Tell us if this sounds familiar. You come home after a long day of work and you’re ready to relax, so you turn on the TV and the connection is mediocre at best. Your image quality is grainy, the picture’s freezing, there’s discoloration, the audio is cutting in and out. Not to mention, your home theater system doesn’t excite you and it’s outdated. We’ve been there and it’s a shame because you deserve an excellent, state of the art theater system at home. If you’d like to learn the essential items for every home theater system, we’ve got you covered. Read on to learn more.

Start with the screen itself

Now there are two directions you can go when it comes to your screen: a television or a screen paired with a projector. If you’re really trying to create a movie theater at home, then there’s no question, you’re going to need a screen and projector. While a projector and screen offer an authentic viewing experience, there are two major disadvantages: the cost and the required space. A lot of people don't have an empty wall where they can install a screen; plus, a good projector might cost more than your entire entertainment system.

As you might suspect, most households will use a television because they’re more affordable compared to alternatives. Additionally, televisions come in a variety of sizes to fit any home, and the television technology is only improving with time. Whether you’re a gamer, a casual movie and TV show fanatic, or a film aficionado, we’d suggest getting a television that produces 4K resolutions. Anything less than 4K is not only outdated, but companies are dropping customer support for older televisions as well. In other words, the 4K television is a better investment overall.

Create a theater-like experience with a sound system

No home theater system is complete without an excellent sound system, particularly a stereo sound system. Similar to the screen, you also have a couple of sound system options: a set of speakers and subs or a sound bar. If you’re an audiophile, then you’re going to want something like a Bose audio system with surround sound. The primary benefit of surround sound is that it provides the most accurate representation of what’s happening on the screen. In fact, you’ll probably feel like you’re in the scene itself.

Now all this isn’t to say that sound bars aren’t good, because they’re only getting better. If surround sound isn’t something you’re interested in, a sound bar will be sufficient for you. Most sound bars boast clear audio quality and have a stereo mix, which means you’ll still have a sense of surround sound without all the speakers.

Upgrade your devices

Once you have your general set up, that is your screen and sound system, you can begin adding different entertainment options. One option many people have is satellite or cable TV, and having one of these options is great for tuning into local news stations or watching live events like the Emmys. However, satellite and cable TV are becoming less popular because of streaming services which bring us to our next point: you need a streaming device and streaming services. Depending on what you like to watch, you might be able to get by without a streaming device because most modern televisions are Smart TVs. That is, your TV can connect to the internet and have apps that connect you to streaming services. If you’re going to get a streaming device, we’d suggest getting Apple TV 4K or the Roku 4K stick because they’re easy to use.

Whether you chose a Smart TV or a streaming device, you’ll also need to decide which streaming services you want. Most people don’t have one streaming service, they have a couple or several because each option has its own advantages. Take Hulu for example, as it’s the only streaming platform that offers popular TV shows quickly after they air on live television. On the other hand, if you have kids, Disney+ might be worth considering. There are plenty of streaming services out there, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages, so do your research before making a decision.

Even though you’ll have a streaming service or two, you should have a 4K Blu-ray player, because who doesn’t enjoy watching movies with beautiful image quality? Additionally, some streaming services don’t offer every movie or show you’d want. Having a 4K Blu-ray player gives you the option to watch what you want without depending on a streaming service.

Lastly, you could add a variety of gaming consoles to your entertainment system. We’d suggest something old-school like the Nintendo 64 and a modern console such as the Xbox One or Playstation 5. By having all the devices we mentioned, you’re going to have plenty of options when you want to relax, or when you have people over and you need to entertain.

Don’t forget to update your cables

Once you have a great setup including a 4K television, 4K streaming devices, and gaming consoles, don’t make the mistake of assuming you’re all set. You should update the cables because the cables manufacturers give you are typically low-quality and they never last. Plus, having a variety of cables can make your home theater setup more versatile. For instance, you could get an HDMI cable with Ethernet that allows you to connect a tablet, phone, or camera to your big screen. Besides, all the devices you’re installing––with the exception of the Nintendo 64––use HDMI cables nowadays anyway, so why not invest in high-quality cables that will last a lifetime?

Far too many people make the mistake of investing in a 4K television without using the proper HDMI cables that can support 4K resolution. That means they were never watching in 4K resolution to begin with. We hope you consider the essential items for every home theater system, that way you’ll have the best viewing experience possible.

If you’re not sure where to begin with HDMI cables or which ones to use, CableWholesale can help you. We’ve been in business for over twenty years because we supply high-quality cables for every need. We believe in the quality of our products so much that we offer a lifetime warranty on all our cables, so you can purchase with peace of mind. Furthermore, if you need help choosing or installing a cable, our customer service team is incredible and always ready to serve you. So, what are you waiting for? Check out our online shop now or contact us with any questions.

While most people are used to seeing their Ethernet cables inside their home or business, we can’t forget about running Ethernet cable outside. Most internet providers will run outdoor Ethernet cables, either above or underground, to connect your home or building. Although merely running and burying the Ethernet cable sounds easy enough, it’s not that straight forward. You need to ensure you’re protecting the cable from environmental factors such as moisture, heat, freezing temperatures, and storms. Additionally, you’ll need to know which materials to use, such as for the conduit and cable itself. If you’d like to learn how to safely run outdoor Ethernet cables, our experts break down everything you need to know in our comprehensive guide below.

Have a Plan Before Running the Cables

Before you can begin running Ethernet cables outside, you need to identify if the cables are going above ground or underground, because each option will require different materials and procedures. There are a few factors to consider if you’re planning to run cable above ground, such as the type of cable, conduit, and cable placement.

Ideally, you’ll use an outdoor-rated cable anytime the cable is, well, outside––but it’s not negotiable if the cable is above ground. Additionally, when the cable is above ground, you’re going to need weather-resistant conduit such as solid copper or at the very least, UV resistant PVC piping. If you’re choosing to run your outside Internet cable above ground, the cable should never be on the ground and exposed unless you’re using an outdoor-rated cable. An exposed cable is prone to damage from storms, snags, and even landscaping accidents––no one wants a cable caught in their lawnmower. For the best results, the cable should always be elevated using two-hole galvanized cable straps outside the building. In addition, you need to plan the direction you’re running the Ethernet outside if you’re near power lines or other surrounding network cables. Never run cables parallel to power lines because you’ll experience significant interference or noise. Instead, the cables should run perpendicular to the power lines as much as possible, which as you might expect requires some planning.

On the other hand, most internet installers opt for burying Ethernet cables because it’s a more reliable method. Buried cables are much more dependable because they’re mostly out of harm’s way when it comes to the environment. However, it’s not as simple as merely burying a cable, so read on to learn more.

Use Cable You Can Bury Directly or Install Conduit

There are two options when you’re burying an Ethernet cable: direct burial or traditional burial that requires running a conduit. If you’re running a solid copper conduit or PVC piping with the sealants on each connecting point, you could use a standard Ethernet cable, but it’s risky. This is because any moisture that finds its way into the conduit could ruin your cable and you’ll have to replace it. So, for the longest lasting solution, you should simply use outdoor-rated cables in all scenarios. If we’re being honest, running outdoor Ethernet cables underground is fairly labor-intensive, so for the least amount of work, we’d suggest using direct burial cables. Manufacturers designed direct burial cables with additional protective layers to make them safe to bury without requiring conduit. However, you must meet local regulations when it comes to burying cables. Never begin digging until you’re sure there’s nothing in your way. When in doubt, call before you dig.

Reduce the Chance of Environmental Elements Affecting the Cable

Like we mentioned previously, there are several environmental factors that can damage your outdoor Ethernet cables. First and foremost, any cable that’s above ground must be waterproof, otherwise you’ll experience power surges during storms and that will likely damage the cable permanently. Additionally, the UV rays from the sun can damage your cables if they’re overly exposed. The best way to protect your cables from the sun is by running the outside Internet cables through a UV-resistant conduit.

Don’t forget to weatherproof your cable’s connector box outside. The electrical charge produced by standard cables attracts lightning, not to mention rain and snow. To weatherproof the connector box, you should avoid having a box that’s made with metal, as it attracts lightning strikes––opt for a PVC material instead. Furthermore, you should seal every edge of the box with an outdoor sealant such as silicone; that way you’ll keep water, debris, and pests out.

Ultimately, to safely run outdoor Ethernet cables, we’d encourage you to consider direct burial with outdoor cables because you reduce the risk of environmental elements damaging your cables. It’s important that you invest in high-quality cables that will last; you don’t want to dig up the cables you worked so hard to bury in the first place. Not to mention the time, energy, and money you’d be wasting by not using high-quality cables in the first place. Before you order your cables and begin digging, make sure you know what category cable will work for you. In most cases, you can use a Cat5e or Cat6 cable and have excellent connectivity.

If you’re ready to order outdoor Cat6 cables or if you’re unsure which cable works for you, CableWholesale is the place for you. We take pride in supplying high-quality cables that are guaranteed to last. In fact, we believe in our product so much, we back our cables with a lifetime warranty. How can we offer a lifetime warranty? Simple––we triple check our products to ensure they meet our high standards. We refuse to sell anything that we wouldn’t use ourselves, and that truly sets us apart from our competition. Additionally, we offer free technical assistance to all our customers because we believe everyone deserves a high-quality connection. Furthermore, we don’t expect you to be an expert at cables, that’s what we’re here for.

If you need help deciding which cable is best for you, we have a top-notch customer service team ready to help. Collectively we have a team of industry experts that have been in your shoes at one point or another, and we’re ready to improve your home or business’s connectivity. Take a look at our online shop today and contact us with any questions. We’ll be happy to assist.