Dual-Port 100 Base-T RJ45 with Integrated Shielding
The TE Connectivity 5-2301996-2 is a 2-port RJ45 jack designed for 10/100 Base-T and AutoMDIX Ethernet applications. It mounts at a 90° right-angle orientation through a through-hole PCB footprint, with a height above board of 0.531" (13.49 mm) — a standard dimension for panel-cutout or enclosure-wall Ethernet ports. The dual-port configuration packs two 4-core jacks into a single connector body, saving board space and reducing component count per line card.
Board Lock and Mechanical Retention
Without the board lock, the through-hole solder joints alone would carry the full extraction force from a stiff Cat5e cable — the lock diverts that load into the PCB substrate. The EMI fingers serve a dual role: they ground the shield to the panel and also centre the connector in the cutout, preventing the jack body from shifting during mating.