RJ45 DB9 3.5mm Console Patch Panel "Swiss Army Knife"

[TRC_MA]

Good afternoon,

 

I had this idea a while ago and was wondering how feasible it was. I've had to stop a job today for the want of a serial to 3.5mm cable to update the firmware on an AP.

 

If I got a hold of the wiring diagrams, an RJ45 patch panel and a bunch of cables I was thinking of cutting off the ends of various leads and punching down the wires so that on the other side I just use a CAT5 patch cable to connect both sides. I already have a box of DB9 serial cables and some old headphones, why spend £10 on a new cable? I may do CCNA soon, If I had several devices that needed console access and only one COM port on the management PC that might help..

 

I've never done anything like this before, has anyone got any advice? Should I worry about grounding/shielding, wires too thin to punch down, anything else? Thanks in advance.

[john]

I used to do Promethean IWB Serial Connections via Cat5 that way and it worked ok for them

[difinity]

The serial cable will have stranded wire which might be an issue to punch down.

I'm all for making cables with different adapter but i'd solder them and use heatshrink rather than use a bulky patch panel.

[TRC_MA]

I've never soldered in my life, I suppose I really ought to learn. This will actually go in a rack though, and I have plenty of old CAT5 stuff I can ruin as I go.