Common iPhone Battery Issues and Fixes

cell phone cable

The iPhone has been popular for years, with nearly 395 of these devices being sold every minute. But while there are countless Apple devotees, even most of them will admit that this beloved technology is far from perfect. Since we rely on our phones for just about everything, it’s no surprise that many of us experience feelings of panic when our batteries start to die. Sometimes, our battery usage makes sense. But other times, it’s baffling. Here are three common yet frustrating battery issues that iPhone users experience — and what you might be able to do to fix them before you head in for repairs.

PROBLEM: My iPhone Won’t Charge Unless It’s Positioned At a Certain Angle

Solution: This could be due to a couple of factors. One might be that there’s debris clogging up your phone’s charging port, which will make it harder for your cell phone cables to work as intended. You can test out this theory by carefully cleaning and scraping out your port with something like a toothpick.

If that doesn’t do the trick, it could be a problem with your charging cable. If you’ve purchased knock-off cell phone charging cables, they might not actually be compatible with your iPhone. Apple tried to ensure that only licensed lightning cables would work with their devices, which is actually a good thing. Cheap cell phone cables can actually damage your phone and will break easily. So if you’re relying on a tattered cable you bought for cheap, you’ll probably want to invest in some new, high-quality cell phone cables to ensure your battery will charge correctly.

PROBLEM: My iPhone’s Battery Charge Drops Rapidly and Randomly

Solution: Your battery percentage shouldn’t be decreasing in large chunks. Unless you’re using a battery draining game or your iPhone is extremely old, it’s just not a normal occurrence. It could be because the battery is actually mis-calibrated. In other words, your phone is misreading the battery percentage. The good news here is that it might not be a battery issue and can be fixed at home.

This kind of thing often happens after a major operating system update. To fix it, you’ll want to charge your phone up to 100% without using it at all during this period. Then, use your phone normally until it turns off. If you can power it back up, do so and use it normally until it turns off again. Keep repeating these steps until you are unable to turn the phone back on. Then, charge your phone (uninterrupted) again until it reaches 100%. This should recalibrate the battery and prevent the problem from happening again.

PROBLEM: Even Though I’ve Been Charging It, My iPhone Won’t Turn On

Solution: If your phone has shut off and won’t turn back on, all might not be lost. A battery that’s completely and totally drained might not turn on after 15 minutes of being plugged into its charger. It can take an hour before it boots up again. Removing your phone from its power source before it’s reached a specific charging threshold can cause this to happen, as well. Just be patient and leave the device for about an hour, plugged into its cell phone cable.

If that doesn’t prove successful, you can perform what’s known as a hard reset. The process is different depending on which generation of iPhone you have; for older iPhones, you’ll need to hold down the power and home buttons simultaneously for 15 seconds, but newer phones require some maneuvering between the volume buttons and the power button. You should see the Apple logo pop up after performing this step. If that doesn’t work and you’ve backed up your phone, you can restore its factory settings in the hopes that it will power on again — or you may want to take it to the Apple store for repairs.

Many of us suffer from low battery anxiety, but it’s even worse when your iPhone battery starts to misbehave. Fortunately, the explanation may be simpler than you’d think.

Ethernet Crossover Cables vs Ethernet Cables: Whats the Difference?

Ethernet Crossover Cable vs Ethernet Cable

In the world of cables, many subtle but important differences separate products. Each cable type functions in a unique way to serve a particular purpose, all to keep your computers and electronics working properly.

Two cables that commonly get confused are Ethernet cables and Ethernet crossover cables. There is a whole range of Ethernet cables available on the market, but these two, in particular, tend to get confused due to their many similarities. Read on to learn which cable serves which purpose:

Ethernet Crossover Cable vs Ethernet Cable: Key Differences

A traditional Ethernet cable, the most common type, is used to connect unlike types of devices. For example, an Ethernet cable may connect a computer to a modem, or a switch to a router. With Ethernet cables, an individual or business can help different device types receive and send signals from a network hub.

An Ethernet crossover cable is an Ethernet cable used to connect two like devices together. Crossover cables could connect a computer with a computer, or a switch to a switch. This type is a little less common and therefore harder to find, but still just as useful as traditional Ethernet cables

When comparing an Ethernet crossover cable vs Ethernet cables, it’s also important to note different wiring setups. In a crossover cable, rather than having the wired pins match, a crossover cable uses two separate wiring standards. One end of a crossover cable uses the T568A wiring standard; the other uses the T568B wiring. The internal wiring of a crossover Ethernet cable allows it to reverse the transmit and receive signal so like devices can communicate.

Using these two types of cables gives network managers greater versatility and control over how network information is spread and accessed throughout a building. Rather than having to establish many separate PC-to-hub connections in, say, a computer lab, crossover cables allow communication between each individual personal computer. While traditional Ethernet cables establish essential network connections between unlike devices, crossover cables allow for greater simplicity and organization among many devices of one type.

As of March 2017, the world held around 3.74 billion internet users. Though wireless connections have their place, Ethernet cables remain an important and dependable way to connect to the web and share information. Use this guide to choose between traditional Ethernet cables and crossover cables to make the best connection. For more information, contact Cable Wholesale today!

Plug In, Speed Up: How to Charge Your Phone a Lot Faster

lightning cables

It’s safe to say we’re pretty dependent on our devices, whether we like it or not. Last year, approximately 64% of Americans owned an iPhone or another Apple product. Not only is ow battery anxiety is a real, perceivable condition now, but you’re so reliant on this technology that you may no longer be able to navigate using a map or remember your best friend’s phone number by heart. As long as you keep your phone charged up, it’s not a problem. But what happens when you have to leave the house in 15 minutes and suddenly realize your battery is only 30% charged? Here are some ways to boost your battery in a hurry.

  • Opt for Airplane Mode (or Power Off): The less your phone is able to do while you’re charging, the more quickly it can do its thing. Experts recommend that prior to using lightning cables, users toggle their phones into airplane mode or switch them off entirely. This can allow you to preserve what battery charge you already have left and will devote all of the charging power from your cell phone cables to powering up your battery, rather than using it to play a game or surf the internet.
  • Use a Wall Plug: When you use a cell phone charging cable, it’s best to use a wall charger if you want results fast. While plugging into your computer is okay if you’re in a jam, it won’t be nearly as fast as when you use a charging block. In general, you should steer clear of wireless charging if speed is your main concern. And be sure to look at both the amperage and voltage of the charger or lightning cables you’re using, as these can impact the speed of the charging process. FYI, the higher those numbers are, the better.
  • Cool It Down: If your phone is overheated, it won’t charge as effectively. Make sure the temperature around you isn’t too hot for your phone and consider removing the protective cover while it’s charging to be on the safe side. Of course, frigid temperatures aren’t good for your phone, either. Not only will using a car charger not work as quickly due to its quality, but the extreme temperature in your vehicle might also have an effect on your device. Aim to charge in a comfortable environment.
  • Buy a Better Cable: If you’re attempting to charge your phone with worn out or knock-off lightning cables, you’re probably going to have a hard time getting the desired result. They might not even recognize your device and could refuse to charge it at all. Alternatively, your device might start to charge but the cables could end up damaging your phone in the end. Always buy lightning cables from trusted sources and replace them right away if they start to show signs of obvious wear.

In today’s world, you probably fear being caught without a fully charged phone. While your battery doesn’t actually have to hit that 100% mark to be at its most effective, these tips can help you get closer to a full charge a whole lot faster.

Crossover Cable Vs. Straight-Through Ethernet Cable: What’s the Difference?

crossover cable uses

As of 2016, there were approximately 3.5 billion internet users worldwide, with 45% of the global population accessing the internet. But we don’t all access the internet in the exact same way. Some people rely on wireless connections, while others use Ethernet cables. Making matters even more complex, there are a few different Ethernet cable types to be aware of. Today’s post will discuss the differences between Ethernet cables (otherwise known as straight through cables) and Ethernet crossover cables — and why it’s important to know which is best for a given application.

Ethernet Crossover Cable Vs Ethernet Cable

You might refer to a straight through cable as simply an Ethernet cable or as a patch cable. You’ve probably seen this type of cable used in your home or office. This cable, which contains a twisted pair of wires, is used to connect a computer to a network (often through a router). If you use an Ethernet cable, you’re using an alternative to a wireless connection; they’re meant to connect two different devices in order to get online. When you examine a straight through cable, each side of the connector portion should match in terms of the color and configuration of the pins. That’s because there’s only one wiring standard used throughout this type of cable.

Crossover cable uses differ from those of regular Ethernet cables. While crossover cables do fall under the Ethernet cable category, these specialized cables are meant to directly connect two computing devices or two switches together. This connection is forged by crossing over (a.k.a. reversing) the pin contacts. Crossover cable connectors have two separate wiring standards, meaning that the colors and configurations of the pins do not match perfectly by design. That’s because this type of cable will use its internal wiring to reverse the signals. Most people would explore these crossover cable uses when testing one computer through another or in competitive gameplay that required the use of two devices. Keep in mind that crossover cable uses apply only when both systems are configured for direct network connections.

The functions of these cables certainly do differ, but the crossover cable is essentially a derivative of the original straight-through version. Both options have been around for quite a while and they’re still utilized today for the purposes of connecting our devices (to either the internet or to each other). To find out more about our selection of Ethernet cables, please contact us today.