(This blog is an updated and extended version of a post, by our CEO, we released in September 2009)

If you’ve ever installed a network, either for your home, office or business, you’ve probably asked yourself- With so many different types of network cabling, what do I really need?  Is it a Cat 5, 5e, 6, 6A, shielded or unshielded, UTP or STP? Do I need a patch/straight through cable or a crossover cable?  With so many different kinds of network cables to choose from, which one is right for your needs?

What types of network cable are available currently?

Cat5 has been replaced by Cat5e as the general standard networking cable in new installations, with the improved signal carrying capacity being the primary reason.  A Cat5 cable can support Ethernet and Fast Ethernet. Cat5e (Cat5 enhanced) supports Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet speeds over short distances and is backward compatible with Cat5.  Cat5e cable also has improved durability, due to improvements in the quality of the PVC protective jacket. It is more than suitable for most data cabling requirements.

Cat6 is one of the newest versions of network cabling, and is very similar to Cat5e, but specifically designed to consistently deliver 1 Gigabit Ethernet. It is used in installations where a Cat6 Certified Network is required.

While Cat5e and Cat6 can support Gigabit speeds, Cat6A (Cat6 Augmented) is certified to 10 Gigabit speeds and is backward compatible with the all the existing standards, and is suitable for industries utilizing high-performance computing platforms to support very high bandwidth-intensive applications. 10G/Cat 6a applications would be server farms, storage area networks, data centers & riser backbones.

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Navigating the jungle of terminology, acronyms and part numbers can be daunting in the field of telecommunications. Anyone attempting to determine and buy cabling can attest to this.  Improper data cabling will cause a logical error. With power cables, using the wrong type can cause physical failure such as fires and electrical shock. The stakes are higher. Luckily the abundance of documentation and regulation assure that anyone seeking direction to deploy the correct cord can find the information they need to choose the right cord and avoid common pitfalls, damage and injury that comes with electrical failure.

Common Terminology:

Amperage (amp): This term refers to the amount of electrons that are moving in the circuit. This is also “how much” electricity there is.

Voltage: This refers to how much force is behind the electrons, or how fast the electrons are moving.

Attributes:

When choosing a power cord there are (3) main attributes to be aware of:

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If you are reading this blog article chances are you shop online. Personally, I couldn’t imagine a world without eBay, God bless Pierre Omidyar and the guy that had an affinity for broken laser pointers.

Those of us whose profession is in IT usually have a natural talent for sensing when it’s safe to buy from a website or not. It comes from seeing the ins and outs of what makes a website work, work better, and work securely. However for most it’s a shot in the dark. To get a feel for the security of the company you plan to buy from you should watch for these things: …

I recently found myself traveling 95 MPH on an access road here in Atlanta, zooming by all the folks going much slower on the interstate to my left. While percentage wise this was not a great deal faster than I usually travel I realized that it sure felt much faster (which was exhilarating but that’s beside the point .

That got me to thinking (for some strange reason) about the speed in which email and other web traffic travels. Most people (including myself up to that point) have never given it a lot of thought so I decided to crunch a few numbers and explain it relative to something we are all very familiar with; driving. …

Few people label (or desire to label) all the ports of their patch panels. The result is you having NO clue what cable goes where. If you are lucky you know which ones are connected to something and which ones are not.

I used to be in the same position myself at our old building. I had a normal patch panel and a bad habit of not labeling (or remembering) which cable went where. When a new workstation was added it was quite frustrating  for me to have to figure out what port on the patch panel went to that data port at the workstation so I could connect it to the data switch. …