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Connectors for UTP
The most common connector used with UTP cables is the RJ-45 connector, shown in Figure 3.16. These connectors are easy to install on cables and are also extremely easy to connect and disconnect. An RJ-45 connector has eight pins and looks like a common RJ-11 telephone jack. They are slightly different sizes and won’t fit together: an RJ-11 has only four pins.

Distribution racks, shelves, and patch panels are available for large UTP installations. These accessories enable you to organize network cabling and also provide a central spot for expansion and reconfiguration. One necessary accessory, a jack coupler, is a small device that attaches to a wall plate or a patch panel and receives an RJ-45 connection. Jack couplers can support transmission speeds of up to 100 Mbps.