Rj45 Boots

RJ45 cables are one of the most come kind of cable you will find in a network installation. They are the main component when it comes to streaming data, allowing you to have internet. Cables enable all sorts of technology to function and without them we would be quite lost. Today we look at RJ45 cables and, more specifically, at...

read more
Explore
items per page

So What Are RJ45s?

To simplify things, RJ45s are Ethernet cables are designed to transfer data from one location to another. You will also see these kind of cables used for voice data, enables devices like phones to work. There are different variations of the RJ45 and they tend to be used in similar circumstances. They are made from 8 pins and are known in the industry as 8P8C (8 position, 8 contact) cables. They are incredibly common and every hardware store on any street will sell these.
What seems to confuse most people about these cables is not the function, however. In fact, it is to do with the little rubber booting that is present on the little clip that slots into the socket. It can be quite an annoyance and requires a little bit of fiddling when taking it out. Sometimes people end up taking it off, believing that it makes the plug more efficient.

What is the Purpose of this Boot?

RJ45 boots actually have a purpose. They are not just there for show and to annoy you when you try and pull it out. If you’re still unsure about what a RJ45 boot is, it is the little rubber domes on the end of the clip-like thing. Some cables have it while other don’t. If you’re still curious as to what this does, here are a few uses: Protection.
Although you might not be a sparky, climbing through the labyrinth of wires under your house, you’d have to agree that sometimes pulling cables through tangled wire can be a pain. Imagine if that wire kept getting caught as well – nightmare. Well, that is exactly what the boot of a RJ45 cable does. They are sometimes referred to as anti-snag wires because the boots make them easy to guide wrong tight corners and wires when they’re pulled out by a technician.

Keeps Your Plug Secure

The main purpose of this rubber boot is to make sure your plug doesn’t fall out. The clip that it protects is known as a retention clip and makes sure the plug is secured in the socket. Without the little rubber boot your clip could snap off, leading to a dodgy connection as your plug would continue to fall out.

Protects Your Nails

We can all agree just how annoying the little clip on the end of an Ethernet cable is. In some cases, they can even break your nail when you’re trying to release them from your laptop. The rubber boot makes sure that the clip doesn’t ping up and go straight into the crease of your nail, which is incredibly painful!

 

Conclusion

So there you have it, RJ45 boots do have a purpose. They’re aren’t there for show like most people think and help protect your nails as well as your connection. RJ45s are common connectors and can be seen in every house all over the world. You may also see Cat5 cables from time to time but these are very similar to RJ45s and will sometimes have the rubber boot as well. It is better to leave the boot on with these cables, as you can see if you read the above. It will benefit your connection, as well as your thumbs.