Rack panels for some RF linking and Ant. In

NickVon

Well-Known Member
Anyone have any suggestions for some 1ru Rack panels, custom or not.

I have a bunch of RF jumpers and and BNC/BNC pass through couplers (with the 1 side shaved down't so they don't spin in a hole.

I looked at Markertek and there custome panel program which seems reasonably priced but I haved to buy the connectors, I can't seem to just buy pre punched panels.

I need like (3) 1u panels: (1) with 6 holes, (2) with 4 holes.
 
Whirlwind, ACE Backstage, etc. Their sales desks may kick you to a dealer just to handle the payment processing but if you send them a sketch and let them know you want it punch-only, no connectors, they can put a price tag on it and drop ship it directly to you. Shouldn't cost much more if you want any labeling put on the panels.
 
I bought blank single space panels and drilled the holes myself. Way cheaper than buying the pre-punched. They've worked well for me so far.
 
+1 for this... Those custom shops get way too much, unless you really desire the ultra-professional looking labeling.

I've done pretty well with a Brother label maker. One of these days I'm going to try different color tape and ink. Black on white is getting boring! lol
 
I've done pretty well with a Brother label maker. One of these days I'm going to try different color tape and ink. Black on white is getting boring! lol

I don't mind the Brother style label tape for racks or non-public facing stuff (tech booth included) - but for things that are in public spaces it can be nice to have a nice, custom engraved ID for the faceplate.
 
The "problem" with Drilling out panels (which I could do my self I have the drill bits), is the panel mount BNC through couplers that come with Sennheiser/Shure systems have that side flat radi "not drilled out" so they don't spin in a circular hole.
@NickVon Can you source washers with the correct flatted hole and a tiny bent tab which you place in a correctly located and drilled .125" hole to lock the flatted washer from rotating? In the 1960's such washers were popular for preventing toggle switches from rotating. The last time I purchased any they were from Grayhill, a manufacturer of durable push buttons, toggle and rotary switches for OEM's, typically broadcast and recording consoles in the analog era.
@NickVon Googling "Grayhill anti turn washers" immediately pulled up an assortment of images for stainless steel anti turn washers manufactured by Grayhill and distributed by Newark Electronics on your side of Donald's walls.
Here's a link for you: https://www.google.ca/search?rlz=1C...0..0i7i30j0j0i131j0i7i10i30j33i10.m2sTxn2DtGs
Geeeze! That link runs on for ever.
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard
 
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The "problem" with Drilling out panels (which I could do my self I have the drill bits), is the panel mount BNC through couplers that come with Sennheiser/Shure systems have that side flat radi "not drilled out" so they don't spin in a circular hole.

Can't remember if mine were the flat sided pass through connectors or not. I remember holding the front side lightly with a vice grip after wrapping the connector with a cloth to keep it from getting scarred. Haven't had any issues with it in the many years since.
 
Several companies make passthrough BNC connectors that are mounted to fit in XLR punchouts. XLR pre-punched panels are of course readily available from lots of sources in various configurations.
 
I cut mine out of smoked acrylic on the laser cutter at the local makerspace. Odds are you have a local metal shop in town that can do it for you out of metal if you want to go that way also.
 
I've used the Neutrik D sized patch panels for 8 or 12 connections, NZP1RU-8 & NZP1RU-12 respectively, then filled the extra holes with their blanks (DBA-BL). Neutrik make many flavours of 75 ohm BNC passthrough in D size which are aimed at video but they do not make a 50 ohm BNC for antennas/RF applications. Canare do make a 50 ohm d size passthorugh BNC, the BJ-JRUD, it's a special order item from most places (I sourced it from Full Compass).
 

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