Cat 6 Wall Jack vs Female-to-Female Connector: Differences

cablingethernetlayer1utp

I am running new cat 6 cable from my router to my office so I can get my computer hardwired instead of using WiFi. When looking at what I need to get to connect the cable to a wall plate, I'm seeing 2 main options:

Option 1, which seems to be more common, is to get what I believe is called a Cat 6 wall jack:

http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/ProductImage/12-998-148-02.jpg

Option 2 is to get a female-to-female wall conntector:

http://images10.newegg.com/productimage/A3XT_1_20150906523390131.jpg

Option 2 seems like it would be simpler, as I wouldn't need to actually wire the cable itself to the jack; I simply plug it in. Is there an advantage to using a wall jack and doing my own wiring?

Note that I do already have some RJ45 connectors and a crimping tool for them; so if I need to cut the ethernet cable down to a shorter size; that's not an issue.

Best Answer

A few things to note.

  1. Wallports with punchdowns are generally only suitable for solid core cable. Plugs may be suitable for solid, stranded or both. Check the datasheets carefully before buying any plugs (and if the datasheet doesn't say go with a different brand.
  2. Criming plugs is a fiddly PITA, punchdowns are much easier.
  3. Generally running cable is much easier if it doesn't have plugs on the end.

Generally in most installation work you are using bulk solid core cable off a spool. So punchdowns are the way to go.

OTOH female-female couplers are the way to go if for whatever reason you want to have stranded cables on both sides.