One of the major problems that we face nowadays is not having enough power sockets for the numerous gadgets we keep buying, the ones that apparently, we absolutely must-have. Now that smart home technology has come into the spotlight, it has not only changed our power socket needs but also our overall wiring needs.

Someday, when Wi-Fi is better and everything works on long-lasting batteries, we will not have to worry about wiring.

Until then however, you can read this article about why you should update the wiring of your house and how to set up a functional smart home for better connectivity.

Ethernet cables evolve. With each iteration, the goal is to make it better in terms of reliability and speed.

It is not simply enough to use a Cat8 cable to connect to your computer, if the wires that live in your walls are ancient. You need to update those to match the ones you connect to your devices.

You can do this process yourself or hire an electrician to do it.

If you choose to do this yourself, then here's how you can go about it:

• Start with removing the old Ethernet cables in the walls.
  Get wall plates that have space for 2 or 4 keystone jacks.
  You will have to fix the Cat8 cables into each RJ45 Keystone jack.
  Once you fix that, place the dust covers on it and then plug it into the wall plate.
  Before closing everything up, make sure that the wiring is proper and everything works. You can use a network tester for this.
  Establish a connection with your main internet inline into your house.
  Put everything back together and add finishing touches to your wall if needed.
  Plug in your new Cat8 Ethernet cables into all the RJ45 keystone jacks and into your modem and devices to enjoy blazing fast internet!
  I cannot stress the importance of better connectivity.

Now let's dive into a smart home setup that can make use of your new advance connectivity:

Start with a good mesh Wi-Fi setup. Wi-Fi dead zones are a big no for a connected home. Start with a smart home hub that has a decent screen. You can monitor and set up all the other devices with it.

Add a thermostat. You can save significantly on electricity with one that can automatically set the optimal temperature for your house. Another thing that will save you electricity is smart lights. You can operate them from anywhere so you never have to think about whether you turned them off or not halfway on your road trip.

The main reasons to have a truly smart and connected home is security, entertainment, energy saving, and convenience.

Now that we have covered the energy saving part, let's move on to the security aspect of it:

You get a smart doorbell that comes with a camera. The video captured from this camera can stream in your smart home hub and your phones as well if you want to keep a check on things remotely.

Additionally, you can put a camera in your living room to monitor it, in case you have babysitters taking care of your child. If you get parcels delivered to your house, then with such doorbells, you can keep an eye on the parcel.

The scope of entertainment in a connected home is vast. You can have music following you from room to room, wherever you go. A digital assistant tends to have features like playing music, and games as well as storytelling.

On the convenience side, a smart home is as if your whole house comes to your aid in your everyday life. If you have digital assistant speakers set up in every room, they work as an intercom so you can broadcast when dinner is ready. With a Wi-Fi mesh system, you can set the internet limits and restrict sites as well, making it safer for your kids to be on the internet.

A smart home changes the way you take care of your home, and therefore yourself. It reduces certain daily tasks with smart routines and elevates your way of living.

All of this is of course, next to impossible to do on a weak or spotty internet connection. To use the technology of the future, you need the wiring of the future and that begins by having cat8 cables running inside all your keystone jacks.

Source: https://www.sooperarticles.com/shopping-articles/electronics-articles/future-proof-your-house-internet-tomorrow-1756544.html

• Shielded Jacks
• Flush Mount Jacks
• Mini Jacks
• 8P8C modular jacks for computer networking
• 6P6C RJ11 modular jacks
• Optical fiber connectors
• Banana connectors
• F connector for TV antenna, satellite, or cable
• HDMI Jacks

They are female connectors used in data communication, usually for LAN wiring. Generally, the jack is set up in a patch panel or wall plate. There is a matching male connector which is a keystone plug, attached to the end of a cord or cable.

The name ‘keystone’ itself comes from the features of the jack. It resembles the standard RJ-11 wall jack that connects telephone sets, dial-up, fax machines to conventional telephone lines.

Where Are They Used?

The keystone jack is an important accessory for any high-end entertainment system, high-tech computer unit or any data-heavy communication unit in a busy office. Keystone jack and plug come in a snap-in package in various designs that you can use to mount any type of cable or cord. This setting will also include conductors attached to the electrical devices.

If you are looking to buy keystone jacks for any use, it is important to know the correct type for your use.

Here are the major types you can refer to:

• Shielded Jacks
• Flush Mount Jacks
• Mini Jacks
• 8P8C modular jacks for computer networking
• 6P6C RJ11 modular jacks
• Optical fiber connectors
• Banana connectors
• F connector for TV antenna, satellite, or cable
• HDMI Jacks

Additional Information Required

These small-sized keystone jacks are integral parts of any home system. These are available in various designs and every variation is suitable for different applications. Hence, choosing the right jack can benefit you with versatility. Knowing about specific types of keystone jacks with applications will help you make an informed decision.

So, to further help you, we’ve listed out the most frequently used keystone jacks and their usage.

RJ-11 And RJ-12

When you want to extend your phone, modem, phone connection to any room, there are the ideal connectors to look for. They are available in “toolless” varieties which means you can install the wires without using a screwdriver or any soldering device.

If you are new to this, there is a plastic clamp hinge at the back of the unit which you can pull up. This is where you insert wires and then pull it down to secure the wires firmly into the sockets. They display various telecom colors. Two lines, one long and one short indicate the color of the wire which goes in a specific slot. The long patch of color indicates the primary color, while the shorter one indicates the stripe color present on a wire. Hence, it is important to make sure that you buy one that provides secure locking and shows the colors on the slots.

Cat5e Keystone Jacks

They are suitable in Cat5e cabling scenarios for both commercial and domestics settings. Its construction style is popular because you will not have to replace blades when you switch from keystone jacks to patch panels. Additionally, termination contacts made of the phosphor bronze of some high-quality Cat5e keystone jacks add plenty of robustness to the unit and allow it to withstand punch-downs without falling apart.

When looking for buying Cat5e keystone jack, you need to ensure that it meets the relevant standards - TIA/EIA 568-B code. When you commit to buying the accepted standard, it ensures that your unit is durable, long-lasting and provides superior performance. You also need to ensure that the jack you buy has both wiring color codes labeled properly.

Cat6 Keystone Jacks

One of the most sophisticated and known for outstanding performance in both domestic and business settings is Cat6 Keystone jack. And the most important part, you can buy these jacks without making a hole in your pocket. You can use them for home entertainment systems and complex data communication systems in offices.

Some of the high-grade varieties of this keystone jack contain phosphor bronze contacts with strain relief caps. These contacts spread the physical pressure which enables the jack to absorb punch-downs without breaking. Moreover, the contacts securely locks the cords and cables connected to the keystone making sure that there is no disruption in signal transmission.

This termination contacts, in some models of Cat6 keystone jacks, may also be gold plated to provide an additional degree of sturdiness and increased conductivity. You can use these jacks with unloaded keystone wall plates and patch panels, angled multimedia wall plates, surface boxes and more.

These jacks are available in a variety of colors to suit any particular housing requirement. When you consider buying such jacks, it is important to ensure that the ports on the unit contain color codes to guide you when inserting wires. Also, ensure that there is a secure locking mechanism for the wires.

An Overall Digest

While buying such keystone jacks or any other type, it is important that it has a compact company casing that fits into a standard-sized face plate, panel, or outlet box without any efforts from your end. Apart from it, it is also important to make sure that the device fulfills all the required standards. They are not expensive but checking for these parameters will give you an assurance that you don’t have to be satisfied with the less-than-optimal performance or other issues. It will benefit your business in more than many ways.

SF Cable offers all kinds of jacks under the sun, in varying lengths. You can browse them here.

There is a wide variety of keystone jacks available in the market. And this is the guide that will help you make an informed decision. Everything you need to know about types of keystone jacks.

Originally posted https://www.sfcable.com/blog/how-choose-correct-keystone-jack/

They are female connectors used in data communication, usually for LAN wiring. Generally, the jack is set up in a patch panel or wall plate. There is a matching male connector which is a keystone plug, attached to the end of a cord or cable.

The name ‘keystone’ itself comes from the features of the jack. It resembles the standard RJ-11 wall jack that connects telephone sets, dial-up, fax machines to conventional telephone lines.

Where Are They Used?

The keystone jack is an important accessory for any high-end entertainment system, high-tech computer unit or any data-heavy communication unit in a busy office. Keystone jack and plug come in a snap-in package in various designs that you can use to mount any type of cable or cord. This setting will also include conductors attached to the electrical devices.

If you are looking to buy keystone jacks for any use, it is important to know the correct type for your use.

Here are the major types you can refer to:

• Shielded Jacks
• Flush Mount Jacks
• Mini Jacks
• 8P8C modular jacks for computer networking
• 6P6C RJ11 modular jacks
• Optical fiber connectors
• Banana connectors
• F connector for TV antenna, satellite, or cable
• HDMI Jacks

Additional Information Required

These small-sized keystone jacks are integral parts of any home system. These are available in various designs and every variation is suitable for different applications. Hence, choosing the right jack can benefit you with versatility. Knowing about specific types of keystone jacks with applications will help you make an informed decision.

So, to further help you, we’ve listed out the most frequently used keystone jacks and their usage.

RJ-11 And RJ-12

When you want to extend your phone, modem, phone connection to any room, there are the ideal connectors to look for. They are available in “toolless” varieties which means you can install the wires without using a screwdriver or any soldering device.

If you are new to this, there is a plastic clamp hinge at the back of the unit which you can pull up. This is where you insert wires and then pull it down to secure the wires firmly into the sockets. They display various telecom colors. Two lines, one long and one short indicate the color of the wire which goes in a specific slot. The long patch of color indicates the primary color, while the shorter one indicates the stripe color present on a wire. Hence, it is important to make sure that you buy one that provides secure locking and shows the colors on the slots.

Cat5e Keystone Jacks

They are suitable in Cat5e cabling scenarios for both commercial and domestics settings. Its construction style is popular because you will not have to replace blades when you switch from keystone jacks to patch panels. Additionally, termination contacts made of the phosphor bronze of some high-quality Cat5e keystone jacks add plenty of robustness to the unit and allow it to withstand punch-downs without falling apart.

When looking for buying Cat5e keystone jack, you need to ensure that it meets the relevant standards - TIA/EIA 568-B code. When you commit to buying the accepted standard, it ensures that your unit is durable, long-lasting and provides superior performance. You also need to ensure that the jack you buy has both wiring color codes labeled properly.

Cat6 Keystone Jacks

One of the most sophisticated and known for outstanding performance in both domestic and business settings is Cat6 Keystone jack. And the most important part, you can buy these jacks without making a hole in your pocket. You can use them for home entertainment systems and complex data communication systems in offices.

Some of the high-grade varieties of this keystone jack contain phosphor bronze contacts with strain relief caps. These contacts spread the physical pressure which enables the jack to absorb punch-downs without breaking. Moreover, the contacts securely locks the cords and cables connected to the keystone making sure that there is no disruption in signal transmission.

This termination contacts, in some models of Cat6 keystone jacks, may also be gold plated to provide an additional degree of sturdiness and increased conductivity. You can use these jacks with unloaded keystone wall plates and patch panels, angled multimedia wall plates, surface boxes and more.

These jacks are available in a variety of colors to suit any particular housing requirement. When you consider buying such jacks, it is important to ensure that the ports on the unit contain color codes to guide you when inserting wires. Also, ensure that there is a secure locking mechanism for the wires.

An Overall Digest

While buying such keystone jacks or any other type, it is important that it has a compact company casing that fits into a standard-sized face plate, panel, or outlet box without any efforts from your end. Apart from it, it is also important to make sure that the device fulfills all the required standards. They are not expensive but checking for these parameters will give you an assurance that you don’t have to be satisfied with the less-than-optimal performance or other issues. It will benefit your business in more than many ways.

SF Cable offers all kinds of jacks under the sun, in varying lengths. You can browse them here.

There is a wide variety of keystone jacks available in the market. And this is the guide that will help you make an informed decision. Everything you need to know about types of keystone jacks.

Originally posted https://www.sfcable.com/blog/how-choose-correct-keystone-jack/

Keystone jacks can manage your cables in a better way. With keystone jacks, you gain the ability to keep your wires short and even hide them. A better way to organize all those daunting wires. These are the standard-sized rectangular modules that connect wires to outlets in a wall plate or a patch channel. There are various types of jacks that come in the keystone format including networking cables, coaxial, RCA, and even USB and HDMI cables.

Considering its types, let's have a look at its three major applications where you can use this networking product as an ultimate solution.

Home Theater

Before:

You have a home theater then you know how easily it can become a wire web for you. Because on one end there will be a giant TV and on the other end a Blu-ray player, a couple of audio components. And if the wires are not organized properly then your loved ones might fall because of these wires. Plus, there will be a mounted speaker in each corner of the room. The main component is the cables. They connect every one of these devices with each other. These cables can create a messy, crisscrossing ceiling which might make your home theatre look horrible.

After:

What if you have a neat rack with various components, and you are sitting and relaxing in front of your state-of-the-art TV? This scenario is possible if there is a single patch panel installed into the wall. The territory of the panel of the TV means that these cables are short enough that you can conceal them behind the TV. You can install a keystone plate behind each speaker which connects the speaker to the wall. This way, long cables will connect the speakers with the Home Theater as an audio component and all the cables will be hidden within the wall. This way the home theater would look more organized and neater without any cables in direct sight.

Home Office

Before:

Say for example that you are setting up a basic home office in your guest room which includes a desk and certain other components. It has a computer, telephone, and a television. You need to connect each device to the wall. Here, you have an option to connect each device to its corresponding jack in the wall. With such a scenario, you have the phone connected to the phone jack, TV with the cable jack on the opposite wall. Because there wasn't a network cable in the bedroom, you got a technical person to install a network jack but he installed it in another wall. This way it will clearly look bad because there are wires going from the desk to three of the four walls in the room. This setup is prone to some hazards as well.

After:

On the other hand, you have the second option which involves the installation of a keystone outlet on the wall behind the desk. With this single jack into the wall, you can plug all three cables. It minimizes the clutter and reduces the risk of tripping. It's an elegant solution which makes your home office look more professional.

Recording Studio

Before:

This is the place which uses the highest number of cables and cords. Here the cables connect everything. Right from the recording hardware, amplifiers, sound modules, microphones, monitors, headphones and everything else which belongs to the audio system. Sometimes the engineer has to disconnect one or the other device to connect something else. Moreover, this place contains wires connected to some expensive piece of equipment. And if there is any sort of tug on the wires, the expensive pieces of equipments might break.

After:

Now, what if your studio has sufficiently large patch bays installed by your engineer guy which can handle all of those cables in a more organized way? Your control room contains the cables that connect all of the hardware devices to a patchy bay. You can conceal this bay behind the console. The installed patch bay connects to a panel mounted on the console. This way, the engineer can enable all of the connections right from his chair. It eliminates the need to crawl behind the equipment. If you make use of this networking product, you can set all the panels on the wall which makes an easy approach for musicians to plug in their instruments like headphones, microphones, guitars, etc. Because of this connection between patch bay and panels behind the engineer's console, your floors would look clear, safeguards, and it will make your studio look more professional.

Conclusion

Cable management is an important aspect and it needs to be paid attention to from the beginning. An unorganized web of cables and wires is vulnerable to some or the other damage. Hence it is advisable to use the proper cable management system and using keystone jacks appropriately to manage cables will definitely extend their usage life. This Article is originally Posted here; Important Applications of Keystone Jacks in Day-to-Day Life

If you found this article useful, here are some other article on Networking products that may be of interest. 

3 Types of Keystone Jacks You Must Know About!

Frequently Asked Questions about Keystone Jack Answered

What Makes Fiber Optic Cables Future Proof?

Connectivity Propellers That Make Your Computers Work