Eval Unit: 3Com NJ100 Network Jack

Solution providers will find out that the Network Jack, while clever, still needs a lot of work. There are several issues. First off, the Network Jack requires its own power. You have two choices, and neither is as attractive as the actual unit itself. You can hook up an external power supply to the jack, but that is very unwieldy and adds one more wire that can come loose or get in the way. Or you can install a special hub in your wiring closet that will deliver the needed 48 volts of power down the Ethernet cabling, but that can get pricey if you need to replace your wiring closet gear. The standard is called Power Over Ethernet, and it is just getting going and that could mean incompatibility problems if you have already installed something other than 3Com's gear in your customer's wiring closets.

Second, the unit is not going to fit in every wall outlet, owing to its large depth, about 2.5 inches--many outlets barely have enough room to squeeze smallish jacks in them. There is room to install a standard voice RJ11 connector (provided it matches Avaya or Panduit faceplate specs), but it is a bit cramped.

Finally, the unit requires a standard RJ45 connector to hook it up to the wall wiring, rather than use one of the Belkin, or other connector or connectorless schemes. This is an issue, because it means that integrators will have to open up each and every wall jack to install the Network Jack, a time consuming and expensive process.

Overall, the Network Jack looks cute and does deliver four switched 10/100 ports in what has to be one of the smallest packages. But it isn't quite plug and play yet, and getting power to the unit may prove to be more trouble and integrators may be better off buying a small hub and using that instead of the Network Jack for their network installations.

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