CablesAndKits Blog

Did you know the first organized mail service in America was established in 1175 and postage stamps were invented in 1847? In 1860 the Pony Express took off, and in 1963 we started using zip codes. We’ve come a long way and today we send a big shoutout to all of the Mail Carriers who work long hard hours to deliver our mail to us each day! Happy National thank a Mail Carrier Day!

In This Issue: Meet Christine! | Cisco 2960-X Series | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Meet Christine!

Hello everyone! My name is Christine B. I am a Filipino currently residing in Dubai, UAE.

My customer service journey started back home in Manila. The majority of this experience was with Australian and New Zealand companies and a little bit with US companies too.

I started with a telecommunications account as a customer service agent and because of my excellent performance, was moved to support right after my intro period. My superiors referred me to other companies and lead positions.

I moved to UAE 8 years ago and started working in the trade industry dealing with import/export, logistics, and administration. But I always believe that customer service is involved in everything that we do. My hobbies revolve around dancing, playing the ukulele, studying the stock market, and trading. Oh! I love singing too, but singing doesn’t love me back. 🤪

Christine

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Cisco has always done an amazing job with catering to small and medium businesses. The Cisco 2960-X series is another generation to the already popular 2960 series that will enable the typical small to medium business to function at an enterprise level without the enterprise budget.

The 2960-X series switches offer a fixed configuration of Ethernet switches that are not only Gigabit, but also stackable. The 2960-X was specifically designed for easy deployment and operational efficiency. These switches are also energy cautious and have a large range of IOS software features.

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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. This article will go over the main distinctions between 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:

• Google has put together a solution to the green bubble messages when using iMessage. Read more about it here.
• An Australian museum says it has found the wreck of Captain Cook’s ship after a 22-year search. But U.S. researchers who collaborated on the project are disputing it.
• Amazon has announced that they are increasing the cost of their Prime membership.
• The Red Hot Chili Peppers have announced a new album Unlimited Love that will release on April 1st.

Welp, for those of us wishing springtime, would come a little sooner – we’re going to have to wait. The Groundhog saw his shadow yesterday, so 6 more weeks of winter here we come!

In This Issue: The Ring Road Challenge | MPO Essentials Fiber Cable | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Ring Road Challenge

Good morning! Last week I mentioned getting backing into running and a few of us in the neighborhood started a running club. That is going very well and it has been great getting back into it full blast. I can already tell a difference in a lot of ways.

One very cool thing coming out of this is doing something I never would have thought about doing. When covid happened, a lot of race organizers created virtual races to help runners still feel connected and still be able to do races. Well, I have signed up for my first virtual race but this one, since it is virtual, has allowed me to do one that is a bit different. The race is called “The Ring Road Iceland Challenge,” and is an 828-mile race. I have 35 weeks to complete it but I am pushing towards completing it in under 25 weeks. The medal and t-shirt look pretty cool, which is always a perk of a race. With the app, I get to see where all of my competitors are in their progress and I get virtual postcards of different locations in Iceland. For every 20% of the race that I complete, they will plant a tree. (They have planted over 5 million trees all over the world so far.)

It’s pretty cool as an overall experience, but it is also something different I never would have thought about doing before. To make it a little bit more competitive, a buddy from the running club is doing it as well. I like the adrenaline rush of doing something radically different and something that extremely challenges me at the same time.

Wish me luck…that I don’t pass out from all the running!

Have a great Thursday!

Jason

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Our MPO Essentials line of fiber cables feature high-quality, precision-built connectors that ensure secure connections for stable transmission with minimal optical loss. This female-to-female cable features 12 strands of laser-optimized cable that allows you to drastically increase your network bandwidth. Additionally, this cable is made with a durable, Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) jacket. As with all of our products, these cables come with a Lifetime Advanced Replacement Warranty meaning that you can purchase risk-free knowing your satisfaction is guaranteed!

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Learning Center Article – How to Recycle IT Equipment and Why We Should

IT networking equipment can be a source of a lot of trouble. It’s expensive to purchase and sometimes challenging to set up. It requires constant maintenance and babysitting, and despite all of your effort and dedication, some of it can still have a short lifespan.

You can take electronics to a lot of landfills but that’s not an optimal idea. Instead, it would probably help if you could recycle your equipment.

With that in mind, here are some thoughts on recycling that are worth contemplating. Why should you recycle, really? Assuming you want to recycle, how can you actually do it? Who even takes old IT equipment for recycling?

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Meta, the parent company of Facebook, during its transition, reported they lost $3.3 billion last quarter.
• The U.S. Treasury Department reported that the total National Debt is more than 30 trillion.
• More than a dozen historically Black colleges and universities reported bomb threats, forcing campuses to close. The FBI is now investigating.
• President Biden will send 3,000 American troops to reinforce NATO allies in Eastern Europe.

Today is the day! It’s the weather holiday many look forward to year after year. It’s Groundhog Day! More cold mornings or will the spring come sooner? We shall see!

In This Issue: CK Giving | Dell PowerEdge M620 | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – CK Giving to Frankie and Andy’s Place

Happy Wednesday! Shanyce is going to be out for a bit, so you may see some new names over the next few weeks but I’m going to kick it off! I’m Sue and I’ve been with CK for quite some time. I enjoyed our CK Giving efforts and love that we get to be a part of this each year.

I chose to give my CK Giving donation to Frankie and Andy’s Place. I volunteer weekly here and believe in what they do and how they do it. They rescue senior dogs that have been abandoned by their owners and give them a forever home at their senior dog sanctuary, saving them from a near-certain death sentence at animal control. Most are 13+ and have health issues. The dogs live out the time they have left in doggie luxury. 🙂 FAAP believes that dogs, like people, need a “purpose” so they do community visits to nearby schools, assisted living facilities, and adult daycare centers.

Sue

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Servers are the workhorse of your network. They store your data, act as a web server, house your entire email library, run your applications, and occasionally act as your print server. When your computer dies and you lose all of your files, who is there? Your file server is there to save the day.

Blade servers are specifically designed to pack a lot of power in a small space. Blade servers can be used as a dedicated server or added to a virtual environment. The user is able to condense their server footprint and easily manage multiple servers from one point. Since they are smaller in nature, they have a better overall power consumption. The Dell M620 offers scalability along with an energy-efficient server that will give you a low cost of ownership over its lifetime.

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Learning Center Article – Benefits of Blade Servers in Your Data Center

No matter the type of business or application, when you need a server, you have to choose from an extensive list of options. Finding the right way to design and maintain your servers is an undertaking. While you weigh your options, it’s worth your time to take a closer look at blade servers.

They are designed to save space, but that description hardly does them justice. Here is a quick review of the top five benefits of blade servers in data centers that makes their value clear.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Google parent Alphabet has announced a 20-for-2 stock split.
• More than 100 million people are under winter weather alerts as a mix of snow and ice makes its way across the states.
• Google Messages is starting to roll out iMessage reactions in beta for Android users.
• Pfizer has asked the FDA to expand use of the Covid vaccine to kids under 5.

Happy February 1st! Can you believe we’ve already conquered a full month in 2022?! Do you have big upcoming plans in February? We’d love to hear about them!

In This Issue: Spring is on the Horizon | Cisco 8841 Five line Color Display IP Phone | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Spring is on the Horizon

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday! We have officially made it to February! Is it just me or does January feel forever long? After all the excitement of the holidays in November and December, January just feels like a super cold very “blah” time of year! Making it to February is always a mental boost… it may be another cold month but at least it’s a short month and the hope of spring and warmer weather is on the horizon!

I truly enjoy living in a place where we get to enjoy four seasons, but winter is the one I get sick of the quickest. This is the time of year when all the days of being cooped up inside cause a little cabin fever to set in. I’ve been trying to make sure to get outside when I can for a little sunshine and fresh air, and have tried to use the time inside to be productive (tackling projects, doing some deep cleaning, trying new recipes, etc) but I still am ready for consistently warmer and sunnier days! What about you?

Rebecca

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Cisco 8841 IP desk phone was designed to meet the needs of small and large businesses alike. This business-class phone is an attractive, ergonomic, and highly functional phone. It uses wideband audio which means you hear voice communication with clarity. It also includes a 5-inch high-resolution widescreen VGA backlit color display, 5 programmable line keys, and it supports a built-in Gigabit Ethernet switch for PC connections.

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Learning Center Article – What is the difference between OS2, OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4, and OM5?

When it comes to fiber-optic networks, there are a lot of options in how a network is designed. Ultimately, the demands of the network will determine which cable is best for any given job, but you need to have a clear understanding of the different fiber cables in order to make that decision.

This Learning Center article will highlight the characteristics of OS2, OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4, and OM5 fiber cables

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Gmail’s new integrated view web redesign starts rolling out next week. Read more here.
• The New York Times is buying Wordle. Have you gotten sucked into playing this game?
• India’s central bank is set to launch its own digital currency in 2022.
• Aston Martin launched the DBX707, stating it is the most powerful luxury SUV in the world and they only plan to produce 5,000 of them.

Happy Monday! Did anyone else enjoy a solid weekend of football? 🏈 Is your team heading to the Superbowl? I’m not sure about you, but I’m excited to see all of the new Superbowl commercials!

In This Issue: House Plants | Kendall Howard Cable Cove 2-Post Rack | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – House Plants

Good Monday morning! (or afternoon or evening), I recently purchased some house plants to liven up my office a bit and bring in some fresh air. I got three cat-safe plants to put on a shelf I set up in front of my window. They include some pretty trippy names: Rabbit’s Foot Fern (Humata tyermanii), Purple Waffle (Hemigraphis alternata), and a Nerve Plant (Fittonia argyroneura). This is my first venture in owning my house plants. My wife has the green thumb in the family, and she has a ton of orchids, violets, and aloe she takes care of; I’ll be leaning on her to help guide me through the process!

I thought about it for a bit and taking care of houseplants is sort of an analogous of what I do day to day in product marking. In order to flourish, plants require the right amount of exposure (in product that would be eyeballs on the product instead of light), good soil and nutrients (good and accurate content), optimal temperature (the right price), a balanced amount of moisture (taking in balanced customer feedback, Q&As, and reviews), and a proper container (a proper channel in our case our website, Amazon, and other marketplaces). While this is by no means perfect, I think it does a good job highlighting some of the key factors in helping customers choose the right products at the right prices.

I haven’t named my plants yet and my family is not very creative with naming. My cats are named after places that we’ve rescued them – Highway was found on the side of a highway, Bushes was found in the bushes in front of my church, Porch was found left in front of my in-law’s front porch, and our last cat Castle… well we didn’t name her, she was found in an abandoned home (I guess you could say it was a castle). Anyways… you get the point… I could use some help naming my plants! I don’t think Rabbit, Purple, and Nerve will cut it this time haha!

Cris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Kendall Howard Cable Cove 2-Post Rack is not only a great way to mount your components but also an inexpensive wire management system as well. These racks are excellent for wire cabinets, telephonic devices, and general network components.

Each rack post has a generous 4-inch internal cove for cabling. The side panels have routing holes and ganging holes to mount multiple units together. The rails have universal mounting holes that are compatible with virtually every cage nut size available on the market today. These racks can be freestanding or bolted to the floor (floor mount hardware not included).

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Learning Center Article – WiFi 6: the next generation of Wifi technology

Wi-Fi 6 is here. Even while 5G, Ethernet 8, and many other communication protocols and standards are revolutionizing the digital age, Wi-Fi 6 is a big deal that will transform networking in countless applications. Read more here about the next generation of Wifi technology.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• The LA Rams and Cincinnati Bengals are heading to the Superbowl. Who are you rooting for?
• After arriving in November, the ‘Encanto’ soundtrack has reached its way to No. 1 on the Billboard chart.
• Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen are back in action to sell us potato chips. Did you catch a glimpse of the teaser commercial?
• Buccaneers Quarter Back, Tom Brady is planning to retire from the NFL after 22 seasons.

Happy Friday! Can you believe the month is almost over? Where has the time gone?! What has been your favorite memory from this month?

In This Issue: Coming Together for Something Greater | CAT6A Shielded Ethernet Patch Cable | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Coming Together for Something Greater

Happy Friday!

January is nearly behind us! And I’m shocked at just how fast January is passing this year.

I want to share a feel-good story that occurred over the last week. After the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills, Chiefs fans started a campaign to donate money to the Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo. So far, over $300,000 has been donated! I love watching football, but causes like this rise above football and bring us together.

These campaigns seem to have started in 2017 when a Buffalo Bills fan kicked off a campaign to get fans to donate to charities supported by opposing teams.

I’m reminded of 1 John 3:17, which says, “If anyone has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need but closes his eyes to his need — how can God’s love reside in him?”

I’ll close with this. Are there needs where you are that you can meet?

Have a great weekend!

Chris

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Our 10 foot Shielded Snagless Category 6A (Cat6A) Ethernet Patch Cables have molded boots to prevent the cable from catching when pulled through tight spaces. Built to last, our high-quality Ethernet cables are pure copper for maximum throughput and reliability. Individually bagged and labeled in retail packaging, these Cat6A cables are easy to store and the length and type is easily identifiable.

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Learning Center Article – Basics of MPO/MTP Fiber Cables

Fiber optic cables drive modern communication. They are the only viable means for arranging the ultra-high-speed systems that run the backbones of digital communication. Long-range internet connectivity is dominated by fiber optic cables. Perhaps more importantly, the massive data processing that goes on at data centers does the majority of the workload for internet communications and digital information handling.

Read more here to learn about the basics of fiber cables.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• iOS 15.4 beta released a new option to enable Face ID when wearing a mask without the need to have an Apple Watch.
• Google’s new Offer tab in the Google Play Store is live.
• In November, Microsoft fended off the biggest distributed denial-of-service attack ever: a torrent of junk data with a throughput of 3.47 terabytes per second.
• A blizzard warning has been issued for areas along the east coast.