Plugs & Boots
FAQs
RJ45 plugs are designed to match the performance of the cable they terminate:
- Cat5 & Cat5e plugs support up to 1Gbps, suitable for home or office networks.
- Cat6 plugs sandle 1Gbps up to 100m and 10Gbps up to 55m, better noise reduction.
- Cat6A plugs are rated for 10Gbps up to 100m, ideal for enterprise and data center use.
Using the right plug ensures your cabling system performs to its full category rating.
Unshielded plugs (UTP) are cost effective and suited for low inference environments, like offices. Whereas, shielded plugs (STP/FTP) provide protection against electromagnetic interference (EMI) and crosstalk, essential in industrial, high density or data center applicaitons. Always match the plug to your cable construction.
RJ45 boots are small protective sleeves fitted over the connector end. They:
- Prevent latch breakage on RJ45 plugs.
- Provide strain relief by reducing stress on the cable-to-plug junction.
- Improve organisation with colour coded options for easy port identification.
- Enhance durability when patch leads are plugged/unplugged frequently.
Accessories include:
- Latch protectors to extend the life of RJ45 plugs in high use areas.
- Colour coded boots or clips to help organise networks by function (e.g., data, voice, management).
- Strain relief boots are recommended for patch leads in racks or environments with frequent cable handling.
Selecting the right accessories helps reduce downtime, prevent damage, and improve network organisation.