Coax Panels & Outside Runs

Terminating the coax patch panels was easy in comparison to the data and phone panels because I didn't need to have the coaxes grouped in any particular way. The main issue here was dealing with the stiffness of four to six RG 6 coaxes when it came time to screw the plate down to the outlet box. I found that having plenty of slack in the coax cables was a big help and that I was glad that I had used releasable cable ties! Figures 9 and 10 show the coax panels before and after termination.

Figure 9: Modified boxes mounted (click image to enlarge)

Figure 10: Finished Coax patch panel

With the inside work done, it was time to get my outside connections done. My electrician had also installed three CAT5e and four RG 6 runs between the patch panel drop area inside and the outside wall that had been designated for the telco demarc box and entry point for my satellite dish cables. I actually had only wanted two CAT5e cables, but figured the extra run the electrician installed by mistake would come in handy at some point.

I came out to the house one day and found that the local telco had installed service. I had intended to do the connection to the demarc box myself, but found that the installer had connected up all three CAT5e cables he found lying on the ground! No harm done here, since the cables hadn't been connected inside, so I just left them all connected. At least this way, the ends were out of the weather and out of harm's way of the lawn mower and curious pets.