An ethernet cable is nothing without a connector. Whether you want to bring your computer up to speed or you want to connect your favorite gaming console, you will pair an ethernet cable with a connector. For instance, to pair Cat6 ethernet cable, you will use Keystone Jack RJ45. These tiny pieces are economical and convenient solutions to connect ethernet cables.
What Exactly Is A Keystone Jack?
Keystone jacks are used in data communications and Local Area Network (LAN) wiring. Usually, the male connector (keystone plug) is connected to the female connector mounted in a patch panel or a wall plate. A keystone jack is a plugin package used to mount a wide array of low-voltage optical connectors or electrical jacks into a patch panel, surface-mount box, faceplate, or keystone wall plate. As far as composition is concerned, a standard keystone jack comes with a type of ethernet port on the front side. Its jack has an opening and has many pins; microns of gold are used to make these pins. These openings of the keystone jack accept modular plugs (either shielded or unshielded). The punch-down area for the cable’s wires lies on the backside of the keystone jack. You will insert wires into the contact areas of keystone jacks for creating a connection with ethernet cables. The two most commonly used wiring schemes are as follow:
- t568B
- t568A
For punching down and terminating the wires, you will use a punch-down tool. Now that you have completely understood the device known as the keystone jack let’s move to the buying section.
Must Read: Understanding RJ45 Connectors & Selecting The Right Type
Things You Should Know When Choosing A Keystone Jack
Right Category: It’s imperative that you choose a keystone jack that matches your cable’s type. For instance, for the Cat6 Ethernet cable, you will choose the Cat6 rj45 keystone jack. You should know that RJ45 keystone jacks can be used with Cat5e ethernet cable and Cat6a ethernet cables, too. Choosing the right type of connector ensures that the wires/conductors of the ethernet cable fit perfectly into the contact area.
90° or 180°: Keystone jacks come with designs varying in degrees. The degrees determine the way you will insert wires into the keystone jack. 90° or 180° is concerned with the design of the keystone jack’s back. Choosing the 90° or 180° comes down to the place of installation and preferences. Whether 90° or 180°, you can terminate straight into the jack. Sometimes, 180° keystone jacks have had their openings on the top; it allows your cable to come from the top. A 180° keystone jack will be an ideal choice if you are installing this at the back of the patch panel (situated against the wall).
Shielded and unshielded: Keystone jacks come in two different categories: shielded and unshielded. The criteria for using shielded Cat6 RJ45 keystone jack is the severe presence of EMI (electromagnetic interference). In EMI-rich environments, you should always go with the shielded keystone jacks. If you are going to install keystone jacks where interferences are less or non-existent, you should go with unshielded keystone jacks.
Where To Connect Your Keystone Jack?
You can connect your keystone jack to the following accessories:
- Wall Plates
- Surface Mount Boxes
- Patch Panels
Conclusion
Keystone jacks are one of the vital components of networking. Here at New York Cables, we manufacture all types of keystone jacks, including Cat6 RJ45 Keystone Jack, with supreme quality material and state-of-the-art facilities.
