Just Say NO to:

ALL RJ45'S ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL
Thanks
for stopping by our web site and we appreciate your interest. Our goal
is to inform, educate, increase the awareness level and explain some of
the PROBLEM AREAS
associated with the RJ45 interface. By doing so, customers will
hopefully make better product selections and get the desired results
they are seeking. Please take a few minutes to navigate our site and we
hope you find this information helpful.
The RJ45 Is A Highly Engineered Interconnection System
Beware of SUB-STANDARD, NON-COMPLIANT and COUNTERFEIT RJ45's coming in from the Far East
KNOW THE STANDARDS - KNOW THE SPECS - INSIST ON COMPLIANCE - KNOW YOUR SUPPLIERS
Industry's Best Kept Secret
"Moving at the Speed of Right"
RJ45 AUTHORITATIVE EXPERTS WITH OVER 35 PATENTS
Why Not Go To The Best In The First Place?
Sentinel Connector Systems is the premier "MADE IN USA" manufacturer of RJ-45 Plugs and Jacks. As a matter of fact, Bob Brennan, Founder and President of Sentinel Connector (former Founder/President of Stewart Connector) has been involved with RJ45s since their inception. Bob was part of the team that built the first RJ45 back in the 1970's consulting with Hardesty and Gustin who worked at Western Electric creating the FCC Part 68 Specification (superseded by ANSI/TIA-1096-A). Bob and the Sentinel East Team have over 135 foreign and domestic patents relating to the RJ45 Interconnect. Significant Patents include the MagJack, a Proprietary Gold Plating Process called Spot Plating and a Composite Carbon/Graphite Fiber Conductive Load Bar.
In addition, we have the BOOK OF RJ.....representing over 40 years of hand written notes about the why's, do's and dont's of manufacturing RJ45 Interconnection Systems
THE SENTINEL CONNECTOR SYSTEMS ADVANTAGE
THE BOOK OF RJ (Robert J Brennan)
WE DO EVERYTHING FOR A REASON
ALL PRODUCTS MEET/EXCEED THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS
ANSI/TIA 568 - ANSI/TIA 1096-A (Formerly FCC Part 68)
CENELEC EN 50173 - IEC 60603-7 - ISO-8877 - ISO/IEC 11801 - UL1863
THE SENTINEL CONNECTOR SYSTEMS ADVANTAGE
- All of Sentinel's Plugs and Jacks are built in accordance to INDUSTRY STANDARDS & SPECIFICATIONS as set forth by governing bodies such
as ACTA, ASTM, FCC, IEC, IEEE, ISO, TIA and UL. Sentinel is also a Member of the Communications Cable and Connectivity Association.....adhering to the Association's STRICT CODE of ETHICS regarding compliance.
HOW WE BUILD THINGS
The BASIS METAL for the contacts is PHOSPHOR BRONZE. We use a very specific % along with a very tightly controlled min-max granular MICROSTRUCTURE to provide the best STIFFNESS, SPRING QUALITIES and CORROSION & WEAR RESISTANCE. The
base metal is ELECTRO-POLISHED (versus wire brushed) creating an extremely smooth "BURR FREE" CONTACT SURFACE. It is then
plated with 100 micro inches of pure Nickel (min plugs, 50 micro min
jacks)....providing a
sacrificial metal surface/barrier to PROHIBIT DIFFUSION and OBTAIN THE
DESIRED POROSITY CHARACTERISTICS....then 50 micro inches (minimum) of
pure 24 CARAT (hard) GOLD adhering to MIL-G-45204C, TYPE II, GRADE A specifications and Knoop Hardness requirements. During each plating operation, PROPER SURFACE ACTIVATION and CLEANSING PROCEDURES are meticulously followed to insure against any possible surface contamination and potential GALVANIC REACTIONS (reference MIL-STD-889).
By incorporating the strict design guidelines above, Sentinel Plugs and Jacks will have a MINIMUM 1,000 CYCLE LIFE (insertions/de-insertions) before any degradation of surface contact areas and a 2,000 MINIMUM CYCLE LIFE WHEN USING SENTINEL PLUG/JACK COMBINATIONS.
THE BOTTOM LINE
- WE DO NOT CUT CORNERS.....WE USE BEST PRACTICES.....WE MEET and/or
EXCEED ALL STANDARDS....WE PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY IN THE
MARKETPLACE.....and best yet, WE ARE EASY TO WORK WITH and our products
are MADE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
______________________
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO
"KNOW YOUR SUPPLIERS"
Somewhere
along the line, either through COST PRESSURES, OUTSOURCING, MATERIAL
SELECTION, PRODUCT DESIGN, or a host of other reasons, some RJ45 modular
connector manufacturers have strayed from the specifications as set
forth by the Standards Bodies (such as ACTA, ASTM, EIA, FCC, IEC, IEEE,
ISO, TIA and UL). As a result, there is a growing problem in the field
relating to POROSITY, OXIDATION, CORROSION, CONDUCTIVITY, CONTACT
RESISTANCE, INTERMITTENCIES AND LOSS OF SIGNAL that have become more
pervasive recently. For example.......
OVER
50% of all RJ-45 Plugs tested DID NOT MEET THE MINIMUM GOLD and/or
NICKEL PLATING REQUIREMENTS PER TIA, IEC AND FCC SPECIFICATIONS
The
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) has reported that (RJ-45
plug/jack) "connectors continue to be a source of problems for
customers. For example, connectors are reaching the marketplace without
the requisite amount of gold on the connector contacts." In particular,
"such plugs and jacks may be difficult to interconnect and may lack the
gold plating on the contact interface needed to prevent interference." To learn more, go to.....
GOLD and NICKEL Plating Issues
THERE
IS A DISTURBING TREND OF RJ45 PLUGS AND JACKS
NOT MEETING DIMENSIONAL
SPECIFICATIONS PUT FORTH BY THE TIA, IEC, ISO AND FCC
CAUSING PERFORMANCE ISSUES and POTENTIAL LOSS OF SIGNAL
Proper design elements (TOOLING DESIGN, MOLD DRAFTS, TOLERANCES) based on Standards and Specifications are not being adhered to. This has affected the Plug/Jack MATING CHARACTERISTICS and their relationship to TARGETING and GUIDANCE. In addition, SURFACE CONTACT MATING AREAS are Affecting Signal Quality.....Resulting in Poor Signal Transmission, Intermittencies, Shorts and Potential Signal Loss. To learn more, go here.....
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THE BOTTOM LINE
KNOW THE STANDARDS
KNOW THE SPECIFICATIONS
INSIST ON COMPLIANCE
KNOW YOUR SUPPLIERS