Panduit QASP48HDWH Shielded Angled 48-Port Patch Panel, 1RU
Overview
The Panduit QASP48HDWH is a 48-port, 1U shielded patch panel designed to accept QuickNet™ shielded cassettes in angled-port configurations. At 19 inches wide and 1.73 inches tall, it fits a standard 19-inch rack in a single rack unit — meaning you can terminate a full 48-port copper run without consuming a second RU for overflow. The angled port geometry orients patch cords downward and toward the cable management tray, reducing strain on RJ-45 plugs and keeping high-density rows manageable without specialty bend-radius hardware. This is a chassis-only panel; port density is realized through separately sourced QuickNet shielded cassettes, so the QASP48HDWH gives you infrastructure flexibility: swap cassette configurations without rewiring the panel itself.
Part of Panduit's copper systems catalog, the QuickNet platform is built around tool-less, snap-in cassette modules that simplify moves, adds, and changes in enterprise wiring closets, security head-end rooms, and data center patch rows. For installers managing shielded cabling in environments with high electromagnetic interference — industrial floors, broadcast facilities, or buildings with heavy HVAC/UPS equipment nearby — the shielded cassette compatibility is the primary selection criterion here. Unshielded panels won't terminate STP or S/FTP cabling correctly, so the QASP48HDWH exists specifically for those deployments.
Key Features
- 48 Ports in 1RU (19-in × 1.73-in): Full 48-port density in a single rack unit means you lose zero additional RU compared to unshielded alternatives. In a 42U cabinet, that's meaningful rack real estate, especially in head-end rooms where NVRs, PoE switches, and servers compete for space.
- Angled Port Design: The angled cassette orientation routes patch cords toward the front cable management tray without 90-degree bends at the port. This is not a cosmetic feature — sharp bends on shielded patch cords can degrade return loss and cause intermittent link errors at 10GBase-T speeds. Angled geometry helps maintain cable bend radius compliance passively.
- Shielded Cassette Compatibility: The QASP48HDWH is built specifically for shielded QuickNet cassettes. If your structured cabling run uses STP, F/UTP, S/FTP, or similar shielded cable categories, this panel maintains shield continuity through the cassette-to-panel interface — something an unshielded panel physically cannot do. Verify cassette shielding class matches your cable category before ordering.
- QuickNet™ Cassette Platform: Tool-less cassette insertion and removal means MACs (moves, adds, changes) on individual port groups don't require punch-down tools or retermination. In a structured cabling patch panel environment that sees regular reconfiguration — access control moves, camera repoints, VoIP seat changes — this reduces labor cost per change meaningfully.
- White Finish: The white colorway (RAL-equivalent) is a functional differentiator in multi-vendor racks where color-coding by system type is standard practice. Security integrators frequently separate camera infrastructure (white or blue panels) from IT infrastructure (black) for immediate visual identification during troubleshooting.
- Standard 19-Inch EIA Rack Mount: Fits any EIA/IEC 310-compliant 19-inch rack or open-frame two-post. No proprietary rail or adapter required — deploy in an existing Panduit, Middle Atlantic, Chatsworth, or generic rack without additional hardware.
Integration & Compatibility
The QASP48HDWH is chassis hardware within the structured network infrastructure category — it does not terminate directly to cable. Compatibility depends on selecting the correct QuickNet shielded cassettes: cassette modules must be shielded-rated and match the port count required per zone. Panduit's QuickNet cassette lineup covers Cat 6A shielded and related configurations; consult Panduit's cassette selection guide to confirm cassette-to-panel compatibility before ordering cassettes separately.
Panel dimensions (482.6mm wide × 43.9mm tall) conform to standard EIA-310 19-inch rack specifications. Rack depth clearance for patch cord management should account for the angled port projection; verify minimum rack depth against your cable management tray depth. For PoE-dense security deployments, pair the QASP48HDWH with a managed PoE switch behind it — the angled port layout keeps the cabling between panel and switch organized in high-port-count rows. A horizontal cable manager between patch panel rows is recommended for runs at full 48-port density.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the QASP48HDWH come with cassettes included?
A: No. The QASP48HDWH is a chassis-only panel. QuickNet shielded cassettes must be ordered separately. Verify cassette compatibility — specifically shielded-rated QuickNet modules — before purchasing.
Q: What rack size does the QASP48HDWH require?
A: The panel is 19 inches wide (482.6mm) and 1RU tall (1.73 inches / 43.9mm). It mounts in any standard EIA-310 19-inch rack — two-post open frame or four-post enclosed cabinet.
Q: Is the QASP48HDWH suitable for unshielded (UTP) cabling?
A: It is designed for shielded cassettes. You can physically install unshielded cassettes in some configurations, but the panel is optimized for shielded deployments. If your cabling infrastructure is unshielded UTP, consider Panduit's unshielded QuickNet panel variants to match your system correctly.
Q: How many panels ship per carton?
A: Carton quantity is 10 units. Package quantity is 1 — meaning panels are sold individually but ship in master cartons of 10 for bulk orders.
Q: Can the QASP48HDWH be used in a security or surveillance head-end rack?
A: Yes. The 1RU 48-port form factor and angled port design make it practical in head-end racks where NVRs, PoE switches, and access control equipment share rack space. The white finish also aids color-coded system identification common in security infrastructure racks.
The QASP48HDWH lands in a specific, non-negotiable niche: shielded copper termination at 48-port density in 1RU. If you're spec'ing a head-end room where the structured cabling backbone uses shielded Category 6A — common in manufacturing environments or anywhere with significant EMI from motors, UPS systems, or industrial controls — this panel's shielded cassette compatibility isn't optional, it's the whole reason it exists. An unshielded panel on an STP run breaks shield continuity at the termination point and defeats the investment in shielded cable entirely.
Technical Highlights:
- 1RU / 48-Port Density: 19-inch × 1.73-inch chassis keeps a full 48-port shielded patch row in a single rack unit — in head-end cabinets shared with NVRs, PoE switches, and access control gear, every RU saved matters.
- Angled Port Geometry: The angled cassette orientation passively maintains patch cord bend radius compliance without requiring separate radius guides — relevant when you're running shielded Cat 6A patch cords that are stiffer than standard UTP and more susceptible to return loss degradation from sharp bends.
- QuickNet Cassette Architecture: Tool-less cassette swaps mean individual port zones can be reconfigured without reterminating the panel — a real labor saver in security installations where camera zones, access reader runs, and intercom drops all land in the same patch row and get reorganized as the system grows.
Deployment Considerations:
- This is a chassis-only product — shielded QuickNet cassettes are a separate line item. Budget and lead time for cassettes before scheduling the installation; the panel ships as a single unit (package qty: 1) but cassette availability from the same distributor order should be confirmed upfront.
- The angled port design adds forward projection depth compared to a straight-port panel. In shallow two-post open-frame racks, measure available depth between the panel face and the front cable manager before committing to the angled variant — tight clearance can negate the bend-radius benefit.
For a high-EMI manufacturing facility or broadcast head-end room running shielded Cat 6A from cameras and access control readers back to a central IDF, the QASP48HDWH gives you the correct termination chassis without sacrificing rack density. It's the right call when shielded infrastructure is non-negotiable and the rack is already tight.
