What Is an RJ45 Connector?

This video is part of a blog post I wrote that talks about what RJ45 is used for. If you'd like to learn more about the RJ45 standard and RJ45 connectors, check out my blog post:


In this video, I refer to how RJ45 connectors are attached to ethernet cables. Here’s another video I made with the procedure for attaching an RJ45 connector to an ethernet cable:


When it comes to RJ45 connectors, there’s no need to overcomplicate them. RJ45 connectors are just the plugs on the ends of your ethernet cables.

RJ45 is a standard that was established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1987. The "RJ" stands for "registered jack", and the "45" is a way to identify that these jacks are meant for use with ethernet cables.

This standard provided specifications for these connectors, including how they should be made, the proper way to wire them, and how they should handle electronic signals.

This is why all ethernet cable connectors look and function the same way.

That’s why, regardless of the category of ethernet cable you have (cat5e, cat6, cat8), your ethernet cable will have RJ45 connectors on it.

To put it simply, RJ45 connectors allow you to plug your ethernet cables into your devices. Once connected to a device, the tab on top of the connector keeps it from falling out of the device.

The other two important aspects of RJ45 connectors are as follows:

RJ45 connector pins

The metallic pins on an RJ45 connector allow the electric signals to transfer from your ethernet cable to the device they're connected to. There's one metallic pin for each of the 8 wires inside an ethernet cable.

RJ45 connector channels

To make it easy for the 8 wires in the ethernet cable to match up with the 8 pins on the RJ45 connector, there are 8 channels inside the RJ45 connector. Each wire from the ethernet cable fits into a designated channel on the connector, and each channel aligns with a designated pin.

This ensures that each wire is correctly crimped onto each pin when the RJ45 connector is crimped on the ethernet cable.

If you have any questions about RJ45 connectors, please drop a comment below. You can also check out the blog post above for more information.

[AT]

Thanks man!
After trying to learn the difference between Routers, then Routers and modems, to then figuring out ethernet CAT types..

I just wanted to make sure I wasn't somehow stumbling across another compatability issue 🥲

I'm trying to set up a Wifi 6 Router System so that I can better run my Quest 3 to my PC.
Wanted a PCVR set up ever since Fallout and Skyrim VR was Announced/Released.

Must be close to a decade now.
Got the Headset earlier this year and just got the PC yesterday.

But yeah, sorry for the ramble I'm just stoked.

Thanks for the video man, glad I didn't have to figure out more compatability stuff lol.