Wire Wonder is a cable organizer box built for workstations, entertainment centers and home and professional offices, with adjustable pegs that keep cords and cables separated and free of kinks. It also has a feature network design and integration professionals will find useful: a vendor-agnostic way to mount modular jacks. Its 12 sidewall slots, 3 on each side, accept TIA-569-B compliant furniture faceplates from most leading connectivity vendors (Belden, Panduit, Leviton and others). Each faceplate holds 1 to 4 of that vendor's modular jacks, so an installer can build a low-cost, surface-mounted Horizontal Connection Point (HCP) or Multi-User Telecommunications Outlet Assembly (MUTOA) with up to 48 outlets around the perimeter. Here's how to set it up in four steps.

What you'll need

• A Wire Wonder cable management box
• TIA-569-B compliant furniture faceplates from your preferred vendor, such as Belden, Panduit or Leviton
• Modular jacks (or fiber adapters or other connectivity) from the same vendor
• Your horizontal cabling and the jack vendor's termination tool

Faceplates, jacks and cabling are purchased separately.

Step 1: Choose your faceplate and connectivity vendor

Pick the supplier you already use for faceplates, jacks and cabling, such as Belden, Panduit or Leviton. TIA-569-B compliant furniture faceplates from most vendors snap into Wire Wonder, so you aren't locked into one connectivity brand. Each faceplate holds 1 to 4 of that vendor's modular jacks, fiber adapters or other connectivity.

A TIA-569-B furniture faceplate and modular jack (not included).

Step 2: Snap the faceplate into a Wire Wonder slot

Press the faceplate into one of the slots in the Wire Wonder sidewall until it snaps in place. There are 12 slots, 3 on each side, so there's plenty of room for connectivity. Slots you don't use stay open for routing power cords and cables in and out of the box, and ventilation.

The furniture faceplate snaps into a slot in the Wire Wonder sidewall.

Step 3: Insert the modular jack into the faceplate

Click the modular jack into an open port on the faceplate, the same way you would in any furniture or wall installation.

A modular jack inserted into the faceplate.

Step 4: Terminate the cabling into the modular jack

Bring the horizontal cable into the box and terminate it into the back of the jack, following the jack vendor's termination method. Wind any excess cable around the adjustable pegs inside so it stays organized and protected from over-bending and kinking.

Horizontal cable terminated into the modular jack inside the enclosure.

The result: an HCP or MUTOA

With the permanent links terminated inside, equipment patch cords plug into the jacks from outside the box. Wire Wonder now works as a Horizontal Connection Point (HCP) or a Multi-User Telecommunications Outlet Assembly (MUTOA), serving nearby workstations from one location. Snap the cover on and the cabling inside stays hidden and protected.

Wire Wonder as an HCP or MUTOA: cabling terminated inside, patch cords connected outside.

Not sure whether you need an HCP or MUTOA, or just a cable organizer? See Is a Cable Organizer Enough? When Your Cabling Problem Is Actually a MUTOA.

Quick answers

• Which faceplates fit Wire Wonder? TIA-569-B compliant furniture faceplates from most vendors, such as Belden, Panduit and Leviton.
• How many faceplates can I install? Up to 12: three slots on each side.
• How many jacks per faceplate? 1 to 4, depending on the vendor's faceplate, for up to 48 outlets per Wire Wonder.
• Are faceplates and jacks included? No. Use the faceplates, jacks and cabling from your preferred vendor.
• Can I still use the box for power cords? Yes. Wire Wonder can hold a power strip, a router or switch, and terminated network cabling in the same enclosure.