MAKE ROOM FOR MEDIA AND DATA CABINETS

Dan Winterton, Sales and Marketing Director, Antiference, delves into how data cabinets can deliver.

For so many years, data cabinets have been fitted to commercial installations to hold equipment associated with the data network. This includes a lot of the usual suspects such as cables, patch panels, routers and Ethernet switches etc. These cabinets, the unsung heroes of the data network installation are essential to the system and come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate all the required kit.

In more recent times, we have begun to see a data cabinet appear in many more installations - including small commercial installs as well as domestic jobs too. The (formerly) ‘data’ cabinets have fast become adaptable for a variety of applications, very much becoming a ‘media and data’ cabinet for a simple home data and AV network. Devices such as HDMI splitters/matrix systems, TV distribution amplifiers, an ISP router plus Ethernet switch are fitted together thus creating the ‘home hub’.

Why am I talking about a 19in media and data cabinet I hear you ask? Doesn’t seem like the most interesting subject to discuss when there are tonnes of funky and very much cooler kit on the market for a custom audio-visual installation.

Well, this small home hub installation is a growing area of interest, and whilst the demand is positive, this can often bring challenges which we have not encountered as a professional industry before. One of these is space. The size of the space often dictates what is possible and sometimes the access also restricts the installation and can be the difference between having the install fitted ideally and professionally and having to adopt a ‘make do’ approach.

Another challenge is quality as sometimes the ‘make do’ option can come with a compromise such as facing having to put in substandard gear.

Antiference has recently developed a range of media and data cabinets for the home hub installation which do not compromise. They are manufactured from high quality mild steel with a powder coated finish and incorporate a lockable glass door, removable sides, and adjustable rack position.

One of the main benefits to this new range of cabinets is that they are supplied flat packed ready for self-assembly. This enables the installer to assemble the cabinet in a potential tight space or pass through a loft hatch before assembly, which is not always possible with a pre-built cabinet.

The assembly is very simple and can be carried out in around 15 mins so avoids a timeconsuming build process.

The range offers either a 450mm or 600mm deep cabinet option with a choice of heights from 4U to 15U.

It is easy to see why this will be a popular option to increase the standard of installation, whilst easing the process.

For more information, contact Antiference or your usual supplier.