CablesAndKits Blog

As the holidays draw near, we want to wish you a Merry Christmas and hope you enjoy the season surrounded by your loved ones. Please note that our office will be closed on December 24th and 25th as we celebrate the holiday. Thank you, and happy holidays!

In This Issue: Small Gifts, Big Hearts | Deal of the Day | Yealink IP Phones Accessories | Understanding ARP | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Small Gifts, Big Hearts

Ho ho ho! Just two more days until Christmas. 🎄

One of my favorite ways to relax on the weekend is scrolling through social media, and I recently came across a sweet video that really stuck with me. It showed a young boy with a $20 budget buying Christmas gifts for his entire family at his school’s holiday shop. He picked a toy his dad could play with, a heart ring for his mom, a squishy chicken for his younger sister, and even tiny collar bells for their dog. How lovely is that?

Kids really do have the purest hearts. We do not have holiday shops like that in schools here in the Philippines, so watching that video left me in awe. Not just because of the shop itself, but because of how genuine and thoughtful that little boy was.

As we move closer to Christmas, we want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. May you feel the presence of our Creator this holiday season, and may His blessings be upon you and your family.

From our CK team to yours, we wish you a joyful, peaceful, and Merry Christmas!

Kat

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A Season of Giving: CK Partners With iServe to Serve Local Families

With Christmas just days away, we want to pause and share a reminder of how meaningful generosity can be. At CK, giving is one of the ways we care for our neighbors and support our community. This season, we are thankful to partner with a local Georgia organization we support through board involvement: iServe Ministries.

iServe serves families in our community by providing free food through programs that help meet real needs. Each Christmas, they also coordinate a toy giveaway alongside local organizations. A few days before Christmas, families are invited to a free breakfast where children can choose gifts for the holiday. The need this year remains higher than ever, and every gift helps make the season brighter for a family.

iServe Toy Giveaway Amazon Wishlist

CK is matching donations from the wishlist up to $10,000, either through additional gifts or a direct contribution.

As we approach Christmas, we encourage you to support a cause that is meaningful to you. Whether through giving your time or resources, your generosity can bring connection, comfort, and joy during this special season.

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The CPN10 PSTN Box works with Yealink CP860 and CP920 IP conference phones to support regions still using the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). It enables both SIP-based and PSTN conference calls, including easy setup of local three-way conferences via a simple PSTN cable connection. Paired with the CP860/CP920’s HD audio, 3-microphone array, full-duplex technology, and acoustic echo cancellation, it delivers clear, natural sound.

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Learning Center Article – Understanding ARP: How Devices Communicate on a Local Network

You have two devices on the same network. You want to share packets directly from one to the other without involving the rest of the internet. How do you do this? There are a few ways, but one of the easiest is ARP. ARP stands for “address resolution protocol,” and it’s an important tool for your devices when they try to communicate. The formal definition goes something like this: ARP is a protocol that connects IP addresses to MAC addresses.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• US bars approvals of new models of DJI, all other foreign drones. 
• ​​​​​North Korean agents are trying to infiltrate Amazon.​
• ​​​​​Amazon’s Zoox recalling 332 US vehicles over software error.

The week of Christmas is officially here, and it is a great time to check in and see how preparations are coming along. Whether you are wrapping gifts, finalizing plans, or simply enjoying the festive atmosphere, today is a chance to slow down and soak in the season. How are your holiday preparations shaping up so far?

In This Issue: Celebrating the Season for What It Truly Is | Deal of the Day | Cat6A Slim Ethernet Patch Cable | Basics of Port Mirroring Configuration | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Celebrating the Season for What It Truly Is

Magnificent Monday to everyone! Christmas is almost here, and I’m happy to say that most of my shopping is done, except for stocking stuffers, which I still prefer to shop for in person. I tried to keep things simple this year and focus on gifts that won’t just catch attention for a moment and then be forgotten.

This past week, we went to see the lights at the World of Illumination in Marietta, and it was really cool. If you have little ones, I definitely recommend checking it out. Seeing everything through their eyes makes it even better.

As the year comes to a close, I’m looking forward to ringing in the new year exactly where I like it, on the couch with my kiddos. We usually celebrate with sparkling juice and then head to bed. Nothing fancy, just together. It’s hard to believe how quickly the years go by, but I’m grateful for every one of them.

Overall, I’m really looking forward to more time with my kids and family over the next couple of weeks. This has always been my favorite time of year, not just because of the celebrations, but because it reminds me of the true meaning of the season, celebrating the birth of Jesus.

Brooke

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Together for the Holidays: CK & iServe Toy Giveaway

As Christmas week begins, we want to take a moment to reflect on the power of generosity. At CK, giving is a meaningful way we care for our community and support those who may be facing a difficult season. This year, we are grateful to partner with a local Georgia organization we support through board involvement: iServe Ministries.

iServe serves families in our community by providing free food through several programs that meet everyday needs. During the Christmas season, they also host a toy giveaway in partnership with local organizations. A few days before Christmas, families are invited to a free breakfast where children can choose gifts to celebrate the holiday. The need this year is greater than ever, and each gift helps bring joy to a family.

iServe Toy Giveaway Amazon Wishlist

CK is matching donations from the wishlist up to $10,000, either through additional gifts or a direct contribution.

As we enter this final stretch before Christmas, we encourage you to consider supporting a cause that is meaningful to you. Giving your time or resources can bring hope, connection, and joy to others during a season when it matters most.

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Deliver blazing-fast performance with this Cat6A Slim Ethernet Patch Cable, built for modern, high-demand networks. Supporting speeds up to 10 Gbps and 500 MHz bandwidth, it ensures reliable, high-throughput connectivity for data-heavy applications. The slim 28 AWG design makes it ideal for tight spaces and dense installations, while optimizing airflow and cable management.

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Learning Center Article – Basics of Port Mirroring Configuration

When you have an important network, it’s a common practice to use some form of network monitoring. This can help you keep an eye on things for better security and network performance.

How do you implement monitoring techniques into a network? One of the most straightforward methods is to use port mirroring.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Amazon opens first-of-its-kind same-day delivery facility in Pennsylvania. 
• ​​​​​Starlink satellite is out of control and tumbling toward Earth.​
• ​​​​​Government’s new ‘flying discs’ could redefine low-orbit missions.

We are wrapping up the week with festive fun. National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day encourages everyone to showcase their boldest patterns and quirkiest holiday designs. Whether cheerful, sparkly, or wonderfully over the top, these sweaters always bring smiles. Which holiday sweater would you proudly wear today?

In This Issue: More Than Christmas Day | Deal of the Day | LCD Expansion Module | Importance of Fiber Optic Cleaning | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – More Than Christmas Day

Happy Friday! Last weekend marked the end of both of my kids’ club soccer seasons. As busy as those seasons were, I’m really grateful for them, and honestly, I’m just as grateful for the free time we’re about to get back. For the next few weeks, our calendar is wide open, which means more time to simply be together 🤍. We’re looking forward to baking treats, watching Christmas movies, and kicking off our annual holiday puzzle.

With Christmas getting closer, I’ve been thinking about what I love most about this season. I recently shared with my kids that it’s not actually Christmas Day for me, but everything leading up to it. Since Halloween ended, I’ve spent hours decorating, shopping, wrapping gifts, making lists… and checking them twice. It’s a full and busy season, but one that genuinely brings me a lot of joy. In the middle of all the prep, I’m reminded that this time is a gift, a chance to slow down, make memories, practice gratitude, and prepare our hearts as we celebrate Jesus’ birthday.

As we head into the weekend, I’m wishing all of our clients a blessed and joyful holiday season, filled with peace, gratitude, and time with the people you love. Thank you for trusting us throughout the year, and here’s to an even better 2026 ahead!

Mandy

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Give Hope This Season: CK Partners with iServe Ministries

As we head into the weekend, we want to pause and share something that is important to us at CK. Giving is one way we care for others and strengthen our community, and this season we are honored to support a local Georgia organization we know well through board involvement: iServe Ministries.

iServe serves families in our community by providing free food through several programs. During the Christmas season, they also host a toy giveaway in partnership with local organizations. A few days before Christmas, families are welcomed to a free breakfast where children can choose gifts for the holiday. The need this year remains greater than ever, and every gift helps make a difference.

iServe Toy Giveaway Amazon Wishlist

CK is matching donations from the wishlist up to $10,000, either through additional gifts or a direct contribution.

As you head into the weekend, we encourage you to consider supporting a cause that is close to your heart. Giving your time or resources can create meaningful moments of connection and joy.

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Yealink EXP20 contains a large and user-friendly liquid crystal display (LCD) interface that measures 160×320 pixels, as well as contains 20 physical, dual-color LED keys. The additional screen space and added number of buttons simplifies user navigation and streamlines essential operational functions such as speed dial, BLF, BLA, call forwarding, transfer and hold.

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Learning Center Article – Importance of Fiber Optic Cleaning

Every system needs fiber optic cleaning to ensure that it will work properly. As the name implies, fiber optic cleaning is the process of cleaning fiber connector end faces and components that are prone to contamination. Contamination can hurt fiber optic performance and even lead to test failures. Cleaning resolves one of the leading causes of these failures and produces a pristine fiber optic network that performs as expected.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day

• YouTube down for thousands of users, Downdetector shows. 
• ​​​​​NASA launches unusual flying saucer-shaped spacecraft.​
• ​​​​​AT&T gains $1.3B annual revenue through December price hikes on wireless and internet services.

It is Thursday and today we celebrate National Re-gifting Day. This day highlights the office parties and gift exchanges that often happen right before the holidays. Sometimes the perfect gift is something you pass along to someone who will enjoy it even more. What item have you received that would make someone else smile?

In This Issue: Saturday Night Lights | Deal of the Day | Two Post Rack | Choosing the Right Network Card | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Saturday Night Lights

Good morning!

I had such a fun weekend! My boyfriend had his third annual “Super Bowl” with his friends from back home. In past years, it included a mix of flag football, kickball, and a tiebreaker of dodgeball, but this year they went all-in on flag football. We were lucky that the cold front held off until the next day, because the game was at 7:30 pm. It got a little chilly, but we thankfully managed to stay warm in the stands until they finished at 10. My boyfriend was the team captain, and although they didn’t defend their winning streak, they played amazingly, and it was a great time.

Since the game was in the evening, I spent the morning baking with his mom to get into the Christmas spirit. We made all of the cookie boxes for her neighbors and friends, which was a lot of fun. I’m not done yet though, I’ve been waiting for our bananas to go perfectly brown so I can make banana bread, and luckily today looks like the perfect day to do it!

Other than that, I’ve been wrapping more gifts, keeping up with appointments, and enjoying every moment of the season. Up next this weekend… hot cocoa and driving around to look at Christmas lights! I hope you are all having an amazing week and have some fun and festive plans for the weekend too!

Rachel

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Making the Season Brighter: CK Supports iServe Ministries

As the week moves along, we are reminded of the difference generosity can make. At CK, giving is part of how we care for our community and support those around us. This season, we are thankful to partner with a local Georgia organization we support through board involvement: iServe Ministries.

iServe serves families in our community by providing free food through a variety of programs. During the Christmas season, they also host a toy giveaway in partnership with local organizations. A few days before Christmas, families gather for a free breakfast where children can choose gifts for the holiday. The need this year continues to grow, and every contribution truly helps.

iServe Toy Giveaway Amazon Wishlist

CK is matching donations from the wishlist up to $10,000, either through additional gifts or a direct contribution.

As we near the end of the week, we encourage you to support a cause that is meaningful to you. Offering your time or resources can strengthen connections and bring joy to both those who give and those who receive.

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Kendall Howard 2-Post Cable Cove Relay Rack is designed to provide a standardized and secure platform for mounting equipments in concentrated network and telecom deployments such as servers, networking switches, patch panels and power distribution units (PDUs). The rack is constructed from strong and durable cold rolled steel framework with vertical posts. The frame is easy to assemble and automatically aligns and adjusts during the assembly procedure, eliminating the need for additional modifications.

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Learning Center Article – Choosing the Right Network Card

It’s easy to forget about devices that enable individual networking components to function. One such case is a network interface card (NIC), often referred to as a network card. These essential components allow your computerized devices to connect to the network efficiently. Many devices have NICs built into them, which is why they are easy to overlook. But, there are times when you need to purchase NICs.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Georgia movie studio may soon become a data center. 
• ​​​​​YouTube TV‘s new sports plan will include Golf Channel, PGA Tour Live.​
• ​​​​​Inflation cooled in November to 2.7%.

Wednesday has arrived, offering a gentle pause in the middle of the week. Whether you are busy or taking things one step at a time, today is a good moment to reflect and recharge. How is your week going so far?

In This Issue: 8 Days to Christmas | Deal of the Day | DVI to HDMI Adapter | Most Reliable Fiber to Ethernet Media Converters | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – 8 Days to Christmas

Hey everyone, happy Wednesday! Only 8 days to go until Christmas. 🎄

One Christmas tradition we have here in the Philippines is called Simbang Gabi. It’s a special nine-day series of early morning masses (sometimes held in the evening) from December 16 to 24 as we count down to Christmas. It all leads up to Misa de Gallo, or Rooster’s Mass, on Christmas Eve.

One core memory I have from Simbang Gabi is the smell of food vendors outside the church, especially those cooking puto bumbong. As a foodie, this was always one of my favorite parts. Puto bumbong is a traditional Filipino Christmas treat made from purple rice, steamed fresh and topped with butter, sugar, and grated coconut. It’s soft, slightly chewy, warm, and just the right mix of sweet and comforting.

Cold weather plus freshly cooked puto bumbong always gave me the coziest feeling. There’s also a belief that if you complete all nine days of Simbang Gabi, your wish will be granted. Honestly, that hope probably motivated us to attend every year back then.

These days, Simbang Gabi is easier to join since the mass is broadcast online and on the radio. While we would love to attend in person, the cold weather and all the coughing and sneezing make us extra cautious. My parents can easily get sick, so staying home feels like the safer choice.

What Christmas tradition in your area do you enjoy the most?

Kat

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Join the Mission: CK Supporting iServe’s Christmas Toy Giveaway

At CK, giving is an important part of how we care for our community and support one another. This season, we are grateful to partner with a local Georgia organization we support through board involvement: iServe Ministries.

iServe serves families in our community by providing free food through several programs that address real needs. During the Christmas season, they also host a toy giveaway in partnership with local organizations. A few days before Christmas, families are invited to a free breakfast where children can choose gifts for the holiday. The need this year remains greater than ever, and every contribution helps make a difference.

iServe Toy Giveaway Amazon Wishlist

CK is matching donations from the wishlist up to $10,000, either through additional gifts or a direct contribution.

As the week continues, we encourage you to consider how you might support a cause that matters to you. Giving your time or resources can create connection, hope, and meaningful joy for others.

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Easily connect your DVI cable to an HDMI input device with this dvi to hdmi adapter, ensuring seamless compatibility and high-quality signal transmission. This dvi to hdmi adapter features gold-plated connectors for enhanced connectivity, ensuring superior transmission and long-term durability.

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Learning Center Article – Network Upgrade: Expert Picks for the Most Reliable Fiber to Ethernet Media Converters

In today’s fast-paced digital world, maintaining a stable and high-speed network is essential for both businesses and individuals. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by converting fiber connections to Ethernet. This conversion allows for faster speeds and greater coverage within existing networks. TP-Link, a well-known leader in networking solutions, offers a range of media converters that facilitate the transition between fiber and Ethernet. These converters ensure smooth and reliable data transmission.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• ​Scientists warn: Solar storms could spark satellite disasters in 2.8 days. 
• ​​​​​Amazon targets a $100B theft wave as 5,000 stores add new systems.​
• Uber could face billions in penalties across US after ‘deceptive billing and cancellation practices’.

Happy Tuesday! Today brings a delicious excuse to get creative. National Chocolate Covered Anything Day invites you to dip, drizzle, and coat your favorite snacks in chocolate of any kind. From fruit to pretzels to unexpected treats, the possibilities are endless. What is the most surprising food you have tried covered in chocolate?

In This Issue: Grateful for the Glow of the Season | Deal of the Day | Cat6A Ethernet Patch Cables | Backbone Cabling vs Horizontal Cabling | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Grateful for the Glow of the Season

Good morning & Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone’s week is off to a great start!

Time seems to move at warp speed this time of year, and I am definitely feeling that right now. Last weekend was a whirlwind filled with lots of Christmas fun. Josh and I went to check out the Winter Wonder lights at the UGA Botanical Gardens, and we were super impressed! It’s a walkable light show (about half a mile) that has all kinds of unique displays that were super magical! It was my first time visiting, but it certainly won’t be my last!

We also headed down to Decatur for a “Friendsmas” dinner with some friends I grew up with. We checked out a place called Roaring Social which is a fun 1920’s themed speakeasy with great food, live music, and boutique bowling. They really nailed the 1920’s theme, and it was such a cool atmosphere. We had a great time!

I also managed to squeeze in a Christmas brunch with some of my friends at another place in Atlanta called The Select. It’s an elegant, European-inspired restaurant with a cozy vibe. They had it fully decorated for Christmas and it was stunning!

While it all seemed to fly by, I’m really glad I was able to make time for the fun and grateful to have such great friends to enjoy the Christmas season with!

Rebecca

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CK + iServe: Empowering Families Through Holiday Giving

As the week continues, we want to share a reminder of how much generosity matters at CK. When we take time to support others, it creates meaningful moments of care and connection. This season, we are thankful to partner with a local Georgia organization we support through board involvement: iServe Ministries.

iServe serves our community by providing free food through a variety of programs that help meet ongoing needs. During the Christmas season, they also host a toy giveaway alongside local partners. A few days before Christmas, families are invited to a free breakfast where children can choose gifts for the holiday. The level of need this year continues to grow, and every gift makes an impact.

iServe Toy Giveaway Amazon Wishlist

CK is matching donations from the wishlist up to $10,000, either through additional gifts or a direct contribution.

As we move through the week, we encourage you to support a cause that is meaningful to you. Giving your time or resources can bring encouragement, connection, and lasting joy to others.

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Ensure fast, reliable, and secure network connectivity with our Cat6A Snagless UTP Ethernet Patch Cable. Perfect for high-speed internet, streaming, gaming, and business applications, this 15-foot cable provides robust performance with superior durability and quality.

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Learning Center Article – Backbone Cabling vs Horizontal Cabling

Networking designs for data centers and other facilities with very high bandwidth usage is not a simple task. In reality, there are many different networks all nested on top of each other, and keeping track can prove burdensome. One way to help distinguish these different nests of networks is to define them by their function. That’s why you will often see mentions of backbone and horizontal networking.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Kraft Heinz picks new CEO ahead of split. 
• ​​​​Chinese businessmen in New York caught relabeling Nvidia by hand—$160M in AI chips sent to China.​
• ​​​​​US pauses implementation of $40 billion technology deal with Britain.