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Ask Slashdot: Is It Time To Shrink the Ethernet Connector?
New submitter jimwelch writes: HDMI has shrunk to mini, then micro. USB has shrunk to mini, then micro. The wired Ethernet connector has not changed since 1988! On the Raspberry PI, it is the largest of the standardized connectors. Is it time to come up with a new version? What if, anything, would you like to see replace that suddenly clunky RJ-45 port? I rather like that (in theory) RJ-45 cables can't be easily dislodged, but at the same time dislike that its locking mechanism can be awfully fragile. And for that matter, I'm glad that on most of my computers so far there's been full-sized USB ports as well as full-size ethernet jacks.
Namely, existing infrastructure. With CAT5 and CAT6 cables everywhere, you will need some little box to convert the existing cable into a slimmer one which in turn would end with a slimmer connector.
There are far, far more RJ45 connectors in the world than USB, for example.
...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
Servers would probably maintain full size connectors.
Yes they will, but not the ones that you think. Not RJ-45, but LC.
The world is moving to fiber. Copper is so 1999.
My opinion: leave it as is
My thinking is;
Most connected items that are portable or IoT already use WiFi now so having a smaller connector wouldn't really be a benefit.
For the larger systems like desktops and servers there would be little to no benefit from the smaller connector.
A standard RJ45/8P8C connector/jack is already about as small as you can get it and still be able to see what your doing when you install them.
Currently the tools and connectors used for CAT X cabling are completely standardized and interchangeable with most of the telephone hardware still out there. Things like the line testers and punch down tools work on both systems so I have less I need to buy and carry when in the field working with mixed systems.
All the older hardware, the Smart TV's, the server patch panels, the home routers, hubs, etc. use the full size connector. I don't think people would be happy if they bought a new router and had to get all new cables to boot.
Just some of my thoughts on the subject, I'm sure there are going to many other valid reasons for and against that other commenters will bring up.
Wifi is laden with corner cases. Works great when it works and a b**ch to debug when you have issues. Not to mention randomly spotty. Great in your cubical, suddenly goes to crap when you get into the meeting room.
I am posting this from the 4G on my phone rather than the wifi, because my (fairly bleeding edge, though consumer grade) wireless router Just Can't See This Part of the House. That's 35ft away.
I don't know about wired ethernet going gentle into that good night. At least in new home construction (and certainly in offices), it seems like a no brainier to me: run the cabling up front to support ample power and wired connections. Amount of regret you'll experience later --> 0.
Nothing posted to
Oh, I'm not saying it wasn't awesome, but it was fragile as hell.
I want to see the fibre cable that can be bent in half on itself and survive intact. It's what makes copper so useful in buildings whether in the walls/ceiling or under a desk (which inevitably gets moved around).
we are all invisible unless we choose otherwise
The world is moving to fiber. Copper is so 1999.
The world won't make any serious move to fiber until the key Amphenol patents on Lightcrimp Plus expire making field terminations easy and cheap. (Lightcrimp Plus already makes them easy but not at all cheap)
Until then specific applications will use fiber but common networking will continue to use twisted pair.
Moderating "-1, Disagree" is simple censorship. Have the guts to post your opinion.
I might be one port but things dont work right. I know, I have the entire bevy of these connectors, both USB and Video, and USB speed and behavior has been terrible since 3.0. Speed isnt right, amps isnt right. You can look on Amazon reviews on cables - massive complaints. There is a Google engineer "Benson Leung" that reviews cables as a hobby and checks them to see if they violate USB spec. Even with Benson approved cables the ports often do not charge correctly. Sometimes its 1A even on a 2A port. Sometimes its 2A. Its almost never does the 100 watts / 20 volts / 5A - unless you buy a charger. And type-c chargers are bloody expensive and hard to find. You need a Benson approved one and test it to see if it really rapid charges.
So yes, while type C might be closer to the ideal its a stupid joke how much they cost and how little benefit they provide over a regular stinky 2.0 micro cable these days.
So do I want more unversiality like 8P8C / "RJ45" - hell yes. Id rather wait a bit longer for 10GBASET to become practical. But wait, since there are literally TEN 10GbE standards - that would be 10 different transceivers that can be 10GbE - making fixed port SFP+ and 10GBASET restrictive and SFP+ twinax expensive and SFP+ other types of transceivers very expensive...
You know how much the cables and transceivers cost in a DC? I've seen figures in the 30% range.
You know much more expensive 10GbE because of the number of lunatic standards we had and how much cabling cost?
You see the advantage of CAT5e/CAT6 was it was useful for a VERY, very long time - since 1991. That reduces waste and cost and keeps wiring in the walls good. It was more universal then power adapters, other anything today. It was and is the entire world standard, along now with WiFi - ABGN - I've never had an issue connecting with WiFi or wired ethernet. Ever.
But the diarrhea mess of Apple and phone cables I keep in a backpack at all times. Joke. Custom power cables for laptops. a thunderbolt Ethernet, a DVII, a DVID, a display port, HDMI, mini-displayport, a VGA, type C-C, type A-C, a rapid charger, lightning-cable - all this trash being lugged around. But there is one thing I have one of. Ethernet and the wifi (wherever that is buried.within the laptop). I have a gaggle of dongles and a gaggle of USB cables and chargers because these standards suck horribly.
Legalize the constitution. Think for yourself question authority.
Bullshit. And I say this as a guy with a laptop on his desk, rather than a desktop. The laptop is convenient for working on the train and bringing work home on the weekends, but, in general, I'd be better off with a more powerful desktop at work (the lack of dedicated graphics memory absolutely sucks on this laptop). And there's no way in hell I would be happy with a wifi connection at the office, rather than the fast wired connection I have.