This is the first post in our five-part educational series on RJ45 connectors and keystone jacks.
When a business plans a network cabling job, most of the attention goes to the cable, the switches and the access points. The connectors and jacks at each end of every cable get very little. They are small and inexpensive, and from the outside one looks much like another. But every signal that crosses a copper network passes through them, and a weak one can undo a good cable run.
Two small parts, one critical job
An RJ45 connector is the plug on the end of a cable that clicks into a computer, switch, camera or wall outlet. A keystone jack is the socket that plug goes into. It snaps into a wall plate or patch panel and is where the permanent cable in the wall is terminated.
Both are critical components in a copper network connection. Poor-quality, incompatible or improperly installed connectors or jacks can contribute to:
- Intermittent network connections
- Failed cable testing
- Unnecessary troubleshooting
- Re-termination and additional service visits
- Downtime and lost productivity
Not all RJ45 connectors are the same
Two connectors can look identical and have different specifications. Appearance alone does not determine quality, and connectors are not always interchangeable. A properly selected connector is designed for the cable type and category (Cat5e, Cat6 or Cat6A), meets the manufacturer's specifications, is compatible with the conductor (solid or stranded) and has a contact design suited to the cable and application. Installed and tested correctly, it can meet the specified performance requirements.
A connector picked on price alone may not be designed for the cable category, may use different or lower-quality materials, may not fit the conductor size and may not meet the performance requirements of the link. Post 2 of this series, publishing tomorrow, goes through what to match.
Keystone jacks are just as important
A jack that is not rated for the cable category, or that is not installed properly, can affect signal performance and cause the link to fail certification testing. Common issues include:
- The wrong category for the application
- A jack that does not fit the conductor size or type (solid or stranded)
- Improper termination technique
- Too much pair twist removed at the termination
- Damaged or low-quality jacks
- Not following the manufacturer's instructions
Post 3 covers keystone jacks in more detail.
It is more than the price of the part
The connector or jack is only one part of the total cost of a network installation. When a connection fails, the cost is not the part. It is the time to diagnose the problem, troubleshoot, re-terminate and retest, often on another service visit, while the people relying on that connection wait. The small savings on a lower-cost component can be offset many times over by that work.
The same logic applies to the cable itself; our post on the hidden cost of cheap network cable covers what to compare there.
The bottom line
Evaluate the complete installation, not just the price of the parts. A properly selected, installed and tested connector or keystone jack helps reduce the risk of network problems and costly rework. To see the cabling work we do, visit our computer network cabling page.
Information is provided for general education. It is not a substitute for project-specific design, engineering or manufacturer instructions. Always follow applicable standards and manufacturer requirements. Project requirements should be verified individually.