RJ11 vs RJ14 vs RJ45 vs RJ48
RJ11, RJ14, RJ45, and RJ48 connectors are all part of the Registered Jack (RJ) family of connectors, and while they share some similarities, they have distinct differences in terms of their pinout, pin number details, wiring standards, color code and common use cases.
Similarities between them are as follows:
• Connector Family: All four connectors belong to the RJ connector family, which means they share some
physical characteristics and can be used with compatible jacks and sockets.
• Modular Design: RJ11, RJ14, RJ45, and RJ48 connectors are designed with a modular plug and socket configuration,
allowing them to be easily connected and disconnected from jacks or outlets.
• Compatibility: These connectors can use the same physical interface, which means they can be inserted into the same
type of jack, but the wiring and pin configurations may differ.
RJ11 connector pinout
Used as telephone Plug. It is used as physical interface to terminate telephone wires. This RJ-11 connector has 6 positions in which 4 are installed. The pins are 2,3,4 and 5. It mainly uses 2 wires for connection i.e. 2 and 5. It is used to connect one telephone. It uses 6P4C & 6P2C connector types. Following table mentions RJ11 pin descriptions.
| RJ11 pin number | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | No connection (NC) |
| 2 | RD |
| 3 | GND |
| 4 | NC |
| 5 | TD |
| 6 | NC |
RJ11 pin details for RS232, RS422 and RS485 connections
| RJ11 pin number | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | RTS output |
| 2 | TX+ output |
| 3 | GND (for RS232), (TX- for RS422/RS485) |
| 4 | GND (for RS232), (RX- for RS422/RS485) |
| 5 | RX+ input |
| 6 | CD input |
RJ14 connector
This RJ-14 connector has 6 positions in which 4 are installed. The pins are 2,3,4 and 5. It is used for connection to two analog telephone lines. It uses 4 wires for connection. It is used to connect two telephones. It uses 6P4C connector type. Following table mentions RJ14 pin descriptions.
| RJ14 pin number | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Unused |
| 2 | Tip-2 |
| 3 | Ring-1 |
| 4 | Tip-1 |
| 5 | Ring-2 |
| 6 | Unused |
Figure-1 mentions pin details of RJ11 vs RJ14 connector types used to interface analog voice lines.
RJ45 connector with color code
Used as data plug. It uses 8P8C (8 position 8 contact) connector type. Following table mentions RJ45 pin descriptions.
| RJ45 pin number | Description as per T568-A |
Description as per T568-B |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Receive Data+ (white/ green) | Transmit Data+ (White/orange) |
| 2 | Receive Data- (green) | Transmit Data- (orange) |
| 3 | Transmit Data+ (white/orange) | Receive Data+ (white/green) |
| 4 | Not used (blue) | Not used (blue) |
| 5 | Not used (white/blue) | Not used (white/blue) |
| 6 | Transmit Data- (orange) | Receive Data- (green) |
| 7 | Not used (White/brown) | Not used (white/brown) |
| 8 | Not used (brown) | Not used (brown) |
RJ48 connector
It uses 8P8C (8 position 8 contact) connector type.
It is used for connecting T1, E1 and J1 lines.
In cross over cable between RJ48 to RJ48 do connections as follows:
1 - 4
2 - 5
4 - 1
5 - 2
In straight cable between RJ48 to RJ48 do connections as follows:
1 - 1
2 - 2
4 - 4
5 - 5
Following table mentions RJ48 pin descriptions.
| RJ48 pin number | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | RX/Ring/- |
| 2 | RX/Tip/+ |
| 3 | Not connected |
| 4 | TX/Ring/- |
| 5 | TX/Tip/+ |
| 6 | Not connected |
| 7 | Not connected |
| 8 | Not connected |
Difference between RJ11 RJ14 RJ45 RJ48
Let us compare RJ11, RJ14, RJ45 and RJ48 with various comparison parameters and mention the same in tabular form.
| Parameters | RJ11 | RJ14 | RJ45 | RJ48 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of pins | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Connector type | 6P4C & 6P2C | 6P4C | 8P8C (8 position 8 contact) | 8P8C (8 position 8 contact) |
| Wiring standard | TIA-568A or B (optional) | TIA-568A or B (optional) | TIA-568A or B (standard) | TIA-568A or B (standard) |
| Connector size | Smaller, narrower | Smaller, narrower | Larger, wider | Larger, wider |
| Pin Arrangement | Typically 2 pairs of wires | Typically 2 pairs of wires | 4 pairs of wires | 4 pairs of wires |
| Data transmission | Low data rates (typically up to 10 Mbps) | Low data rates (typically up to 10 Mbps) | High data rates (up to 1 Gbps or more) | Digital telecommunications circuits |
| Cable length (maximum) | Up to 100 meters (phone lines) | Up to 100 meters (phone lines) | Up to 100 meters (Ethernet) | Up to 100 meters (T1/E1 lines) |
| Wire Gauge | Often uses thinner wire (e.g., AWG 26) | Often uses thinner wire (e.g., AWG 26) | Typically uses thicker wire (e.g., AWG 22) | Typically uses thicker wire (e.g., AWG 22) |
| Color coding | May have various color codes | May have various color codes | Standardized color-coding (TIA-568A/B) | Standardized color-coding (TIA-568A/B) |
| Common Use case | Voice and fax communication | Two-line phone systems | Data transfer and networking | T1 and E1 digital line connections |
Conclusion : In summary, RJ11, RJ14, RJ45, and RJ48 connectors share a common modular design but differ in terms of their pin count, wiring standards, common use cases, data transmission capabilities, and applications. These differences make each connector suitable for specific types of connections and networking purposes.