Archives for February 2023

Happy Friday! We hope you’ve had a wonderful week and are looking forward to the weekend. Whatever you have planned, we hope that you find some time to relax and reflect. If we can be praying for you in any way, please let us know!

In This Issue: Super Bowl – Game, Food, or Commercials? | MTP® Cable 12-Strand Corning ClearCurve®, OM3 | What is the difference between LSZH and OFNR? | News to Start Your Day

---

The CK Daily – Super Bowl – Game, Food, or Commercials?

Happy Friday, folks! Not only is it Friday, but it’s also the Friday before the Super Bowl! We are hosting a small get-together to watch the Super Bowl at our house. I’m sure it will be a great game. However, I’ll admit that I’m most excited about the tailgating food and the commercials!

I read this morning that a 30-second commercial during the Super Bowl costs as much as $6 million. 👀 Let that sink in….that’s $200,000 for EVERY second of the ad. That’s crazy! I would expect that we’ll get to see some creative and funny commercials!

What do you get most excited about on Super Bowl weekend? The game, the commercials, the food, or something else?

Have a great weekend!

Chris

---

Product Spotlights & Updates

Our MTP Elite® line of fiber cables features high-performance US Conec MTP Elite® connectors for the ultimate in functionality and reliability. This highly versatile line of cables is made with Corning ClearCurve® glass and removable housings which allow users to change the gender of the cable in the field. Additionally, they feature a floating ferrule design which helps to improve mechanical performance by allowing two mated ferrules to maintain physical contact even while under an applied load.

---

Learning Center Article – What is the difference between LSZH and OFNR?

With the many types of fiber cables and then the components that make each of them up, it can be very confusing to know what fiber cable is the best overall for your business. One of the biggest questions we get is what is the difference between OFNR fiber cables and LSZH fiber cables.

---

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• SpaceX test-fired 31 of the 33 engines in the towering rocket booster of its Starship prototype. Called a “static fire,” the milestone test is the final major hurdle before SpaceX tries to launch the nearly 400-foot-tall rocket to space.
• Chick-fil-A will test a cauliflower sandwich in three markets, starting Monday. The new sandwich closely resembles its famous chicken sandwich, but uses breaded and pressure-cooked cauliflower in place of meat. The fast-food chain said it’s been working on a plant-based sandwich for nearly four years.
• Jeep on Thursday revealed its most expensive Wrangler SUV ever, topping more than $115,000. The limited-edition vehicle is the 2023 Wrangler Rubicon 392 20th Anniversary with heavy-duty off-road parts customization from upfitter American Expedition Vehicles. Only 150 of the AEV SUVs will be produced as part of a broader 20th Anniversary collection of Wrangler’s popular Rubicon model.
• JD.com said it will release an “industrial version” of ChatGPT called ChatJD. It will be a chatbot product focused on the fields of retail and finance. The popularity of ChatGPT has prompted tech giants across the world to announce their own rivals in the past few days.

Happy Thursday! We hope you’re having a great week. We’re hiring for two positions at CK. An Ecommerce Manager and a Supply Chain Manager – if you or anyone you know might be interested send this email their way to apply!

In This Issue: Family Recipes | Cisco 3750X Series 48 Port Switch | Why would you use shielded Ethernet Cables? | News to Start Your Day

---

The CK Daily – Family Recipes

Happy Thursday!

This year I decided I want to bake more. Growing up I loved watching my grandma bake. She was the best at making cakes. Her specialty was red velvet. Her cakes were always light, fluffy, and not too sweet. They were my own little slice of heaven! I have always admired her baking skills and as I got older and started cooking myself, I decided that I wanted to offer that delectable experience to my kids and eventually their kids whenever those times come. Since my grandmother is no longer around, I have leaned on my mom for her wonderful recipes. I started off with yeast rolls, then brownies, and tried baking a pound cake for the first-time last year (which wasn’t great lol). But now, I have moved back to the basics, cookies!

For the last 4-5 months I have been working on perfecting my chocolate chip cookie recipe. I have tried many different recipes and I think this last one will stay in my family for generations to come. I think about how much I enjoy baking now and how it connects me to the ones I love but can no longer be around. I am excited to pass this recipe down so that when I am not here, my family still feels like they have a piece of me to connect with.

Anyways, I am trying to figure out what I should try next. Should I try the pound cake again or should I try another type of cookie? Any suggestions? I would love to hear from you! 🙂

Have a great week!

Joi

---

Product Spotlights & Updates

This Cisco Catalyst 3750X series layer 3 switch comes with (48) 10/100/1000 PoE+ ports, a 435 Watt POE Budget, 64 MB of Flash, and 256 MB of RAM. This switch is stackable, has dual redundant fans, 4,000 VLAN ID’s, a network module slot, and a slot for an additional power supply.

---

Learning Center Article – Why would you use shielded Ethernet Cables?

Currently, the use of high bandwidth applications has been on the rise, and network systems have started venturing into factory environments which have called for the use of shielded cables. In this new installation sector, the cable is used in areas with high electromagnetic interference (EMI). Even with the improved ability to reject noise and handle gigabit Ethernet, these cables will not function properly in areas where there is high EMI if not properly shielded. A shielded cable will help in these high EMI installations ensuring safe and efficient data transfer.

---

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said the company plans to attempt a major Starship milestone this week: firing all 33 engines at once, a key test before the first orbital launch attempt.
• Disney said it will be reorganizing into three divisions: Entertainment, ESPN and parks and experiences. Disney will slash 7,000 jobs from its workforce and plans to cut $5.5 billion in costs, including $3 billion in content savings.
• Southwest’s COO plans to apologize before the Senate panel and express confidence in technology improvements and its own schedule after the holiday meltdown. The Southwest pilots union’s president will also testify and plans to say the carrier ignored warning signs about its operation.
• Web browser Opera is planning to integrate ChatGPT into its products. The news comes as Microsoft and Google this week announced plans to incorporate artificial intelligence chatbot technology with their own search engines.

Happy Wednesday & Happy National Boy Scouts of America Day! Since 1910 boys across America have been doing good deeds, learning survival skills, and much more. If you were a Boy Scout, what was your greatest memory during your scout days?

In This Issue: The Big Reveal! | CAT5e Shielded Inline Coupler | Polarity for MPO Cables | News to Start Your Day

---

The CK Daily – The Big Reveal!

Good morning CK Family!

I hope you’re having a great week and are looking forward to the weekend. This weekend is going to be an exciting one for my husband and I because we will finally find out the gender of the sweet baby we are welcoming into the world in July!

My Uncle and my younger brother have been working together to plan the big celebration and Saturday is finally the big day! We are thrilled. I’m also looking forward to seeing their planning come together. We have no clue what they have planned, so are excited to see how the “reveal” will actually happen.

My family is excited to welcome the first baby in quite some time into the family and are pretty split down the middle on their guess of it being a boy or a girl. Soon we will know! Excited to update you next week!

Have a great week!

Ashley

---

Product Spotlights & Updates

Maximize your networking capabilities with this CAT5/5e inline RJ45 connector. This coupler allows you to connect two shielded cat5e patch cables together to increase the total length of the cable. With this coupler being shielded it prevents cross-talk and interference you may get from standard cat cables.

---

Learning Center Article – Polarity for MPO Cables

High-end fiber optics are important to modern networking, but they’re a lot more complicated than some of their older counterparts. If you need the power of fiber, you might be looking into MPO systems. They can hit some of the highest speeds on the market today, but utilizing them requires knowledge. One key piece of knowledge that can help with MPO systems is polarity. Without this knowledge, you won’t get a connection across any of your lines.

---

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Last night, LaBron James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA scoring record. Read more here.
• Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced that the death toll from Monday’s quake has reached 8,754. Combined with the 2,470 known deaths in Syria, that brings the total official death toll to 11,224. The World Health Organization has suggested the final toll could rise as high as 20,000.
• The Super Bowl is upon us and commercials have already kicked off! Watch some of them here.
• President Biden held his second State of the Union address on Tuesday. Read some of the key moments and takeaways here. 

Happy Tuesday & Happy National Send a Card to a Friend Day! Today is the perfect day to write a note and get it in the mail. There’s nothing like good ole’ fashion snail mail!

In This Issue: Getting Away for a “Reset” | Cisco ASA 5515-X Firewall | Importance of Fiber Optic Cleaning | News to Start Your Day

---

The CK Daily – Getting Away for a “Reset”

Good Morning & Happy Tuesday!

Hope everyone’s off to a great start this week! I’m back from my trip to Hilton Head and feeling super thankful for the time away! I mentioned last week that it’s been a rough start to the year, but getting out of town for a while was definitely good for the soul. Hilton Head has become something of a “home away from home” so there was a lot of comfort in getting a change of scenery but also being in a familiar place with familiar faces.

The island is truly so beautiful, and it basically begs you to get outside and enjoy it which we certainly did. I basically hadn’t run at all this year so I took the opportunity to get outside and log a few miles every day… felt great physically and mentally! I was also able to work a good bit while away which, interestingly enough, felt like some of the most productive time I’ve put in all year. I guess there’s really something to getting away that allows you to “reset” and think a bit more clearly.

Very thankful for the week we had and hoping to carry some of that momentum going forward!

Rebecca

---

Product Spotlights & Updates

No network solution is complete without proper security. The Cisco ASA 5515-X Firewall Edition, ASA5515-K9 represents a new standard in protecting your network without breaking the bank. Your small- to medium-business network benefits from detailed control and visibility, cloud-based or onsite web security, malware defense, and remote access. If your organization has multiple locations or service providers then this is the network security solution for you.

---

Learning Center Article – Importance of Fiber Optic Cleaning

Installing fiber optic systems is not easy. It requires multiple levels of expertise in design and application, and its why fiber optics experts are always in high demand. While installations will vary heavily depending on the components and applications at play, there is one thing that is necessary for every installation, and it’s easy to overlook. Every system needs fiber optic cleaning to ensure that it will work properly.

Fiber optic cleaning is necessary to allow the components to perform as intended.

---

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Nintendo has released its nine-month earnings report, officially confirming that the total hardware sales for the Switch have now exceeded the Game Boy, placing the hybrid console firmly in second place behind the Nintendo DS.
• Nearly 2,000 residents of eastern Ohio remained under evacuation orders on Monday as railroad crews drained and burned off a toxic chemical from five tanker cars of a freight train that derailed in a fiery wreck three days earlier.
• Air Transport Services Group said Amazon will be flying less in response to a worsening economic outlook. ATSG operates a significant portion of Amazon’s air freight network. Demand for air cargo has cooled recently after increasingly rapidly during the Covid pandemic.
• More than 56% of all domestic tickets sold for Disney’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” have been for 3D screenings. The James Cameron film is just shy of becoming the third-highest grossing film of all time.

Happy Monday! We hope you had a wonderful weekend! Today we’re celebrating a frozen dessert that has gone from a fad to a freezer staple – it’s National Frozen Yogurt Day! What are your favorite toppings to add to your froyo?

In This Issue: A Fresh New Beginning is Coming! | Cisco DB25 to RJ45 Modem Adaptor | What is an SSD? | News to Start Your Day

---

The CK Daily – A Fresh New Beginning is Coming!

Happy Monday!

I’ve been using our Beta site a lot recently and I’m blown away how much of an improvement it is to our current website. The new search feature is spooky smart and intuitive – you can search using generic keywords or specific model numbers and it’ll serve up all the relevant related products as well as learning center articles. I’m excited to finally see the new site in action and the improved experience and can’t wait until it goes fully live.

Experiencing the new CablesAndKits website reminds me of a fresh start. Once it goes live it will be the beginning of a new chapter in the CK journey. With all new things, there’s a degree of uncertainty as to whether or not people will love it or hate it. I think with this new site, though (and I’m biased), people will certainly love it more than hate it. It’s definitely an upgrade, like when I first experienced the switch from a 56K dial-up internet (the internet when it went pshhhkrrrrkrrakrichchchsqyquwuw before connecting for you younger folks) to broadband internet where the connection was instantaneous. What are some changes that you’ve experienced that were generally positive? I hope you have a great week!

Cris

---

Product Spotlights & Updates

It’s our goal to save you money. Why? We’re not really sure, probably because we like you. This serial adapter offers you the ability to convert a Serial DB25 port to a RJ45 without having to buy new cables. This serial adapter rates high in performance while still being the most cost-effective solution for your network. Yep, we really do care.

---

Learning Center Article – What is an SSD?

When it comes to IT spending and getting the right hardware, it’s always a matter of knowledge. When you truly understand the risks and rewards of each purchasing decision, you can optimize your spending and get the most value out of your limited budget.

There are countless comparisons to make in this regard, which is why it’s always easier to break things down one concept at a time.

Today, we’re going to cover solid-state storage, or SSDs. They’re a modern improvement on a traditional computer component, and they can offer major advantages that merit an investment.

---

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• On Saturday, over Myrtle Beach, an F-22 Raptor fighter jet climbed 58,000 feed and downed a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon over the Atlantic Ocean. 
• A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Turkey early this morning. This is the worst earthquake to hit Turkey in a century. 
• Did you watch the Grammy Awards last night? Check out all of the winners here. 
• Amazon is closing some Fresh supermarkets and Go convenience stores as it looks to curtail expenses. The e-retailer will also pause expansion of Fresh stores to examine the business and see if it resonates with customers.

Happy Friday! We hope you’ve had a wonderful week and are looking forward to the weekend. Do you have any fun weekend plans in the books for this weekend? We’d love to hear about them!

In This Issue: CK is Hiring! | Cat6 RJ45 Inline Coupler Type Keystone Jack | How to Calculate Power Consumption for your Server Room | News to Start Your Day

---

The CK Daily – CK is Hiring!

Happy Friday, folks! Yesterday, Jason shared that it would be his last CK Daily. While we are sad to see him go, we are excited about the opportunity he is pursuing! Craig & Christin (the owners of CablesAndKits) have always said they want CK to be a springboard in someone’s life. We know that people won’t stay forever (although we hope they do when we bring them onto the team 😀), so we want to make sure we take every opportunity to positively impact their lives while they are a part of CablesAndKits.

This departure does create an opening on our team that we need to fill. We are now looking for a B2B Ecommerce Manager. Know someone that loves digital marketing, merchandising, analysis, and optimization? Please send them our way! Either reply to this email or an application can be submitted on our Indeed posting.

As always, we hope you have a great weekend!

Chris

---

Product Spotlights & Updates

Used to connect two Cat6 ethernet patch cables together, the Cat6 RJ45 feed-thru keystone jack simply snaps into blank wallplates and patch panels with no need for tools or punch down. The gold-plated contacts help with preventing corrosion and ensure continued connectivity. Use the inline coupler for a wide variety of applications including home office, networking, audio, video, and more.

---

Learning Center Article – How to Calculate Power Consumption for your Server Room

When it comes to maintaining a server room, there are many balls to juggle. Power draw is one of the most limiting factors when it comes to operating servers and high-end networks. Eventually, you hit a ceiling and don’t have enough power for more expansion. So, as you continue to adapt and redesign your server room, you need to be able to keep track of power consumption. These tips will help you do that.

---

Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• The U.S. military has been monitoring a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been hovering over the northern U.S. for the past few days
• Tom Brady announced on Wednesday that he was retiring from the NFL, “for good” –  but he may see another NFL contract in his future. New England Patriots Owner Robert Kraft said he would like to offer Brady a one-day contract so the NFL icon can officially retire as a Patriot.
• The House voted to pass a resolution removing Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) from the Foreign Affairs Committee.
• Mr. Beast, the world’s most popular YouTuber, uploaded a video over the weekend that revealed he funded cataract surgery for 1,000 people. The video, titled “1,000 Blind People See For The First Time,” has garnered more than 77 million views on Donaldson’s channel, but sparked debates around the use of philanthropy as a revenue driver and prompted some viewers to express frustration with medical expenses in the country.