Organizing a MESS of Ethernet, Video & Phone wires.

[jymbee]

When I build our house some 15+ years ago I ran home-runs of Ethernet, Video & Phone wires all over the house. More than likely overkill, but at the time the thought was better to have connections that aren't used than to wish they were there-- after the sheetrock was in.

Initial configuration was to use a punch down block for phone, Ethernet switch to connect the Cat 5, and crimped on video connectors for the video. Always meant to tidy things up after the initial connections were made but alas, to this day it's quite a frightening mass of cabling terminating in the basement utility room.

Now I'm determined to once and for all organize things but having a hard time figuring out what the best option might be. Initially we had 4 analog (Verizon) phones-- now we have 2 VOIP phone lines. Most Ethernet cabling is Cat 5 and not realistic to try and upgrade that. Five televisions connected to TiVo DVRs.

I still see punch down blocks out there but apparently not suitable for VOIP? Also things like Structured Media Panels, Wall Mount Racks etc. etc. are offered as solutions to neaten things up but just not sure (even after watching numerous videos) what my best option might be.

Would appreciate any input from someone here that has had a similar wiring challenge and managed to come up with a workable solution they're satisfied with!

 

[greenmojo]

How many rooms and homeruns of each type?

I imagine you want as small a footprint as possible to keep things tidy?

~Moses

 

[jymbee]

How many rooms and homeruns of each type?

I imagine you want as small a footprint as possible to keep things tidy?

~Moses

Not many rooms given it's a open layout, but basically three levels including a walk-out basement. Each wall box has either two Cat 5 cables (Ethernet + phone) or two Video cables (wanted to be able to have a lot of routing options).

So, in the basement there's 4 boxes with the double video cable and 5 with the double Ethernet.

Main floor has 5 of each and the loft has 2 of each.

[EDIT]
They all terminate in an unfinished furnace/utility room so neatness definitely takes precedence over looks.

 

[dstig1]

Ha ha ha! You got nothing to complain about... This is all LV wiring...


I ran many extra wires as you never know what will need to go where. Half+ will probably be wasted

 

[jymbee]

Ha ha ha! You got nothing to complain about... This is all LV wiring...


I ran many extra wires as you never know what will need to go where. Half+ will probably be wasted

Yep, more than half for sure! As I mentioned, the 4 land line phones that were in the house when built have all been phased out and now there's just two VOIP phones-- and most of them are setup on a 2-line wireless system. Presently just one other phone connected via a phone jack.

The main computers are connected via wired jacks and the wifi is used mostly for phones & tablets. However I still want to do something about the ungodly mess of wires-- not quite as many as you show perhaps, but close.

What's currently unused sometimes does come in handy when I added some NAS boxes e.g. As I also mentioned, the "extra" video cables often come in handy when I might want to re-route or route back certain video signals.

 

[k0ua]

why wouldn't a punch block be good for a "VOIP" line. It is only "VOIP" when it is running over ethernet. when it is converted to analog, it is the same as any other analog phone line. For that matter punch blocks are fine for any digital telephone signal, and there are even 66 and 110 type blocks rated for CAT 5e and Cat 6 for that matter.

 

[MossRoad]

As you've discovered, most of those cables will be phased out as technology advances. Why bother with punch down blocks, clips, hold-downs, etc... at this point? Its just added cost and as soon as you trim a wire to the exact length to fit perfectly in your punch down, you'll cut it too short, or flip the punch tool to the wrong side and then be too short on wire. If everything is working well now, and its in a room out of sight, just disconnect an end, coil the cable up in a nice neat roll with only enough tail to reach back to the jack it was unplugged from, put a zip tie on it, label it, plug it back in and leave it alone.

 

[CurlyDave]

This might not help the OP, but anyone else reading this thread will benefit.

When I designed our house I looked at the office building I worked in and copied what they did. The upper floor is the main living area, and the lower floor has a drop ceiling with 48" from the ceiling to the surface of the upper floor. Since the floor joists are 12", I have a 36" clear space which has heating ducts, plumbing and wiring in it. I did not have to wire every room because the chase is easily accessible by just moving the ceiling tiles aside.

The benefits of this system are enormous, and it will accommodate any new kind of wire that is invented in the future.

 

[EarPlug]

why wouldn't a punch block be good for a "VOIP" line. It is only "VOIP" when it is running over ethernet. when it is converted to analog, it is the same as any other analog phone line. .

This is not accurate. A VOIP phone is a "computer" terminal device connected the network via ethernet. All Digital end to end.

You can connect an analog phone to a VOIP network via an Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA Device). The ATA can be in the equipment closet and then run an "analog" wire to the phone location. Or, the ATA can be at the phone location but you would need to run a "network" cable from the ATA to the router/switch.

 

[k0ua]

This is not accurate. A VOIP phone is a "computer" terminal device connected the network via ethernet. All Digital end to end.

You can connect an analog phone to a VOIP network via an Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA Device). The ATA can be in the equipment closet and then run an "analog" wire to the phone location. Or, the ATA can be at the phone location but you would need to run a "network" cable from the ATA to the router/switch.

We are in agreement. My point was if the VOIP terminal device is running on ethernet, then it will be an ethernet media cable. If it is converted to analog via an ATA then the punch blocks would be suitable.