Keystone Modules

Keystone - Units for data communication

On this page you will find our selection of keystone units, which are used in data communication and can be mounted in both wall sockets and patch panels.

Keystone units are most often used for internet and LAN, which connect to the network card in your PC, and it is often in such units that you connect your network cable.

Keystone units are available in several variants and with different characteristics, some can for example be mounted without using tools, while others require some tools.

If you are unsure about which keystone unit you need, you can read below and become a little wiser about the small but effective units.

5 things you should know about Keystone units

There are various types of Keystone units, and it can be easy to be in doubt about which one you need, therefore we have gathered some information below that can help you find the right one for your needs.

#1 - Types of Keystone units

There are many types of Keystone units and also various accessories, Keystone connectors are the primary units, and it's here you can connect a cable.

They come with options for several different types of connectors, so you can connect both regular network connectors, but also for example:

• HDMI
• F-connectors (antenna connectors)
• USB
• USB-B
• RCA
• COAX

Keystone connectors can be used for both telephones, networks, audio, video, microphone terminals, and much more.

Additionally, Keystone units are available as connectors, where you can connect, for example, 2 cables with the connector or connect an RCA connector with a network connector.

There is also a range of equipment for mounting and covering cable outlets, which is suitable for keystone units, including you can find:

• Keystone Cover
• Keystone boxes
• Keystone holders
• Keystone frames
• Keystone Data outlets
• Keystone patch panels
• Keystone wall boxes

The various accessories make it easy for you to create neat and discreet installations, as you can give the connectors a nice finish, so it is not just a hole in the wall.

If the keystone connector needs to be mounted in your computer, it is often keystone modules you should look for.

#2 - Internet categories in Keystone units

Keystone units come in different categories that tell you the bandwidth and speed the connector can transmit.

It may vary which category of keystone unit you should choose, but this is most often determined by the bandwidth or speed you are provided.

You should be aware that newer categories are backward compatible with older versions, so you can future-proof your connector by choosing a unit that is newer and more powerful than what you need right now.

Below you will find an explanation of the different categories of keystone units:

Cat5e

Cat5e units are excellent keystone units for smaller networks, such as in private homes.

The units can handle a bandwidth of up to 100 MHz and provide a speed of up to 1000 Mbit/s.

Cat5e units are, however, not very suitable for high-speed connections such as fiber networks and similar.

Cat6

Cat6 keystone units have a slightly larger bandwidth than Cat5e and can handle bandwidth of up to 250 MHz, as well as a speed of up to 10,000 Mbit/s for cables up to 55 meters in length.

This category can be used for example for fiber networks and larger network solutions for both private and business.

Cat6a

Cat6a provides the same qualities as Cat6, but can handle bandwidths up to 500 MHz, and can thus also be used for large network solutions.

It is often Cat6 and Cat6a that are used in newer installations, or where you wish to use fiber networks.

It is also possible to find Cat 7 and 8 units, which can deliver bandwidths of up to 2000 MHz and speeds of up to 40,000 Mbit/s.

However, these categories are most often used to future-proof the network, or in very large network solutions, and they are relatively expensive units still.

You should not be afraid of having to replace keystone units with newer connectors down the line, as it is relatively easy to replace the units and at the same time the units are not so expensive.

#3 - Keystone for Patch panel or wall

Patch panels are primarily used when you need to install several keystone units in a rack, and patch panels often come with 24 ports, allowing you to insert 24 keystone units.

When you need keystone units for a patch panel, it is often modular units and here you need to be aware of the sizes of the units, and that they fit into the ports on the patch panel.

If the keystone units are wider than the standard size, you risk taking up so much space that you cannot use the ports next to the unit.

When you need keystone units for mounting in the wall, it often requires that you also mount some boxes around the unit, so you can get the connector finished nicely, just like you know it from your outlets.

Here, however, it is a different form of finishing, and there are different types and colors for mounting in the wall, so the keystone units can be discreetly mounted on the wall.

#4 - Keystone materials

Keystone units are often produced in both plastic and metal, and in addition, there is a range of different covers that can be placed over the units.

Some Keystone units are also made of brass, but most units are made of steel, making them slightly more resistant to movement of the unit.

The keystone units that are made of plastic are often available in the colors grey, white, or black, and are often equipped with a so-called “snap-in” function, consisting of two clips placed on the outside of the unit.

These clips fit snugly into, for example, a Patch panel's port openings and make it easy to push the unit into place, without tools.

#5 - Shielded or unshielded Keystone network connectors

Keystone connectors are available in both a shielded and an unshielded version, and if you need to have many units sitting close together, for example in a panel, it is advisable to choose the shielded version.

A shielded keystone unit is protected with a small metal shield, which shields the connector against external signal disturbances.

If you invest in a shielded cable, it’s a good idea to use a shielded keystone unit, as the shielding is then continuous and you achieve optimal shielding.

An unshielded unit can well be used, for example for wall mounting, if it is the only or one of a few connectors in the same outlet.

Here, there will often not be much interference between the connectors and cables, so as a rule of thumb, you can choose an unshielded keystone unit when you choose an unshielded cable.