In these tech-savvy times, it’s virtually unheard of to go without internet access. And with an Ethernet connection, you probably won’t ever have to. But how exactly are Ethernet cables used? What do they look like? And are there specific benefits to choosing an Ethernet connection over other internet access options? We’ll answer those questions in today’s FAQ post.

What are Ethernet cables used for?

Ethernet cables are used to connect a device to a network (e.g., the internet). Specifically, they’re high-speed cables that can transmit data through networks and connections. If you have wired internet, they’re what’s responsible for allowing your desktop or laptop to have internet access.

What do Ethernet cables look like?

There are lots of different kinds of cables out there, so it’s understandable you might not recognize an Ethernet cable upon first glance. They actually look similar to cables used in landline telephones in that they have a jack-type connector (which is a very distinctive type of plug) on one end. Ethernet cables, however, contain more wires and have a larger plug than you’d see with a traditional telephone cable. They also come in different colors, making them stand out a bit more than other kinds of cables.

Are there different Ethernet cable types?

Yes! There are actually several different Ethernet cable types, also known as categories. As technology evolves, the types of Ethernet cables we use does, too. These days, you’ll typically see CAT5 cables, CAT5e cables, and CAT6 cables, although there are newer versions that are starting to gain popularity. The higher the category number, the higher the performance (and the newer it is). While having a newer cable won’t necessarily ensure your internet will be faster, it can increase your network’s bandwidth.

What are the benefits of having an Ethernet connection?

There are a lot of ways to connect to the internet, each with its own pros and cons. While fiber optic cables have been used since 1988, they definitely aren’t the only means of getting online. At one point, Ethernet actually seemed rather outdated, but it’s making a real comeback. Although many people opt for wireless internet, an Ethernet cable can actually provide more consistent speeds and a more reliable connection. It may be a bit more restrictive for some people, but it definitely outranks wireless in terms of signal quality and speed. If you’re a gamer, a streamer, or you simply need your internet to be dependable at all times, Ethernet may be the right choice for you.

Now that you understand a bit more about Ethernet cables, we’re here to help you with all your network cabling needs. For more information, contact us today.

These days, we rely on our phones and other devices more than ever. It’s no surprise, then, that we have to charge those devices more frequently just to ensure we won’t ever be caught with a dead battery.

Unfortunately, the more often we charge, the less your battery can hold that charge. As phones get older, the batteries can start to wear out. The result may be that your battery holds a charge for a much shorter duration — forcing you to charge even more frequently. But by making a few important changes to your phone habits, you conserve your battery.

If you want to keep your phone powered up for a longer period, you may want to look at the apps you’re using and how they impact your battery life. This information can usually be found in your phone’s settings. There, you can assess which apps are responsible for the bulk of your battery usage. (Social media and messaging apps typically contribute to a lot of it, but games and video media can, too.) You may want to consider limiting your use of these apps, particularly when you’re nowhere near a charger.

Keep in mind that these apps may be running in the background when you aren’t actively using them. The same can be said for certain phone functions. For example, GPS and location services may automatically be enabled. Another good example is the “fetching” option that many email apps have enabled. It might automatically check for new mail every five to ten minutes, but you’ll save your battery if you switch the settings so that your app checks only when you open it to look at your inbox. Remember to force quit those apps and to manually turn off any background activity to minimize battery drainage.

Finally, you might want to think about turning down your screen brightness. Not only is a fully illuminated screen harder on your eyes and your sleep patterns, but it’s also likely to be harder on your battery. You can always turn it up if you need to, but making it a habit to dim the brightness can be a real life saver. All new smartphones also have a “power save” or “low battery” mode built right in, which can really help — even if your battery isn’t getting low quite yet.

Many of us think of our smartphones as extensions of ourselves, so we need to take proper care of them to make sure they can function as intended. If you follow these simple battery-saving tips, you shouldn’t ever be caught without a charge — and your phone may not need to be replaced nearly as often.

The first fiber optic cable connected the U.S. to France and Britain in 1988, and since then, hundreds more have been installed all over the globe. But it’s not always easy to determine the most efficient setup when it comes to network cabling. In fact, there are quite a few mistakes that are easy to make during the process if you’re not careful. These mistakes can hinder productivity as well as overall efficiency. With that in mind, here are a few of the most common network cabling mistakes you should avoid at all costs.

Not properly managing your network cables.

A CAT6 cable contains four pairs of copper wire and uses all the pairs for signaling in order to obtain its highest level of performance. But regardless of the set of cables your network uses, it’s critical to have some sort of system when it comes to keeping them managed and organized properly. This usually involves labeling each wire clearly and carefully and grouping together similar sections of cables. This is a relatively time-consuming process based on the number of cables you’re working with, but it could also exponentially save time when it comes time to find one specific cable.

Neglecting distance.

It’s also important to keep distance in mind, because the longer the distance between the wire’s input and output, the higher risk it has of getting damaged through daily use. Typically, experts say 100 meters is the limit for cable run.

Neglecting joule ratings with surge protectors.

If you’re using surge protectors in your network’s cabling infrastructure, make sure to check the joule rating. Not doing so can put your entire network safety at risk. The number of joules listed for the surge protector represents the energy absorption rating. The more the better. For a computer or home theater equipment, you’ll want to consider surge protectors with joule ratings of 2500 or more. If you’re unsure of the joule rating of a surge protector, check its label, consult the owner’s manual, or reach out to a professional for advice.

Ultimately, avoiding these mistakes helps to keep your cable network safe. For more information about how to buy CAT5 cables, contact CableWholesale. We’ll help you buy CAT5 cables and others required to get your network up and running efficiently.

In today’s world, we’re constantly connected. If we aren’t able to find a Wi-Fi connection or send a text to a friend, our blood pressure starts to rise. Even a slow-loading web page can send us into a panic. But what you might not realize is that your choice of internet cable might be making it harder for you to work, play, and communicate online.

A lot of us use our cell phones to surf the web, but that doesn’t account for all internet traffic. While 39% of people used their smartphones to access the internet in 2017, around 59% used a residential broadband connection to do so. But that doesn’t mean connections are always reliably fast. In Q1 2017, the average internet connection speed for U.S. users was 18.75 Mbps. A year prior, there were 1,169 thousand fixed wireless connections throughout the United States with over 200 kbps in at least one direction. Still, according to a recent survey, only four in every 10 users said they were satisfied with their average Wi-Fi speed.

It’s possible that this dissatisfaction could be the result of inconsistent internet speeds. Wi-Fi may be popular, but it’s simply not as reliable as Ethernet. In fact, many consumers believe that they’re guaranteed faster Wi-Fi speeds than they are. When the average user pays for a specific Wi-Fi speed, their actual usage speeds will be only 30% to 60% of what’s advertised — which is perhaps why customers don’t feel contented with the speeds they’re getting.

Fortunately, wireless internet isn’t your only option. Copper cabling came into favor around the time the telephone was invented, but fiber optics have emerged as a more popular and more dependable alternative since then. In fact, one source estimates that fiber optic cables lose only 3% signal strength over a 350-foot distance, while copper wiring loses around 94% of its signal strength over that same distance.

Generally speaking, wired internet provides a more consistent connection that isn’t dependant upon router proximity or the number of devices connected to a given network. If you’re tired of feeling frustrated with your unreliable Wi-Fi connection, it might be time to consider an alternative you can count on.

If you run a business in the digital age, connectivity needs to be a top priority. When your staff can’t connect to a given device or to the internet, productivity will certainly suffer. Unfortunately for your organization, this problem is probably more common than you’d think. More than 80% of businesses said they experienced office internet connectivity issues on a regular basis during 2017. And on average, those businesses reported more than four internet service disruptions every month. Not surprisingly, 77% of businesses that experienced these disruptions said the events had a negative impact on their organization’s profitability.

That’s often where having the right equipment comes in. The type and quality of cables your office has, for instance, can make a big difference in your ability to stay connected. Here are five different types of cables your office shouldn’t be without.

1. UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) Cables: UTP cables are used for both telephone and Ethernet access. AT&T originally developed the 25-pair color code that’s still used today in most UTP cables. These cables include four pairs of wires protected by colorful jacket sheathings. The wires are twisted a specific number of times to reduce interference from other kinds of wires and electronic devices.
2. Fiber Optic Cables: Fiber optic cables contain a glass or plastic core that’s surrounded by protective materials. They’re typically associated with high-speed internet access (many businesses use them to ensure a connected network between different buildings), but the technology is nothing new. Fiber optics have actually been around since the 1870s, but this technology is still considered to be one of the fastest and most cost-efficient options for data transmission.
3. HDMI Cables: First developed in 2002 to transmit audio and video signals, HDMI cables can connect personal computers, TVs, Blu-Ray and DVD players, gaming consoles, digital audio devices, video projectors, and more. Many digital cameras and mobile phones come equipped with miniature versions of HDMI ports. Rather than being used for data transfer, these cables are used to send signals for higher quality viewing. They’re what allow you to hook up a laptop to a large screen TV for presentations — a must for many businesses today.
4. USB Cables: Unlike HDMI cables, USB cables are used to actually connect two devices and transport data between them. USB-B cables typically connect routers, computers, or printers. USB-A cables are often used in the office to connect your keyboard or mouse to your desktop computer. If you’ve ever connected your smartphone to your laptop to sync it or a digital camera to a computer to upload some images, you’ve used a USB cable.
5. Ethernet Cables: Rather than relying on a wireless network, many businesses opt for a wired connection. Ethernet cables like Cat 5e and Cat 6 are often faster and more reliable than Wi-Fi. Although Wi-Fi networks can theoretically manage speeds of 1.3 Gbps, Ethernet connections can realistically provide speeds of 2.5 to 5 Gbps (as of 2018). In many cases, that makes for higher productivity and lower stress for employees.

In order for your organization to run smoothly, you’ll need access to reliable tools that keep you connected. By prioritizing the acquisition of high-quality cables like these, your employees will be able to do their jobs with ease, resulting in higher success rates for your business.

If you’re like most Americans, you love your cell phone. Many of us are rarely more than a few dozen feet away from our smartphones, and as a population, we buy cell phones at an astonishing rate. In fact, every minute nearly 395 iPhones are sold. That’s more than six iPhones sold per second!

As much as we love our phones, cell phone accessories make them even better. A cool case or charging cable personalizes a smartphone and makes it more functional for meeting our daily needs.

If you’re looking to make your phone even better, you’ve come to the right place. Never go without a connection again, and check out with these four clever and useful cell phone cables:

Extra Long Cell Phone Cables

Nothing is more frustrating than sitting next to an outlet on the floor because your charging cable doesn’t reach the nearest seat. Make sure your charger reaches your bed, the sofa, or the booth at a restaurant with an extra-long cable. Standard cables are about three feet long, but you can find chargers six, 10, or even 12 feet long to reach across entire rooms!

Car Charging Cables

These days, driving with a dead cell phone is a bit frightening. What if you get lost and need to navigate? What if an accident happens and you need to call for help? Never drive without a phone again by purchasing a car charger. USB adapters can fit into cigarette lighting ports, so even older cars without USB ports can still charge your device.

Cell Phone HDMI Cables

If you have a phone and an HDMI-compatible T.V., you can stream any internet video service to the bigger screen using an HDMI-micro USB conversion cable. Skip the squinting and watch your favorite shows and movies on the T.V. screen like a real adult.

Portable Charging Banks

Are you someone who is always on the move? Whether you’re traveling, on a run, or simply out of the house, a portable charging bank can ensure your phone battery lasts all day long. Just charge the portable battery at home, then plug into your phone while you’re out and about for a phone battery boost.

These smart cell phone cables and accessories can keep your phone charged in nearly any circumstance. As the holidays approach, cell phone accessories also make great gifts. For more great cables to connect to all your favorite devices, visit cablewholesale.com today!

When it comes to having access to the internet, people have several different options to choose from. This is especially true seeing as how there were 3.74 billion people using the internet around the world as of March 2017. While many people use Wi-FI, Ethernet cables are often a more practical and reliable choice. But how do you choose between Ethernet cable types? Let’s take a look at a few factors to consider when choosing Ethernet cables.

Solid vs. stranded cable: When referring to the copper conductor in the ethernet cables, you generally have to choose between solid or stranded Ethernet cables. In solid cables, one solid wire per conductor is used, which is often seen in Cat5 cables. On the other hand, a stranded cable consists of multiple wires per conductor, which are wrapped around each other. Solid cables are good to use for structured wiring, as they can easily be put into patch panels and wall jacks because they only have one conductor. Stranded cables can be used for crimp conductors or to create patch cables.

Desired speed: Different Ethernet cables will offer different internet speeds. If you’re looking for basic internet speeds, Cat5 cables are a great option. Cat5 cables are easy to install and they can last for several years without needing replacing. Furthermore, they’re reliable and often faster than Wi-Fi connections. But if you’re looking for even faster internet, Cat6 Ethernet cables could be a good option. While they can be more difficult to install and have a higher price tag, they do offer more speed. So depending on what you’re looking for, keep internet speed in mind.

Environmental factors: It’s also important to consider what type of environment the Ethernet cable will be in, as this will impact what kind of cable you need. If the cable is going to be in a low-vibration area or an enclosed environment, you should go with a solid conductor that offers high bandwidth. But in areas that have high vibrations and temperatures, you may want to consider a flexible cable option that is resistant to torsion and trailing.

Choosing between Ethernet cables can often be a complex process. But keep these tips in mind and buy your cables from a reputable company to ensure you’re getting the right Ethernet cables for your needs.