Four-Port Press-Fit RJ45 for Backplane and Panel Mount
The TE Connectivity 1888251-1 is a four-port ganged modular jack, 8p8c (RJ45) configuration, designed for board-edge or panel-mount installations where a single connector body handles four Ethernet ports. Press-fit termination eliminates the soldering step — the compliant pins press into plated through-holes, which makes the assembly rework-friendly and avoids thermal stress on the board. The shielded shell with integrated EMI finger provides a low-impedance ground path to the chassis, helping the system pass Cat5e emissions limits at 100 MHz. A bicolor green/yellow LED per port gives link and activity indication without a separate indicator assembly.
Press-Fit Termination and Board Mounting
The press-fit termination is the key assembly differentiator here. The connector mounts through board-edge, panel-mount, and through-hole features — the press-fit tails engage plated through-holes without solder, so the joint is purely mechanical and can be pressed out for field replacement. The tab direction is up, meaning the locking tab on the RJ45 plug faces upward when the jack is mounted. The housing is polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), a common choice for connectors that see repeated plug insertions because it resists creep and maintains latch retention.
Cat5e Rating and Shielding
The Cat5e rating means this jack is characterized for 100 MHz performance, sufficient for 1000BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet) over four twisted pairs. The shielded shell and EMI finger are not optional — they are part of the rated performance, providing a controlled ground return that keeps common-mode noise from coupling into the signal pairs. For a system that must pass FCC Class B or CISPR 22 radiated emissions, the low-impedance chassis bond through the EMI finger is the path that keeps the cable shield effective.