of the device on the other end. When a terminal device is connected to a switch or hub, this crossover is done internally in the switch or hub. A standard straight through cable is used for this purpose where each pin of the connector on one end is connected to the corresponding pin on the other connector. One network interface controller may be connected directly to another without the use of a switch or hub, but in that case the crossover must be done externally in the cable or modular crossover adapter in a manner similar to how the null modem was used to directly connect two teleprinters. Since 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX use pairs 2 and 3, these two pairs must be swapped in the cable. This is a crossover cable. A crossover cable was also used to connect two hubs or two switches on their upstream ports . Because the only difference between the T568A and T568B pin/pair assignments are that pairs 2 and 3 are swapped, a crossover cable may be envisioned as a cable with one modular connector following T568A and the other T568B (see Jack crossover wiring). Such a cable will work for 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX.Gigabit Ethernet (and an early Fast Ethernet variant, 100BASE-T4) use all four pairs and also requires the other two pairs (1 and 4) to be swapped. This meant common crossover cables available in the retail market were

usually not compatible with the Gigabit Ethernet convention, but newer crossover cables could be made that worked for all speeds. The polarity of each pair is not swapped, but the pairs crossed as a unit: the two wires within each pair are not crossed.[1][2]
[edit]Crossover

cable pinouts

Crossover cable connecting two MDI ports

In practice, it does not matter if non-crossover Ethernet cables are wired as T568A or T568B, just so long as both ends follow the same wiring format. Typical commercially available "pre-wired" cables can follow either format depending the manufacturer. What this means is that one manufacturer's cables are wired one way and another's the other way, yet both are correct and will work. In either case, T568A or T568B, a normal (uncrossed) cable will have both ends wired according to the layout in the Connection 1 column. Although the Gigabit crossover is defined in the Gigabit Ethernet standard[3], in practice all Gigabit PHYs feature an auto-MDIX capability and are designed for compatibility with the existing 100BASE-TX crossovers. The IEEE-specified Gigabit crossover is generally seen as unnecessary. Certain equipment or installations, including those in which phone and/or power are mixed with data in the same cable, may require that the "non-data" pairs 1 and 4 (pins 4, 5, 7 and 8) remain un-crossed.
Two pairs crossed, two pairs uncrossed 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX crossover

Connection 1: T568A Pi n

Connection 2: T568B

Pins on plug face

signal

pair

color

signal

pair

color

BI_DA+

white/green stripe

BI_DB+

white/orange stripe

BI_DA-

green solid

BI_DB-

orange solid

BI_DB+

white/orange stripe

BI_DA+

white/green stripe

blue solid

blue solid

white/blue stripe

white/blue stripe

BI_DB-

orange solid

BI_DA-

green solid

white/brown stripe

white/brown stripe

brown solid

brown solid

Gigabit T568A crossover All four pairs crossed 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 100BASE-T4 or 1000BASE-T crossover (shown as T568A)

Pin

Connection 1: T568A

Connection 2: T568A Crossed

Pins on plug face

signal pair

color

signal pair

color

1 BI_DA+

white/green stripe

BI_DB+

white/orange stripe

BI_DA-

green solid

BI_DB-

orange solid

3 BI_DB+

white/orange stripe

BI_DA+

white/green stripe

4 BI_DC+

blue solid

BI_DD+

white/brown stripe

BI_DC-

white/blue stripe

BI_DD-

brown solid

BI_DB-

orange solid

BI_DA-

green solid

7 BI_DD+

white/brown stripe

BI_DC+

blue solid

BI_DD-

brown solid

BI_DC-

white/blue stripe

Gigabit T568B crossover All four pairs crossed 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 100BASE-T4 or 1000BASE-T crossover (shown as T568B)

Pin

Connection 1: T568B

Connection 2: T568B Crossed

Pins on plug face

signal pair

color

signal pair

color

1 BI_DA+

white/orange stripe

BI_DB+

white/green stripe

BI_DA-

orange solid

BI_DB-

green solid

3 BI_DB+

white/green stripe

BI_DA+

white/orange stripe

4 BI_DC+

blue solid

BI_DD+

white/brown stripe

BI_DC-

white/blue stripe

BI_DD-

brown solid

BI_DB-

green solid

BI_DA-

orange solid

7 BI_DD+

white/brown stripe

BI_DC+

blue solid

BI_DD-

brown solid

BI_DC-

white/blue stripe

[edit]Automatic

crossover

Main article: Auto-MDIX Introduced in 1998, this made the distinction between uplink and normal ports and manual selector switches on older hubs and switches obsolete.[4] If one or both of two connected devices has the automatic MDI/MDI-X configuration feature there is no need for crossover cables.

Although Auto-MDIX was specified as an optional feature in the 1000BASE-T standard[3], in practice it is implemented widely on most interfaces. It has been available for example on Apple Inc.computers since about the Power Mac G5.[5] Besides the eventually agreed upon Automatic MDI/MDI-X, this feature may also be referred to by various vendor-specific terms including: Auto uplink and trade, Universal Cable Recognition and Auto Sensing.

What are Straight and Crossover cable

Common Ethernet network cable are straight and crossover cable. This Ethernet network cable is made of 4 pair high performance cable that consists twisted pair conductors that used for data transmission. Both end of cable is called RJ45 connector. The cable can be categorized as Cat 5, Cat 5e, Cat 6 UTP cable. Cat 5 UTP cable can support 10/100 Mbps Ethernet network, whereas Cat 5e and Cat 6 UTP cable can support Ethernet network running at 10/100/1000 Mbps. You might heard about Cat 3 UTP cable, it's not popular anymore since it can only support 10 Mbps Ethernet network. Straight and crossover cable can be Cat3, Cat 5, Cat 5e or Cat 6 UTP cable, the only difference is each type will have different wire arrangement in the cable for serving different purposes.

Straight Cable
You usually use straight cable to connect different type of devices. This type of cable will be used most of the time and can be used to: 1) Connect a 2) Connect a 3) Connect a 4) Connect a 5) Connect 2 normal port. computer to a switch/hub's normal port. computer to a cable/DSL modem's LAN port. router's WAN port to a cable/DSL modem's LAN port. router's LAN port to a switch/hub's uplink port. (normally used for expanding network) switches/hubs with one of the switch/hub using an uplink port and the other one using

If you need to check how straight cable looks like, it's easy. Both side (side A and side B) of cable have wire arrangement with same color. Check out different types of straight cable that are available in the market here.

Crossover Cable
Sometimes you will use crossover cable, it's usually used to connect same type of devices. A crossover cable can be used to: 1) Connect 2 computers directly. 2) Connect a router's LAN port to a switch/hub's normal port. (normally used for expanding network) 3) Connect 2 switches/hubs by using normal port in both switches/hubs. In you need to check how crossover cable looks like, both side (side A and side B) of cable have wire arrangement with following different color . Have a look on these crossover cables if you plan to buy one. You can also find more network cable choices and information from Comtrad Cables.

In case you need to make a crossover cable yourself! You can use thiscrimper to do it. Lastly, if you still not sure which type of cable to be used sometimes, try both cables and see which works. Note: If there is auto MDI/MDI-X feature support on the switch, hub, network card or other network devices, you don't have to use crossover cable in the situation which I mentioned above. This is because crossover function would be enabled automatically when it's needed. n telephony, a main distribution frame (MDF or main frame) is a signal distribution frame for connecting equipment (inside plant) to cables and subscriber carrier equipment (outside plant). The MDF is a termination point within the local telephone exchange where exchange equipment and terminations of local loops are connected by jumper wires at the MDF. All cable copper pairs supplying services through user telephone lines are terminated at the MDF and distributed through the MDF to equipment within the local exchange e.g. repeaters and DSLAM. Cables to intermediate distribution frames terminate at the MDF. Trunk cables may terminate on the same MDF or on a separate trunk main distribution frame (TMDF). Like other distribution frames the MDF provides flexibility in assigning facilities, at lower cost and higher capacity than a patch panel. The most common kind of large MDF is a long steel rack accessible from both sides. On one side, termination blocks are arranged horizontally at the front of rack shelves. Jumpers lie on the shelves and go through a steel hoop to run vertically to other termination blocks that are arranged vertically. There is a hoop or ring at the intersection of each level and each vertical. Installing a jumper requires two workers, one on each side. The shelves are shallow enough to allow the rings to be within arm's reach, but the workers prefer to hang the jumper on a hook on a pole so their partner can pull it through the ring. A fanning strip at the back of the termination block prevents the wires from covering each others' terminals. With disciplined administration the MDF can hold over a hundred thousand jumpers, changing dozens of them every day, for decades without tangling.

For the first half of the 20th Century, all MDF jumpers were soldered. This was reliable but slow and expensive. In the 1960s wire wrap was introduced, and in the 1970s punch blocks. Each jumper is a twisted pair. Middle 20th century jumper wires in the USA were 24 AWG single strand copper, with a soft polyethylene inner jacket and a cotton wrapper, impregnated to make it slightly brittle and easy to remove neatly. Late 20th century ones had a single, thicker coating of polyethylene cross-linked to provide the correct degree of brittleness. Some urban central office MDFs are two stories high so they don't have to be more than a city block long. A few are three stories. By British custom the cables to the outside world are terminated on the horizontal side, and the indoors equipment on the vertical side. American usage is the opposite. Smaller MDFs, and some modern large ones, are single sided so one worker can install, remove or change a jumper. COSMOS and other computerized Operations Support Systems help by assigning terminals close to one another, so most jumpers need not be long and shelves on either type of MDF do not become congested. This database keeps track of all terminals and jumpers. In the early and middle 20th century these records were kept as pencil entries in ledger books. The later database method saves much labor by permitting old jumpers to be reused for new lines. The adoption of distributed switching in the late 20th century diminished the need for large, active, central MDFs. The MDF usually holds central office protective devices including heat coils and functions as a test point between a line and the office. Sometimes the MDF is combined with other kinds of distribution frame in a CDF The MDF in a private branch exchange performs functions similar to those performed by the MDF in a central office. In order to automate the manual jumpering the Automated Main Distribution Frame (AMDF) becomes an important role. MDF: Main Distribution Frame In telecommunication, Main Distribution Frame (MDF) is a distribution frame on one part of which the external trunk cables entering a facility terminate, and on another part of which the internal user subscriber lines and trunk cabling to any intermediate distribution frames terminate. MDF is a cable rack that interconnects and manages the telecommunications wiring between itself and any number of IDFs (Intermediate distribution frame), which connects internal lines to the MDF. For example, an enterprise that encompasses a building with several floors may have one centralized MDF on the first floor and one IDF on each of the floors that is connected to the MDF.