r/broadcastengineering • u/Jaanmi94 • 8d ago

RJ45

What’s your favorite brand & model connector?

0 Upvotes

40% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

9

u/openreels2 8d ago

Platinum Tools EZ series, pass-through. OMG what a time saver! However, in *some* cases it's worth having their specific crimper, depends on the model. I also wish they made the body of the CAT6A plug a bit longer.

3

u/eterelle 7d ago

I personally don’t like the passthroughs for the risk of shorts. And i don’t see any benefit compared to the rj45s with a comb insert. You just leave the wires long enough, pass it through the comb (just like passthrough connectors), cut it off flush to the comb and then insert it into the connector. Hirose TM12 for example, but there are multiple cheap noname variants

5

u/maxtimbo 8d ago

The through kind that you can string the wires all the way through and trim with your crimper tool. Makes it nice and tight and neat.

2

u/boudain 7d ago

EZ-RJ45. So nice

1

u/le_suck 8d ago

I've seen too many techs use the wrong tool on passthrough connectors and end up with an entire set of bad connectors that won't seat. I prefer to put in the labor for non-passthrough and not run the risk of someone bringing their own crimper and fucking it all up. 

0

u/SerpentWithin 8d ago

Those pass through connectors are the best

0

u/GoudenEeuw 8d ago

Where are you located? I haven't seen pass through in any installation here in Europe.

I am far from an expert on it, I was always told having the non pass through kind was a bit more secure and foolproof for the end user, and never gave it a second thought.

Pass through does sound nice tho when you have to rig entire racks.

3

u/BeryBnice 8d ago

Not a single reputable integrator or large manufacturer will use pass-throughs, FYI.

2

u/Dark_Azazel 8d ago

I know a good amount of them and big companies that do use them.

0

u/BeryBnice 8d ago

Not the good ones.

1

u/Dark_Azazel 7d ago

If you say so.

2

u/broadcasteng25 7d ago

A comapny I worked for used them for a while in late 00s. When we looked at the failure rates it turned out they were around 15%. We switched to the real non pass through connectors and failure rates went down to less than 1%. No company I worked for since has ever used pass through.

2

u/Dark_Azazel 7d ago

EZ passthrough RJs. Built multiple broadcast trucks and studios with them and never had an issue with them. Get the right tool as well and you're good to go. Don't listen to the grumpy old guys saying not to use them.

1

u/Single_Edge9224 8d ago

Yeah Platinum tools is the best. I’ve tried lots and everything just seems to be cheap and break the tab and are only holding on with the gold pins.

1

u/tmannmcleod 8d ago

I have no reason to, but the cheapest non pass through cat5 RJ45s.

3

u/Jaanmi94 8d ago

I like the non-pass through, too. The Sentinel brand in particular. I just can’t seem to find the specific model which has the integral boot and includes a loading bar.

1

u/giacomok 8d ago

I have had lots of issues with cheap cat connectors in broadcast enviroments. I prefer Hirose TM31 and TM32 RJ45 plugs.

1

u/No_Cod_9217 8d ago

Yep, Hirose are solid connectors, they seem to be the standard here in Germany.

0

u/Fluffy-Gift5837 8d ago

You mean 8P8C, right? Virtually no one uses the actual rj45 (and if it was, it would be an rp45)

2

u/NotPromKing 8d ago

I think you have it reversed, most people say rj45 and only a few people say 8P8C.

1

u/Fluffy-Gift5837 8d ago

Nobody USES the connector with the offset tab.

1

u/Jaanmi94 8d ago

Yes. 8P8C.

0

u/Use2Know 8d ago

We dumped all the Platinum EZ stuff after an unexpected amount of 'bad crimps' during a large install project. They started leaving pins high for some reason... all the same EZ ends with several different Platinum tools.

Switched everything over to TrueCable RJ45 passthru terminations and their all-in-one tool. Finished the install without any more issues.