It terminates via press-fit into a through-hole PCB — no solder required, which makes it a clean fit for backplane or high-reliability assemblies where thermal stress from wave soldering is a concern.
The Cat5 rating means this jack is specified for 100 MHz bandwidth, supporting 100BASE-TX and 1000BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet) over four twisted pairs. The shielded construction helps maintain the 100 Ohm differential impedance through the connector — critical for return loss and crosstalk margins at 100 MHz. For Power over Ethernet (PoE) applications, the Cat5 rating does not directly specify current capacity, but the press-fit termination and gold contacts are typical for PoE-capable designs; confirm the specific PoE class against the system's current draw per pair.
Press-Fit Termination — Solderless Assembly
The press-fit termination uses compliant pins that cold-weld into the plated through-hole during insertion. This eliminates the solder joint, which means no thermal shock to the housing, no flux residue, and easier rework — a press-fit pin can be pressed out and replaced without desoldering. The trade-off is that the PCB hole diameter and plating thickness must match the press-fit tail geometry; the board guide helps keep the jack square to the board during the press operation.