Telecom Cabling Question?

[jpollack]

Currently, Avaya IP office is our phone system at the office. Our company is going to be expanding into the suite directly above the one we are now. The service provider requires that we/I get the voice cabling ready for installation. The upstairs suite will initially have 30 voice runs. All of the voice cable was punched into a wiring block a long time ago. The service provider informs me that I need to run 30 cable lengths from the upper suite down to the lower suite, so it can be connected to the IP400 module. I went over my plan with the service provider, but I need more opinions. Here is basically what I think I need to do. Take note that telecom is not my forte.

The layout of the second floor server room is almost identical to the third.

Punch 30 Cat5 AWG24 Cables Into the Front of the Wiring Block on the Third Floor
Make Sure the Cables are Long Enough to Reach the Second Floor Wiring Block
Punch the 30 Cables on the Second Floor Into the Wiring Block on the Second Floor or Install a New Block(s)
Punch Cat3 AWG24 into the Front of the Wiring Block on the Second Floor
Attach RJ45 Plugs to the Other End of the Cat3 and Insert into IP400


I hope that correct, please let me know if this method is wrong. Is it possible to add a new wiring block(s) on the second floor? Is it possible or will I have to disconnect 30 LAN voice runs from the wiring block on the second floor? If add a new block to the second floor does it have to be terminated?

Thanks a million,
John

 

[mikeydidit]

The first question that comes to my mind would be how long would the runs be from the devices on 3rd floor to the switch on second? If it is over 285'then you will have to set up more equipment on the second floor. If it is not then I would connect everything to the switch without any other connection points. You will have enough problems with VoIP without cabling coming into play...

Mike Jones
Louisiana State University Health Sciences center

 

[lopes1211]

1st question is what phones do you use with the IP office? Are they VOIP or DCP 6400 series sets? If it's 6400 series digital DCP sets, I would just run a 50 pair riser cable between the 2 closets and cross-connect in the intermediate closet. On the PBX side, there are 100 different ways to go from the wallfeild to the dcp ports.

-CL

 

[jpollack]

My guess is the runs will be no longer than 30 to 50 feet. If I can punch cable into the front of the 3rd floor wiring block and connect the other end to the IP400 module, that would be much easier. The 2nd floor block has the blue pair (CAT3)punched into the front of the panel and then the cable is plugged with RJ45. I will use all 4 pairs and cat5 cable.

Thanks
John

 

[jpollack]

We use the 4412D+ phones.

 

[lopes1211]

You use digital sets so you don't need cat5 or home runs. I would run a 50 pair between closets an cross connect the blue pair of each 3rd floor jack to the riser. In the switchroom, connect the other end to a block and then wire to the ip office. I would reccomend a 66 block or 110 with an amphenol connector. Then you can get a 25 pair to 25 rj-11 octopus cable to plug into the ipoffice. You're looking at less than $500 for the whole project.

-CL

 

[lopes1211]

And it's 1 pair per phone, no need for 4 pair cables or patches.

-CL

 

[jpollack]

So, I should just run cat3 (only pucnching down the blue pair)from the 3rd floor to a new 110 block on the second floor. Punch down the blue and white and connect to the IP400 module. Does the new 110 block need to be terminated in any way? By the way what is the "riser".

Thanks,
John

 

[hawks]

If you have to run new cable anyway then I would go with cat5. Just in case anything changes in the future.

 

[jpollack]

I guess for the cost cat5 is worth installing.

 

[lopes1211]

I must have misread. I was under the understanding all of the workspaces were already cabled out to closet and you were just looking for connectivity between the 3rd floor intermediate closet and your switchroom to allow you to install 30 digital phones. If that's it, the riser is all you need.

-CL

 

[jpollack]

I need to connect the 3rd floor (cables in place) to the second. I am not a telcom expert. What is a "riser".

Thanks,
John

 

[cmeyer]

A riser would be a group of cables or 1 larger cable(50-100 pair) that would just run from your Second floor to your 3rd floor. There would be punch down blocks on each end, Then you would cross connect the switch to the second floor end and the drops to each phone on the Third Floor for each pair or pairs needed for each phone. This works well for Digital Phones NOT anything IP. For IP I would home run everything.

 

[jpollack]

To do a "homerun" would I just punch into thr front of the block on the 3rd floor and connect directly to the IP 400 module?

Thanks,
John

 

[cmeyer]

Homerun is from the desk to a patch panel or block near your IP Office. (Each Desk goes directly back to home, not stopping at a collection point like the riser would)

 

[Sunrise05]

I think everyone is giving sound advise but you are getting lost in the terminology. The "Riser" is what connects the Teleco Room (TR) on the 3rd floor to the TR on the second. If the horizontal cabling (to each station phone) is in place, you only need to run a riser and cross connect in the TR.
If you have 30 active lines and only need 1 pair for each, a 50 pair is a good call. This gives you growth. You can either go with a Cat-3 50 pair or future proof with Cat-5e cabling.
I would punch down on a 110 Block and use 110 to RJ11 patchcords for cross connects. This will make administration and MACs (Moves, Adds, Changes) easier in the future.

 

[jpollack]

I ran a test cable today and everything worked great. I simply ran a cable from the 3rd floor wiring block straight into the IP400 module on the 2nd floor. I was able to plug a phone in and make calls. Thanks everyone for the great help!

John

 

[lopes1211]

That will work and gives you a good proof of concept but I would still recommend cross connecting the blue pair all of the 3rd floor cables to a riser terminted next to the ip office. Then use patch cords or cross connects into to the ipoffice. This will facilitate moves/adds/changes later and would allow you to split off spares (org/grn/brn) of the station cables for 2nd phones, faxes, or modems.

-CL

 

[crooter]

Glad I read this thread--all these years I thought a riser was the actual hole and conduit from one floor to another that a cable(s) would pass through.

 

[jpollack]

Tek-tips has saved me many times! Plus I get to help out other people.