# Harvesting 8 RJ-45 jacks from a router for re-use

**URL:** <https://community.sparkfun.com/t/harvesting-8-rj-45-jacks-from-a-router-for-re-use/27549>\
**Category:** Projects\
**Created:** [October 4, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/harvesting-8-rj-45-jacks-from-a-router-for-re-use/27549 "2013-10-04T18:10:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bluesfan44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@bluesfan44](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/bluesfan44)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/harvesting-8-rj-45-jacks-from-a-router-for-re-use/27549/1 "2013-10-04T18:10:18Z")

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I’m doing a sort of trivia-game buzz-in-first project, and I’m connecting each buzzer to a central hub using RJ45/Cat5 cable. It may be overkill now, but gives me expansion options later.

Anyway, I managed to dig up an old 8-port router with a bank of 8 RJ45 connecters such as this: [http://www.rj45-modularjack.com/china-1 … 85073.html](http://www.rj45-modularjack.com/china-1_x_8_port_multi_port_rj45_jack_10_100_1000m_base_tab_down_telephone_rj45-1085073.html):

Now, I’ve already figured out that these won’t connect to a breadboard or pre-printed/drilled circuit board without some sort of breakout board, the likes of which I haven’t been able to find. This is perfect for what my project needs, but I’m having trouble finding out how to go about making the connections from my Uno to this bank of RJ45s.

Am I looking at having a custom circuit board printed up, because that will be cost-prohibitive. I’ve been looking for a breakout board of some sort that I could use, but haven’t had any luck.

Thanks in advance for any guidance/assistance for this experienced programmer but circuit board neophyte.

BF44

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**Author:** ![fll-freak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@fll-freak](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/fll-freak)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 1:46pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/harvesting-8-rj-45-jacks-from-a-router-for-re-use/27549/2 "2013-10-05T13:46:01Z")

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A solution is to solder individual wires to the leads on the jacks and run them to some perf board where you can start making your interconnects.

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**Author:** ![waltr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/898d66/32.png) [@waltr](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/waltr)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/harvesting-8-rj-45-jacks-from-a-router-for-re-use/27549/3 "2013-10-05T14:27:06Z")

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Another is to leave the jacks on the router board and cut the board to remove all the other circuits. Then solder wires onto the jack pins/pcb pads.

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**Author:** ![bluesfan44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@bluesfan44](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/bluesfan44)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/harvesting-8-rj-45-jacks-from-a-router-for-re-use/27549/4 "2013-10-05T20:44:49Z")

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Skye and walter – Thanks for your input. I was hoping there’d be an easier way, but nothing good is ever easy, eh?

Though in terms of sending 5v, common ground and linking LEDs, this may actually be a better solution long-term!

Thanks very much!

BF44