There’s been a common question going around for years—copper cable vs. fiber optic: which option is better for you? And the truth is, it depends. Before we can accurately answer that question, we first need to understand what you’re using it for, and the speed you’ll need. So, let’s get into it.

How Does Copper Cable Work vs. Fiber Optic?

In simple terms, copper cables send data by electrical currents while fiber optics transfer data with pulses of light often from a laser. So, why is this important? First, copper cables have a higher risk of corrosion which reduces their lifespan. In addition, copper cables face interference from several sources, such as the weather and radio frequencies. However, the weather or radio frequencies do no effect fiber optics because they don’t use copper or any other metal. In fact, fiber optics use strands of glass or plastic that are thinner than a human hair to carry the pulses of light to its destination.

Who Is Copper Cabling Ideal For?

Those who live in rural areas would benefit from copper cables since they were the standard for centuries to wire telephones. In other words, cables are already in place and you wouldn’t need to install new cables. Additionally, copper cables are common for households that don’t need fast and consistent internet. Also, versatile copper cables, such as a Cat5e Ethernet cable, are more affordable. As such, they commonly act as temporary cabling for homes and businesses. All that said, it’s not impossible to get fiber optics in a rural area, but you’ll likely need to pay for new cable installation which can be a hefty price tag.

Who Is Fiber Optic Cabling Ideal For?

Businesses have largely adopted fiber optic technology due to their lifespan, reliability, speed, and security benefits. For instance, because they consist of glass or plastic, fiber optic cables don’t corrode, so their lifespan is more than double that of copper cables. Similarly, they experience little to no interference, so the reliability goes unmatched. Additionally, the main benefit of fiber optics is speed capabilities. Because fiber optics transfer data using pulses of light, it allows for data to travel further and faster than copper cables, without losing the quality of connection. Lastly, because businesses value security highly, fiber optics are much less vulnerable to hacks because they don’t emit signals.

So, what’s the verdict? In general, fiber optics overwhelmingly take the win here. But it can still depend based on your location and your personal needs. This is because, although fiber optics have several benefits, they may be overkill if you only want a basic connection for internet browsing. On the other hand, if you’re a business, then fiber optics will probably be a better fit.

Regardless of your needs, our customer service team at CableWholesale has set the standard for excellence, and they’d be happy to help. We strive to offer the highest quality cables, at the best price, all while offering a lifetime warranty on most of our products. Contact us today for more information!

Telemedicine has become an increasingly popular industry in health care. It allows medical professionals to work with patients via technology. Of course, there’s still a need for brick and mortar health care centers, and all of these need to have up-to-date technology. Here’s four advantages connectivity brings to healthcare.

Team Member Collaboration

This is especially helpful in a hospital where multiple floors need to collaborate. One of the most reliable ways to increase speed and connectivity is to update your Ethernet cables. It’s important to note you’ll need a lot of cables to rewire a hospital or any other health facility for that matter. So, by going with bulk Cat5e cable you will certainly save a lot of money in the long run.

Real-Time Monitoring

With technology always improving, there continues to be a rise in wearables for clients. These products allow health care professionals to monitor factors such as heart rate and blood sugar levels in real-time. So, for the best interest in clients, you should have the best connectivity set up so you can react to any issues promptly.

Health Care Centers

Whether it’s an emergency room, hospital wing, or general doctor’s office, these facilities need a good connectivity strategy. Without it, it makes daily work difficult to navigate because hardware moves slowly or employees have to deal with unorganized data.

Data Organization

Lastly, there are copious amounts of data in health care. This data includes day to day information such as emails. But it’s also private client information that deserves the highest amounts of security. Connectivity can decrease due to old hardware, such as cables or routers, which weakens the security of networks over time. Hence the importance of replacing old cables. The great thing about our cables is that they all come with a lifetime warranty, so if they wear down over time from use, we will replace them!

These are some of the advantages connectivity brings to the healthcare industry. With this information, we encourage you to check your cables, routers, and processes.

Offices need reliable Internet speeds to allow employees to complete their day-to-day work and to help their customers efficiently. Some of the fixes are very easy, while others require more work or the purchase of new materials. Here are five ways to increase office Internet speed.

Run a Speed Test First

Before you begin messing around with any of the hardware, you need to know two things. The first is what your Internet service is supposed to be providing. Then, you need to run a speed test to see what you’re actually getting. This gives you a baseline to measure from once you make changes.

Check Your Router

It may seem a little silly, but the moving your router to a different location may be one of the most effective ways to increase office Internet speed. This is because a number of things affects the router’s connection. Some of these include appliances, walls, doors, and so on. Essentially, you want to place your router in a central location that’s about equidistant from each connection point.

Power Down

So many office spaces are skeptical about shutting down their computers, modems, and routers. However, this just means the devices are working a lot more than they need to, decreasing their lifespan and connection over time. Employees don’t need to power down their devices after every shift, but they could start powering down over the weekend.

Use the Right Cabling

Another important factor is having up-to-date Ethernet cables. Many office buildings don’t even realize that there are different types of cables or that they can change over time. At the very least, setting up a Cat5e patch cable is recommended. However, depending on the size of your organization and the amount of devices, you may need Cat6 or 6a cables.

Upgrade Your Internet Service

If you’ve checked off all the previous points, then the last step you should consider is upgrading your Internet service. If your company has been growing and you’ve found yourself adding more devices for new hires, you may just be at capacity for your current service. However, keep in mind that if you’ve checked off all these points, you’re still under capacity, and you’re still not getting the speed you’re paying for, then it may be time to call the servicer and see what’s going on.

Overall, it comes down to your servicer first and then your hardware—including the cables. In addition, one of the best things you can do is reduce barriers for the router and keep it in a centralized location. That way, no device is out of the router’s reach.

Most structural cabling is expected to last at least ten years, and in educational facilities, it’s ideal to get the most time out of your installation. This article introduces the importance of cabling systems for educational facilities and some other things to consider.

Why Are Cabling Systems Important for a School?

High Demand

Schools are always full of devices, from students with their phones and tablets to all of the devices in computer labs and classrooms. In addition, there’s a huge increase in cloud-based applications and storage. So, in other words, schools need some of the best technology installed in their facilities. With higher-quality internet throughout educational facilities, it will also encourage engagement throughout classes with real-time quizzes, videos, and PowerPoint presentations.

In addition to student activities, educational facilities need expert cabling for security reasons. This security can be everything from computer monitoring, cameras throughout campus, and server security. A high-quality cabling infrastructure allows departments to catch any issues early and stop problems quickly. Staff members often need a sturdy connection as well, because they’re using web conferencing more and more.

New Technology

It’s expected in schools to have quality and reliable connectivity—especially in higher education. This is one of the important reasons for having cabling systems in educational facilities. This is due to the expectation of career and skill development in schools. And with technology changing the way we work and function, it’s important to be exposed to the latest technology. These constant advances can be challenging to keep up with, but they provide a competitive advantage and an awareness that can’t be beat. It’s critical for schools to update their technology because students are going to be aware of the changes and will expect them.

Special Needs

Technology has proven many ways that it assists the development of students with disabilities. For example, technology allows students to become more independent. In addition, it offers the opportunity for students to write using their voices, since some individuals can’t hold a pencil or a pen. Put simply, technology gives students the opportunity to grow as individuals.

So, how does all of this relate to cabling? Firstly, the latest technology, more often than not, is not optimized for older ethernet cables, routers, and modems. For example, if you’re running Cat5 or lower, you’re probably going to have some noticeable connectivity issues. Secondly, it’s important to have a reliable connection because it gives the impression that the organization cares about its infrastructure.

Hardware

Most Common Cabling for Educational Facilities

In most scenarios, a school is likely to have hardware that supports at least Cat5e cables. This is because they’re essentially universal in the industry, but it’s also because they’re the most cost-effective. So, it’s best to have hardware that can support Cat6 or Cat6a cables at least—it will provide a noticeable increase in reliability. While these cables are copper-based, with a generic coating holding them together, some facilities are aiming for higher quality. For example, they may opt for a fiber optic cable. These provide the best connections that are available today, but they come with an upfront cost as well.

Routers and Modems Matter

Educational facilities should have high-quality modems, routers, and bridges to ensure the best connection possible. While this article is mainly focused on quality cables, it’d be foolish to talk about cables without mentioning routers and modems. This is important, considering your connection starts with your internet provider, but then the connection immediately goes to the router and modem to connect to the internet. With all of these moving parts and updates, it’s helpful to ensure that someone’s in charge of having a regular schedule to maintain these systems. This position will not only clean and update the hardware as needed, but it will also include running software updates and anti-virus protection on computers. If there’s not someone on site that’s able to do this, you should hire a certified contractor to come out and update anything that needs it.

Plenum vs. Non-Plenum

In relation to the cables, a common debate is if educational facilities should be using plenum or non-plenum cables. Plenum refers to both the jacket around the cable and where cables are running throughout the building. The term “plenum” is from the HVAC industry, deriving from the term “plenum spaces.” These spaces are most commonly between the ceiling and a drop ceiling, though it also refers to the space between the floor space. In simple terms, it’s the space where air moves throughout, which is where heating and cooling comes into play. These spaces allow fire and smoke to move rapidly, which reduces the smoke’s toxicity, since the jacket around plenum cables is fire resistant.

So, here’s where the debate comes in. Some argue that it has to be in every educational facility for the kids and staff safety in the event of an emergency. Others argue that it’s unnecessary because it’s a more expensive cabling option. So, most will meet in the middle and go with a Cat5e plenum, because it’s a plenum cable but it’s still the more affordable cable option.

How Cabling Helps Education

Communication

A reliable internet connection through quality cabling improves communication throughout your educational facility—even communication from offsite locations. For example, if a student is emailing an instructor from their personal device at home, the instructor’s computer is still at the school. That means the connection needs to reach that server before the instructor gets the email notification. It also makes internal communication that much more reliable.

Teaching

Instructors need a consistent and reliable internet connection to teach effectively in the classroom. Arguably the most teaching tool is the PowerPoint presentation, and without a solid connection, the presentation would run slowly.

Higher Education

An effective cabling infrastructure supports professors working on their research. The professors may be studying and researching the systems themselves, or it will assist their research by being reliable. Lastly, online courses have become increasingly popular throughout colleges and universities. With these courses being operated from the school’s servers and infrastructure, there’s no question that it needs to be reliable.

Cabling has tremendous benefits for educational facilities—if it’s done right. But if it’s done wrong, it can give the impression that the school doesn’t care or is “being cheap.” Some of the benefits include reliability, improved communication, increased inclusion for students with disabilities, and improved connectivity for online courses.

It’s important to note that the biggest difference between outdoor and indoor cables is the jacket. This article will specifically discuss outdoor vs. indoor Cat6 network cables and their uses.

Indoor

Cat6 cables are most commonly used because of their increased connectivity, as they’re the next generation from Cat5e cables. While residential settings may use these, it’s much more common to use these cables in industrial or commercial facilities. This is because businesses often need the best quality connection possible to serve their customers efficiently. Another thing to note about indoor cables is that since they’re designed for indoor use, they’re also typically designed for shorter connections. Though others will say differently, indoor cables should never be used for outdoor installation, and this includes burying them.

Outdoor

To reiterate, the main difference between indoor and outdoor cables is the outer jacket. The jacket on outdoor graded cables are specifically designed to handle the weather and temperature changes. For example, an outdoor Cat6 cable can be buried and will last for many years, and it can handle the temperature changes underground. If you do not plan on burying the cables, that’s okay too, because they can also withstand UV rays. Some have mistakenly made the argument that you could use indoor cables and put an exterior paint over them, however, that will not work, and it certainly won’t last. In general, outdoor cables should always be used if the cable will be near any outdoor elements such as humidity, moisture, UV rays, and changing temperatures.

In other words, the question of outdoor vs. indoor Cat6 network cables answers itself. The indoor cables are typically used for shorter distances and in office buildings or factories. Outdoor cables, on the other hand, are designed for outdoor use. These have a stronger jacket that can hold up against the environment and it’s elements, which is a huge benefit when burying cables.

The internet in the last three decades has gone from a pretty niche hobby to an integral part of daily life for the majority of people in the developed world. Around 77% of people in America connect to the internet daily, 43% are online several times throughout the day, and 26% are online almost constantly according to the Pew Research Center. Many people use their internet service to stream entertainment, use social media, or pay bills. In an increasingly digitized world, there are also many people who require fast, reliable internet connections for their employment or secondary education.

The increasing need for faster speeds and more powerful internet performance led to the development of devices that were capable of providing internet users with better network capabilities through either PC or cell phone accessories. One of the key additions to improved internet speeds comes from the advent of the ethernet cable. The Cat5, Cat5e, and Cat6 cables are among the common ethernet cables that many internet users rely on today.

Ethernet Categories and What They Mean

If you’re thinking about using an ethernet cable to improve the performance of your network, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the products available and learn about the specifications of each cable category.

Starting with the basics, a Category 5 or Cat5 ethernet cable is a standard accessory for connecting a router to a PC or smartphone through the use of adaptor cell phone accessories.

Despite being an older model, it still performs fairly well, sometimes better than a home wifi connection. Because they only require two pairs of twisted inner wires, Cat5 cables are slower than the enhanced version, but they’re ideal for users who would like just a bit of a performance boost. They’re designed to perform at up to 100Mhz of bandwidth.

For users who need more power than that of Cat5, Cat5e cables have four pairs of twisted inner wires which should diminish wire interference or crosstalk. These cables can perform at 1Gigabit speeds and 100Mhz. A well-constructed Cat5e ethernet cable provides excellent performance and can last the user five years to a full decade of use.

Finally, for users who need the fastest speeds and higher frequencies, the Category 6 cable is more of a high-end option, but also comes at a steeper price and might be more difficult to install, according to some users. This cable type contains a plastic core and four pairs of copper wires, which it employs when signaling to perform at its highest. The Cat6 ethernet cable has a 1Gb speed and performs at up to 250Mhz.

Ideal Cables for Your Needs

When choosing a networking cable, speed and bandwidth are only two considerations you need to make as you shop around. Another issue to consider is your price range, necessary cable length (typically 55 to 100 meters), and device that requires a connection. While most ethernet cables connect a PC to a router, there are also cell phone accessories like USB adapters that can connect networking cables to a smartphone, tablet, music streaming device, and more.

While increased internet speed can encourage a world of opportunity and productivity, there are issues to consider when it comes to protecting the equipment you use, especially if you have an expensive setup.  In addition to using networking cables, many users choose to run their computing devices from a surge protector, so that sudden voltage spikes do not damage any of the equipment they use.

Fast, reliable internet is only as good as the device that’s running it, so protecting your devices is a wise precaution to take. In fact, 82% of professionals rely on surge protection to prevent electrical damage to their equipment, according to a survey conducted by the Electrical Safety Foundation International.

Surge protectors include a variety of different ports, including standard electrical plug-ins as well as USB ports so that cable cell phone accessories can be plugged in without having to take up a lot of space with a blocky electric adapter.

The variety of different options on the market make it to where users can protect an array of equipment and surf the web with more flexibility than in previous years.

Choosing between two standards of technology that are competing with each other can be tough. Not much information is available to help consumers compare what sets HDMI cables and the newer DisplayPort apart. What’s the difference between HDMI and DisplayPort? Here are four main differences you need to know about HDMI and DisplayPort cables.

Connectors

Three of the main HDMI cables you typically see have 19 pins and come in 5 shapes. Type A HDMI cables are commonly used with laptops, TVs, and projectors. Type B mini HDMI cables work with some laptops and tablets. Type D micro HDMI cables are also used with certain laptops and tablets. A Type B cable has 29 pins that are designed for dual-link applications and Type E features a locking mechanism for use in the automotive industry.

There are 20 pins on DisplayPort connectors with two sizes available. There is a full-size standard option and a smaller alternative that is similar to the Thunderbolt. Most of these connectors feature a locking mechanism to prevent them from accidental disconnection. However, be aware that this feature is not an official required specification.

Bandwidth and Resolution

The standard DisplayPort has a 60 Hz refresh rate while the most common HDMI has a refresh rated half that at 30 Hz. The maximum bandwidth for DisplayPort is 17.28 Gbps compared to HDMI’s maximum at 10.2 Gbps. HDMI 2.0 hardware is able to support up to 18 Gb per second of bandwidth. Both feature similar video resolutions. However, you should keep in mind to look at the version number located on both the display and source rather than compare the two in this area.

Audio Features

Both HDMI and DisplayPort connectors are able to support 8 digital audio channels at 24 bit and 192 kHz. The main difference between these two is that HDMI has an audio return channel, which means sound can travel both ways on a TV set. If you want to watch Netflix on a smart TV but want to use a surround sound system rather than the built-in speakers, this is a better option.

HDMI and DisplayPort cables appear to have distinct differences while still attempting to achieve the same outcome. However, DisplayPort seems to solve the shortcomings of traditional cables while meeting the demands of newer technology breakthroughs. By understanding the difference between these two, you will be able to make a more informed decision on the option that is best for you.

It can be quite the challenge to run a workplace that is efficient and practical. If you’re running a workspace of any kind, then you should be sure that you’re using the best tech for the job. Here are three important tech upgrades that are crucial to your workplace productivity and performance.

Network Ethernet Cables

In a technology-centered world that is always connected, there is much talk about the network strength of any given workspace. However, most people make the mistake of jumping straight into upgrading their router or their internet service provider in hopes of better speeds. While these things are certainly important, you should never ignore the important role that your networking cables play in the rest of your setup.

While you don’t need to become an expert on all the different types of cable options there are available on the market today, it helps to know what you’re looking for. Even just doing a thorough audit of your current networking cable set up can help to illuminate any weak points in your connections. By ordering newer cables, you’d be surprised by just how much improvement you’ll see in the rest of your network. And we all know how important a strong network is to the rest of your operations.

High-Speed HDMI Cables

When it comes to your audiovisual setup, chances are you probably don’t consider the function of your cables. In fact, HDMI cables account for a large portion of your picture quality and your sound quality. Do everyone in the office a favor by making sure that your HDMI cables are up to speed before that next big meeting. Things will look and sound better, which will help everyone be more engaged and present.

Surge Protectors

When it comes to keeping your computers and other electronics safe from unexpected power surges, you’d be wise to make sure that your surge protectors are up to date. If you have a server room, or even a simpler set up, without surge protectors, you could be jeopardizing thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment. Without the security of a high-quality surge protector, your equipment is in danger. It’s unfortunate, but many people don’t even think about their surge protectors until it’s far too late. But by then, of course, the damage has been done. Don’t be one of these poor people who let a power surge destroy their computers.

Different devices will require different types of surge protectors, depending on your typical usage. This is where learning a bit about joules comes in handy. 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.

Whether you’re looking to order new high-speed HDMI cables, networking cables, or any other type of cable tech for your workplace, then you want to be sure that you’re ordering from a supplier who knows their stuff. At Cable Wholesale we have years of experience in the industry and we’d be happy to assist you in making your workplace a brighter, more efficient environment through the use of the right cables. Get in touch with a member of our team for more information.