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Can we talk about how much time you waste on bad patch panels?

I spent like 3 hours last Friday fighting a patch panel that was just poorly labeled. The customer had their own labels on it but they were from 3 different jobs over the years and none matched. I tried to trace one cable and it led me to a port that said 'kitchen' but was actually the living room. Idk maybe it's just me but I feel like we should push back more on clients who won't let us re-terminate their old panels. Has anyone else dealt with a nightmare like this where the labels are completely wrong?

2 comments

2 Comments

walker.max19d ago

Gently, I'm pretty sure patch panels don't really get "labeled" the way you mean. They usually have numbered ports that match up with a wiring diagram, and the customer just stuck their own labels on top of those. The real pain is when they use a label maker but then plug stuff into the wrong spots anyway. Three hours sounds about right for that kind of mess, I've been there too. Next time just tell them you're reterminating it or walking away, it's not worth the headache.

casey1619d ago

Oh man, I once spent a full afternoon untangling a patch panel where someone had used those little handwritten sticky labels that curl up at the edges after a week. Every single port was wrong, like they just plugged cables in based on mood. Three hours is honestly generous for that kind of disaster. I feel your pain on the "just reterminate or walk" advice, I've started telling clients flat out that if they can't keep basic labels straight, I'm billing by the hour with no cap. It saves everyone the pretending.