CablesAndKits

Happy Friday! Today isn’t just any Friday—it’s National Fun at Work Day! 🥳 So, whether you’re in the office or working remotely, let the spirit of fun and camaraderie put some fun into your day!

In This Issue: Introducing Bulk Pricing! | Cisco 3825 Router Fan 1 / Fan 2 Replacement | A Comprehensive Guide to Meraki Access Points | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Introducing Bulk Pricing!

Great news – we’ve introduced bulk pricing on all Ethernet cables, Fiber optic cables, and keystone jacks! Now, when you shop with us, you’ll enjoy:
Automatic Savings: As you add products to your cart, watch the prices drop. The more you buy, the more you save.
Simplified Shopping: Experience a streamlined, faster purchasing process.
Transparent Pricing: Immediate, upfront cost information for hassle-free budgeting.
Discover these benefits on our website and start saving today! Questions or need assistance? We’re always ready to help!

Here is a screenshot of the change:

Have a great week!

The CK Team

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Keep your cool under pressure with help from CablesAndKits. We’ve got the Cisco 3825 Router Fan 1 / Fan 2 Replacement you need to keep your router cool. Increased airflow is essential to maintaining a healthy and efficient router. This single replacement fan will work for Fan 1 or Fan 2 in Cisco 3825 routers.

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Learning Center Article – A Comprehensive Guide to Meraki Access Points

When it comes to Wi-Fi networks, you have a lot of options — almost too many. Figuring out what hardware is correct for each application can require full-time research. Fortunately, there’s always an easier answer, and in the case of wireless access points (APs), Cisco has created the simplest solution: Meraki.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Tesla is recalling nearly 200,000 cars due to a “software instability” that prevented the rearview camera image from displaying.
• Microsoft is laying off 1,900 workers in its Gaming unit. The cuts represent around 9% of the 22,000 Microsoft Gaming employees and come three months after Microsoft closed on its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
• We’re only a few weeks into January, but it already seems like 2024 is the year of the Oreo cookie. Oreo started the year by announcing three new products, including its first-ever new Cakesters flavor, a Black & White cookie flavor, and the addition of Gluten Free Golden Oreos to its permanent line.
• No one alive today will see it again—the convergence of two cicada broods that will practically shake the Midwest with their chirping. This spring, the synchronized emergence of Brood 13 and Brood 19 will fill the air from Iowa to Virginia with over a trillion bugs.

It’s hump day! Cheers to a productive rest of the week this week!

In This Issue: Lifelong Friendships | Cisco Aironet Articulated Dipole Antenna | Everything you need to know about fiber optic cables- Including OM5 | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Life Long Friendships

Good morning CK Family!

I hope you are having a great week! This past weekend I spent some time in Columbia, SC visiting with my best friend from college. She is currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program at the University of South Carolina – and she’s loving it! I’m so thankful to have such a strong relationship with her after all these years! We talk on the phone often, but there’s just something about being able to hang out in person.

As our lives have changed it’s been fun to see how our friendship grows. We’ve had to adapt quite a bit – but in the end have always come out stronger. As new adventures arise over the next few years for both of us, I look forward to seeing how our friendship will grow.

Cheers to lifelong friendships!

Ashley

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The AIR-ANT4941 can be used with all Cisco access points equipped with an RP-TNC connector. Designed for indoor use, at 54Mbps this antenna gives approximately 90 ft of coverage.

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Learning Center Article – Everything you need to know about fiber optic cables- Including OM5

You’ve started a project to upgrade your network but are not sure of what fiber cables you need. Should the cables be single-mode or multi-mode? Is there a specific length or speed needed? All of these questions are great to ask as you prepare your network project and think of future upgrades. Here is everything you need to know about fiber cables including the newest fiber type, OM5.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Walmart is raising its minimum wage to $14 an hour for store employees. Starting in early March, the retailer’s U.S. average wage is expected to be more than $17.50.
• SpaceX announced it completed a major test of its latest Starship prototype. Starship prototype 24, stacked on Super Heavy booster prototype 7, was fueled up at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas in a test known as a “wet dress rehearsal.” An orbital launch attempt of Starship marks the next step in flight testing for the rocket.
• Microsoft said it is investigating issues with several of its products, including Teams and Outlook. The U.S. technology giant said that users globally might not be able to access multiple Microsoft 365 services.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee slammed concert giant Live Nation in a hearing on Tuesday. Industry witnesses described a monopoly-like control over venues, artists, and consumers. Criticism of Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, intensified after a botched sale of tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.

Happy Tuesday & Happy National Compliment Day! It’s the perfect day to share a simple compliment with someone to put a smile on their face. Whether you compliment a job well done or their classic style – a compliment can go a long way!

In This Issue: Hiking Adventures & Project Chimps | Dell PowerEdge T620 | Autonomous vs Lightweight Access Points | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Hiking Adventures & Project Chimps

Good Morning & Happy Tuesday!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! I was able to escape to the north Georgia mountains for a little getaway with some friends which was definitely much needed and good for the soul!

While we were in the mountains, we had an opportunity to visit an organization called “Project Chimps”. It’s a 230+ acre sanctuary for chimps who were retired from medical testing. Apparently, it became illegal to test on chimps in 2015, and, at the time, there were over 1,000 chimps in labs across the U.S. that needed a place to go. Project Chimps currently is home to 99 chimps and they are so well taken care of! It was an incredible place to visit!

Rebecca

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Gain next-generation speed and versatility with the Dell™ PowerEdge™ T620 tower, fully equipped with high performance and availability with built-in room for growth. With its Intel® Xeon® E5-2600 processors, outstanding virtualization and database performance are assured. Finish your most demanding applications efficiently fast. The T620 has the capability of handling large workloads and key applications.

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Learning Center Article – Autonomous vs Lightweight Access Points

When you design a wireless network, you need to have all of your options available from the beginning. When you know what choices exist, you can select from them and make the best network possible.

In that spirit, it can help to understand the primary difference in types of access points. For the most part, a wireless access point can be autonomous or lightweight. This article will go over the main distinctions between these access points and how they can be advantageous or disadvantageous, depending on your network’s design and purpose.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Amazon is beefing up its Prime program for U.S. users with a new prescription benefit. The add-on, called RxPass, will allow Prime members to get as many drugs as they need from a list of 50 generic medications used to treat common conditions.
• Candy maker Mars said it is replacing its M&Ms “spokescandies” with actress Maya Rudolph after facing right-wing criticism.
• The big banks behind Zelle are cooking up their own digital wallet to compete with Apple Pay and PayPal.
• Disney World’s Splash Mountain has officially closed. The attraction at the Orlando, Florida, theme park shut down on Monday as it prepares to relaunch as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in 2024.

Happy Monday! We hope you had a wonderful weekend. Here’s to a great week ahead! What are you hoping to accomplish?

In This Issue: Learning to be Present | Cisco 3560X/3750X Four-Port Gigabit Ethernet Network Module | Single Mode vs Multimode Fiber Cables | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Learning to be Present

Happy Monday!

This weekend we celebrated my youngest daughter’s birthday. She’s now three-year-old and it’s hard to believe! We had a small party for her, and she had a blast. Her favorite part was blowing out the candles and playing with balloons. It’s amazing to me how children enjoy the simple things in life, and as parents (well speaking for myself), we often put a lot of importance on things that kids couldn’t care less about (whether those are things like presents or trying to “craft” the perfect experience). There’s probably a word for it, maybe “cardboard box” syndrome or something… I’ve learned to go with the flow recently on events with my kids, I’m trying to be more in tune with what they truly enjoy… and sometimes that’s just being present.

Hope you have a great week!

Cris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

When it comes to distributing fast signals across long distances, Cisco has a number of technology options available. One of them is the Cisco 3560x/3750x four-port Gigabit Ethernet module.

While it sounds like a mouthful, this module is designed to make networking approachable. It is energy efficient, secure, and scalable. It’s easy to use and reliable. You can easily connect your Ethernet switches to fiber via SFP connectors with this simplified module.

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Learning Center Article – Single Mode vs Multimode Fiber Cables

Fiber optics are essential for building the most capable networks, but when making design choices, there are plenty of options that serve fiber optics in general. One of the primary choices available to any network engineer exists between single-mode fiber and multimode fiber.

These are physically different approaches to fiber optics communication, and as such, they offer different strengths and weaknesses. To effectively choose the right design for your network, it helps to have a better understanding of what separates these types of cables.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Poland has reiterated that it is ready to send tanks to Ukraine without Germany’s consent, as pressure builds on Berlin to supply the heavy weapons that Kyiv has been calling for.
• As part of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program for 2023, NASA selected a nuclear concept for Phase I development. This new class of bimodal nuclear propulsion system uses a “wave rotor topping cycle” and could reduce transit times to Mars to just 45 days.
• Disney’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” has topped $2 billion at the global box office. This is the third James Cameron movie to hit this benchmark: “Titanic,” “Avatar” and “The Way of Water.” Only three other movies have eclipsed $2 billion: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame.”
• Fanatics is in discussions to buy the BetParx sportsbook. Fanatics, which has a valuation of $31 billion, has been exploring acquisitions of sportsbooks as it moves further into the sports betting business.

Happy Friday! We’re not sure about you, but this week felt like it flew by. We hope that you have a restful and adventurous weekend ahead!

In This Issue: Making Adjustments | Kendall Howard Desktop CPU Wall Mount Shelf | All Wireless Standards are NOT Created Equal | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Making Adjustments

Good Morning and Happy Friday Everyone!

In December, I moved across the country from Atlanta, Ga to Rapid City, SD. I have never lived so far away from home, so this was a completely new experience for me. My fiancé signed a contract to play football for a local arena team so he and I packed everything we could in my little Honda civic and moved.

I was a little anxious because I didn’t know what to expect. I knew this would be a different experience, but I also knew I had some things that I wanted to accomplish that required separation from friends, family, and the fast life in Atlanta. When I got here, I had to make so many adjustments. I had to adjust to the weather (there was actually a blizzard the day we arrived), the time difference, and just being in a new location overall. It took a while but I think I am finally adapting to my new environment.

Although I had a few challenges, I am eternally grateful that we made it here safely and are adapting just fine. I am thankful for the move; it has helped me increase my focus in certain areas of my life and establish a balanced routine. I miss home and can’t wait to get back to visit but, South Dakota is starting to look like a second home for me.

Joi

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Kendall Howard’s Desktop/Tower Wall Mount CPU Brackets are designed to get the computer off the floor and the desktop. The brackets make it easy to secure and mount any desktop PC to the wall or side of the desk. The included velcro strap secures the PC to the bracket.

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Learning Center Article – All Wireless Standards are NOT Created Equal

Everything is wireless these days so upgrading your Wi-Fi hardware is critical to future-proofing your network. When the time for new components is at hand, it is important to select the products that fully support your communication and data transfer needs. From fiber cabling to Wi-Fi routers, the choices abound and each one can have a direct impact on your overall network performance. Despite very similar nomenclature, the varying forms of 802.11 are all quite different.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Netflix added 7.66 million paid subscribers during the fourth quarter, more than the 4.57 million Wall Street expected.
• Defense ministers of NATO countries are holding a high-stakes meeting at Germany’s Ramstein air base to make the decision on whether to send Germany’s Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
• Discord acquired social media app Gas this week, an app that is built around the concept of teens using technology to compliment each other. Gas has reached 7.4 million installs and reached sales of $7 million since its launch in August. Discord’s acquisition of Gas is another one of the company’s efforts to expand beyond its original popularity in the gaming world. But the deal also comes amid more focus on the widespread negative health and wellness effects of social media, especially on teenagers, and a Supreme Court challenge to social media company immunity from content liability.
• Apple introduced the second generation of its HomePod. The new HomePod is available to order online and in the Apple Store and will be available in stores on Feb. 3.

Happy Thursday & Happy National Get to Know Your Customers Day! So that means today is all about you! With that in mind – reply back to this email and tell us all about you!

In This Issue: DIY Projects | Yealink EHS40 Headset Adapter | Best Practices for Data Center Security | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – DIY Projects

Happy Thursday!

This past weekend I helped a buddy of mine build out a new section of their living room to house their new electric fireplace, along with a new mantel, cabinets, and shelves. Very long days and late nights, but it was a great weekend hanging out and building out the new addition with a ton of laughs, many aggravations, and lots of trips to Home Depot. Always measure twice and cut once! Haha! It did turn out amazing. I was a little concerned with some of the hoops we had to jump through, but it came together nicely after using our creative thinking skills.

This has inspired me to start doing some DIY projects around my house that I have been putting off. Plus, my buddy owes me now so I better take advantage of the extra help before too much time goes by. The first project will be ripping out everything in my pantry and rebuilding it. It currently still has all the generic shelving that came with the house when it was built. Next up will be redoing the laundry room. Not sure I am ready to build out a new fireplace buildout and cabinets in the living room yet. I might save that for the Summer.

I have def been bit by the DIY project bug. I also know that when I start it will be never-ending but it will be worth it.

How about you? Got any major DIY projects around your house that you have been toying with doing or have planned out? Let me know, I might need to add some of those ideas to my list. Or, send me pics of any DIY projects you just completed.

Have a great rest of the week and weekend!

Jason

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Compatible with Yealink T58A / T57W / T54W / T53W / T53 / T48S / T46S / T42S / T41S IP Phones, the new advanced Yealink EHS40 Headset Adapter guarantees optimum efficiency in reception areas, call centers and offices. It is approved for using with wireless models made by major manufacturers, including Jabra, Plantronics and Sennheiser. With its ‘plug-and-play’ feature, it enables you a seamless and flexibility to answer and hang up calls remotely.

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Learning Center Article – Best Practices for Data Center Security

If you looked at data center security best practices only a few years ago, the leading trends and advice would be dramatically different from the leading areas of focus today. Everyone in IT knows that things change fast, but it feels like change has accelerated.

Here’s an example. Network security was the most important thing as recently as 2019. While it’s still paramount, security threats have shifted away from direct attacks. Social engineering and grid stability are actually more important today.

With all of that in mind, there are four up-to-date best practices that can help you think about how things have changed and what you can do to keep up.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Retailer Party City has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Party City has secured a $150 million bankruptcy loan and will seek approval to use half of those funds to immediately pay wages and vendors, among other expenses.
• Marvel Cinematic Universe movies will return to China in February for the first time in nearly four years.
• Sentiment rose 4 points to 35 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. Anything below 50 is still considered negative sentiment. The metric stood at 83 in January 2022.
• Amazon is ending its charity donation program called AmazonSmile.