Abstract: A cable header connector includes a cable including a pair of signal wires, a contact sub-assembly terminated to the cable and a ground shield providing electrical shielding for the contact sub-assembly. The contact sub-assembly has a mounting block having contact channels therein. The contact sub-assembly has a pair of signal contacts each received in corresponding contact channels and held in the contact channels by an interference fit. The contact channels receive corresponding signal wires of the cable and position the signal wires in position adjacent to the corresponding signal contacts. The signal contacts are laser welded to the signal wires of the cable at terminating ends of the signal contacts after being positioned in the contact channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing and organizing wires in electrical data connectors is disclosed. The method provides the steps to optimally position signal wires in the region where the wires are transitioned between industry standard paired cable signal positions and industry standard attachment positions for a printed circuit board. The apparatus is a data connector forcing the signal wires to maintain optimal positions in the wire transition region and an associated circuit board that eliminates unnecessary unmatched or asymmetrical plated through holes and maintains signal transmission line symmetry.