Connecting an IDF

[grundy]

We are looking at doing an IP office setup. We are adding on and going to be cabling another part of the building to an IDF. What's the best way to connect say 2 Digital station 30's in the IDF to the 412 in the MDF?

What's the maxmium distance the Digital station 30's can be from the 412?

 

[jml2665]

Avaya says, Expansion modules, except the WAN3 module, connect to expansion ports on the rear of the control unit, using a 1 meter (3'3'') cable supplied with the expansion module. No other cable should be used.

In other words, only use the supplied cable, so you will have to bring your stations back to the same location of your 412, using feeder cable to the IDF if you have to

 

[grundy]

How would you do that if we have all our phones terminated on 5e 24 port patch panels?

Thanks!

 

[phantomiii]

looks like you'll need to run some house cable to your IDF room. You can't extend the DS exp modules beyond spec.

 

[socalsteve]

take the station cables off of the patch panel in the IDF, put them on a 110 block. run a feed cable from the IDF to the MDF (ip office location) and put that end of the feed cable on a patch panel 1 pair per port (blue pair on the patch panel). at the IDF put the feed cable on a 110 block next to the station cabling 110 block. cross connect the blue pairs of the station cables to the feed pairs.

 

[grundy]

couldn't i just put the feed cable to a patch panel and then patch the two together? yeah patch panels are way more money, but we would like to have everything on a rack

 

[phantomiii]

yep you could that too, but they make rack mount 110 hardware block and it gives you easy access to all 4-pairs of your IDF cabling. (Ya know, in case you need a jack to suddenly become 2 phones, or need to add an analog device like fax's etc...) It would require some work to re-punch down from the old patch panel, but gives you more flexiblity for moves, adds, and changes in the future.

 

[crystalfusion]

I like the idea of going patch panel to patch in case you want to put a data/network on a port at some point. It is more expensive, but more flexible I think.

 

[mforrence]

If the frame is going to be managed by someone with a punch tool, a 110 frame is WAY more flexible than patch panel. Easy access to all of the cable pairs, much smaller space requirements, easily supports current or future data (110 to modular patch cord), costs way less. What's not to like? Maybe not the best for smaller business where patch is just easier for an end user...
Mike

 

[TouchToneTommy]

We will just mount a 48 (or more) port patch panel on the rack with the IPO, connect to a matching 48 on the IDF rack, using 50 pair cable, one pair per port on the Wht/Blu.

Use short patch cables to patch each station port to the 1st patch panel, and appropiate patch cords at the IDF to the station cables.

 

[crystalfusion]

If your only running a 50 pair, then I would go with the 110. Doesn't make sense to make it so big, bulky, and expensive. After the initial setup, you can forget about it.

If usage might include data, and length of cable isn't going to be an issue, and your running full CAT5 (4pair) then I would go with patch panel to panel. If not, then 110 block.

 

[TouchToneTommy]

OK, you go 110 - what kind of home made cables do you use to get from the modular station on the IPO to the 110 block, and from the 110 at the IDF to get to the patch panel ports?

I guess it's because I just do the work, and not pay for it, that patch panels are neater, cleaner, and more customer friendly. Makes more sense to me!!

 

[grundy]

Thanks for all the responses. We have always done the patch panel thing becuase we really don't mount phone boards and never looked into the 110 rack mount panels.

I guess either way is acceptable and both are commonly used!

Thanks again