trueCABLE’s 2 Port Surface Mount Box: Overview and Installation Guide

Written by Don Schultz, trueCABLE Senior Technical Specialist, BICSI TECH, INSTC, INSTF, Fluke Networks Copper/Fiber CCTT Certified

It’s here! trueCABLE is introducing a keystone jack surface mount box after a great deal of development and thoughtful design. Referred to as a “biscuit jack” by many, this seemingly insignificant surface box brings a great deal of versatility to a structured cabling installation for home owners through large corporate IT departments and even professional installers. Allowing the organized and professional placement of cable, one would think that a keystone surface mount box would be a standard and ho-hum affair that would work with any keystone jack from any manufacturer. There-in lies the problem; these surface mount jack boxes are typically proprietary! Well, trueCABLE just changed all that.

What is a Surface Mount Box?

You may not be familiar with the concept of a surface mount keystone box. In a traditional structured cabling system the communications cable is normally mounted in a patch panel with keystones at the “head end” and the cables end up in remote outlets, terminated to keystone jacks mounted in wall plates. This is typically all in-wall and hidden from view. Here is an example of remote outlet and what that would look like if you could see inside a wall:

Two port wall plate with two keystone jacks. The blue cable is the permanent solid copper structure cable coming from the patch panel. Grey cables are patch cords.

This arrangement can be quite limiting, however. You need a wall and access to inside the wall. Well, what if you don’t have a handy wall or if the wall is solid concrete? That is what surface mount boxes are for!

Here is an example of the same type of setup, providing remote outlets, but this time all the cable is visible and the box holding the keystones is outside any wall:

Same concept as an in-wall arrangement, just not actually in a wall!

This is what the inside looks like, before the top box cover is snapped on. Note that we have a large tool-less keystone next to a more traditional punch down 110 keystone jack. That’s an important detail we will get into later.

Why Using Keystone Jacks is Important

As you may have noticed, a SCS (Structured Cabling System) is something that I stress quite a bit. The reason has to do with reliability, performance, and versatility. When presented with difficult installations, many (even professional) installers are at a loss as to how to preserve the durability and performance that permanent links provide.

Permanent links (permanently installed cable, not meant to be moved), are foundational to the concept of a properly constructed SCS.

The installer may, since there might not be a handy wall or a concrete wall, simply terminate a 8P8C modular plug (aka RJ45) onto the solid copper permanently installed cable. This is not such a good idea, and may lead to reliability and performance issues if not executed perfectly. Even when done perfectly, hand terminated RJ45s are not exactly known for their ability to withstand frequent plugging and unplugging without developing reliability problems. One other issue is cutting and hand terminating cable in this manner also robs you of versatility! For more information on this critical topic, please see RJ45 vs Keystone: What's the Difference and Which Should You Use?

Thus, we have the surface mount box option instead of hand terminating modular plugs. That’s critical. Here’s why:

• Surface mount boxes allow for the mounting of a Category rated high performance Ethernet keystone jack, which impedance matches and has a PCB (printed circuit board) inside.
• You may use the length of patch cable that fits your installation best from the surface mount box to the end equipment.

Performance, versatility, and reliability are preserved

Well, enough of the generalities surrounding surface mount boxes. Let’s talk about treuCABLE’s thoughtful take on this old idea.

Product Overview: trueCABLE’s 2 Port Surface Mount Box (SKU: SMBWHT2P)

When we set out to design this surface mount box, we wanted a box that would accept any keystone, regardless of type or shielding. We aimed for universal compatibility, and achieved it.

Here are the key features:

• Squeeze-to-open, tool-less design
  • Accepts large diameter cables (up to 9mm)
  • Compatible with all standard UTP/STP keystone jacks and pre-booted cords
  • Durable ABS construction
  • Built-in, writable port labels
  • All mounting hardware included (magnetic base, screws, double-sided tape, nylon ties) to provide three mounting options
  • UL Listed, TAA and RoHS compliant
  • FOREVER WARRANTY

For an in-depth specification sheet with full technical details and dimensions, please refer to this link.

Let’s see some more pictures of the above key features:

Easy squeeze sides. No tools needed. No prying and no breakage trying! Notice the embedded magnet at the bottom.

Accepts the largest keystone jacks and couplers. Yes, that is two really big tool-less shielded keystones mounted in there!

Not to be left out, this surface mount box accepts common AV couplers like Series 6 and BNC (shown).

Even fiber optical couplers fit perfectly. Duplex LC and simplex SC side by side.

Only need to use one keystone port? No problem. The other port has a blank keystone insert (sold separately).

Hinged clear windows allow for labeling

The trueCABLE surface mount box even accepts extra thick shielded cable, up to 9.00mm jacket OD

Multiple Mounting Options

Three mounting options are provided:

• Double-sided adhesive tape (included)
• Screws (included) for more permanent mounting
• Embedded high strength magnet for mounting on steel surfaces

Notice the nylon ties for cable strain relief. Embedded magnet not shown.

Installation Guide: Step-by-Step

Please note you can find a well illustrated and convenient PDF download of the instruction sheet here.

Let’s get to installing one of these! Here are some pre-check items and then some helpful step-by-step instructions.

Installation hardware provided

• Two nylon ties for cable strain relief
• Two screws (Phillips head) for wood backboard mounting
• Double-sided tape for mounting onto drywall

Recommended additional tools for screw mounting

• Drill/driver with 3/32” drill bit for pre-drill
• Medium sized (#11) Phillips screw driver
• Level
• Marking tool

Pre-installation checklist

• Choose mounting location
• Select mounting method based on location (magnet, screw-on, or tape)
• Prepare surface (for screw-on mount, otherwise skip this section)
  • Remove box top
  • Using the base as a template, mark one hole
  • Use a level on the box base to ensure level or plumb as required
  • Mark second hole
  • Remove base and pre-drill holes for screws
  • Screw down the base using a Phillips screwdriver
• Prepare surface (magnet or double sided tape mounting) by cleaning

Installation Procedure

• Attach box to surface if not already attached
• Open box if not already open (squeeze sides)
• Insert keystone jacks/couplers at an angle, clip down
• Secure cables at rear of couple with nylon ties (do not overtighten)
• Label ports
  • Tip: Use a label maker and utilize the card stock that comes with the surface mount box as the backing material
• Snap box closed
• Attach patch cords for end point device of the correct type and length

Applications Where Surface Mount Boxes Are Useful

• Office cubicles
• Conference rooms
• Warehouse concrete walls
• Temporary setups
• Inside of a metal cabinet for cable distribution
• Test stations where cables may be frequently changed

Best Practices & Tips

• Ensure proper cable bend radius at all times
• Use port labels for organization
• Use surface mount boxes when there are no practical alternatives to using the traditional in-wall keystone jack plate
• When working with shielded cable and keystones, the associated patch cords should be of the same type (Category, for example) and also be shielded to help the bond to ground resiliency

Bonding the surface mount box housing itself to ground is not a “thing” and not required for shielded keystones

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I mix and match keystones from different Categories in the box without causing speed loss?

Absolutely! Considering the box holds a maximum of two keystones, mounting Cat6A cable and a keystone next to (for example) Cat5e cable and a keystone would not generate sufficient ANEXT (alien crosstalk) to cause any issues.

Will there be any problems using shielded keystones and unshielded keystones (and associated cable) in the same box?

No. Since the box itself does not require bonding to ground there are no issues with mixing shielded and unshielded keystones and communications cable. Keep in mind patch cords plugged into the box should be either shielded or unshielded (following the type of jack type mounted) as needed.

Must the surface mount box be bonded to ground if housing exclusively shielded cable and keystone jacks?

No. The box should be treated like a typical plastic keystone jack wall plate. As plastic keystone wall plates are not bonded to ground, neither should this box. The bond to ground would be achieved by using the shielded keystones with shielded patch cords instead.

What is the maximum Category I can use in this surface mount box?

The trueCABLE 2 port surface mount box is completely Category agnostic, so even Cat8 is permitted.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! Finally, there is a surface mount box on the market that not only accepts any keystone jack you throw at it, but it is also easy to get into with no tools or guessing needed. How was this not thought of earlier? That is a tough question, which I have no answer to. Perhaps in the glitz and glamor of releasing new Categories of cable, new types of keystone jacks, and patch panels manufacturers forgot about the smaller but equally important pieces of the puzzle. Well, no longer!

If the keystone clicks, it fits!

HAPPY NETWORKING!

trueCABLE presents the information on our website, including the “Cable Academy” blog and live chat support, as a service to our customers and other visitors to our website subject to our website terms and conditions. While the information on this website is about data networking and electrical issues, it is not professional advice and any reliance on such material is at your own risk.