• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

CablesAndKits Blog

Adding value to your IT infrastructure

  • Shop CablesAndKits
  • Blog Categories
    • Product Guides & FAQ’s
    • Technology
    • CablesAndKits News
    • Press
    • CK Daily Updates
    • CEO Daily Updates
    • Product Guides & FAQ’s
    • CablesAndKits.com News
    • Technology Explained
    • Awesome Week in Review
    • Inside CablesAndKits
    • Product Guides & FAQ’s
    • CK Daily Updates
    • Uncategorized
  • CK Learning Center

CK Daily – 07.08.2021

July 9, 2021 by Ashley

In This Issue:  TP-Link Gigabit Multimode SC Fiber Media Converter – MCMMSC-1GB | 4 Stages of Greatness | News to Start Your Day


Happy Thursday! Who’s ready for the weekend?! Even though it’s been a short week, it’s felt quite long! Do you have any exciting weekend plans that you’re looking forward to? We’d love to hear about them! 


The CK Daily – Getting Through the Tornado

I will admit it. I think I have a problem. If you will, let me “geek out” for a minute and explain. This past weekend I went to the mall with some friends who were in town, and I ended up making some impulse buys. You know the ones where you REALLY don’t need something, but on the other hand, you REALLY do need something? Haha! That was me.

I am an avid Marvel / Star Wars / Transformers nut. I have this tendency to buy things for my home office that revolve around those three areas. It has gotten to be a bit much but sometimes I can’t help myself. This past weekend, I saw where Marvel had released “robot” versions of some of their characters in a POP’s version. (If you don’t know what a POP is, they are collectible bobblehead versions of characters…I included a pic below of part of my collection for reference.) I had to have some for my collection, as if I didn’t already have enough, so I got them. It was like the best of both worlds – Marvel & Transformers. It is just one of those weird quirks that I get excited about that other people probably roll their eyes over. I am ok with that. Haha! I think it just reminds me of my childhood, plus they are cool to have and look good in my office. I think it would be super cool if we had a POP version of the CK mascot, Switch, but that’s just me.

What are some things (collectibles, items, swag, etc.) that you collect or when you see you just have to get, even though you have tons of already?

Jason


Product Spotlights & Updates

Happy Thursday folks! Our product spotlight for today is an SC Media converter, the TP-Link MCMMSC-1GB.

Network media converters are used to interconnect different types of cables within an existing network. They receive data from one type of cable and convert the signals for transmission along with another cable type. The SC Gigabit Multimode media converter is used to interconnect 1000TX to 1000SX SC Multimode fiber cable within an existing network.

Quick Specs:

– IEEE802.3ab 1000Base-T and IEEE802.3z 1000Base-SX Standards

– 1000Mbps

– Status LEDs help to easily monitor your network configuration.

– 1000Base-T to 1000Base-SX converter with SC-type connectors.

– Works at 850nm for transmitting and receiving data.

Grab one for 15% off this week only!


4 Stages of Greatness – Jon Gordon

When I ask people if they want to be great or do great things everyone says, “Yes.” I’ve never had anyone say I want to be mediocre. I’m convinced that inside each one of us is a desire for greatness because we were never meant to be average. God planted this desire in our soul. It’s why we are always striving to improve. Inventors and engineers are always trying to make better phones, cars, machines, planes and products. A director makes a movie and wants to make an even better movie. A sales person has a great year and they want to top it. An athlete wants to get stronger and faster. A musician has a hit song and then they want to create another hit. It’s part of our path as human beings to innovate, evolve, grow, improve and push the boundaries of what’s possible. I’ve discovered there are 4 stages that everyone who pursues greatness will go through on their journey.

1. The Preparation Stage – This is where you prepare to be great—where your actions meet your desire – where you show up each day and do the work that greatness requires. While speaking to a MLB baseball team I asked them, “Do you believe you can work harder than you already are?” Everyone raised their hand. “So why aren’t you,” I asked? We discussed it and decided to work harder you have to care more. You have to care to prepare and embrace the process that leads to improvement and growth. See yourself as an artist dedicated to your craft and over time you will create a masterpiece.

2. The Planting Stage – This is where you plant yourself where you are and allow yourself and your gifts to be used for a greater purpose beyond yourself. This is where you decided to serve WE instead of ME. Just as the seed must surrender to the ground you must surrender your ego and put your team and others first. You have to have an ego to want to be great but you must give up your ego and serve others in order to be truly great. Years ago I was unhappy and miserable with my life. I was trying to serve me and it wasn’t doing me any good. Finally I broke down and made my life about others. I started this newsletter in 2002 with no plan. I just shared messages to hopefully inspire and in the process I’ve grown others and myself.

3. The Growth Stage – When you plant yourself and allow yourself to be used for a greater purpose you grow into the leader you are meant to be. Part of this process is the growth stage where you will experience triumphs and success to let you know you are on the right path. However, you will also experience pruning during this stage. When you are being pruned it looks like you have been destroyed but you haven’t. Like a bush that’s been pruned, the pruning is meant to help you grow more fully. When I spoke to the West Point football team a few years ago they had just lost a tough game during another challenging season and things looked bleak. I told them they were just being pruned and a harvest was coming. Your perspective during the growth stage is so important. So many give up during this stage because they think when they have been pruned they’re finished. They think it’s the end so they never reach the final stage. Don’t stop. Keep going and you’ll keep growing.

4. The Harvest Stage – This is where you reap the benefits of all your hard work, planting, and growing. It’s where you produce fruit in your life and fruit in others and leave a legacy. It’s when it all becomes clear. The reason why we go through these 4 stages and strive for greatness is because through the process we become someone who can bring out the greatness in others. We show others what greatness looks like and inspire others to aspire to greatness themselves. I was at the Army-Navy game this past year, when after 14 years of defeats, Army finally beat Navy. I congratulated Coach Jeff Monken and he said, “We experienced a harvest today.” You may not have experienced a harvest yet but don’t let that stop you from preparing and planting the seed. Go through the process. Don’t give up when you are being pruned. It may take a while but a harvest is coming. I don’t know when but I know it’s coming!

You can find this article on the Jon Gordon blog. 


Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • In a study of Icelandic workers conducted by research firms Alda and Autonomy, approximately 2,500 workers were monitored in two separate trials to see how a shorter work week affected their productivity. The results of the two-part study that spanned five years were unequivocal: reduced hours did not negatively impact productivity, and resulted in a myriad of positive outcomes, including reductions in stress and burnout. 
  • Millions of Marvel fans are about to return to a movie theater for the first time since social distancing began. The occasion is Marvel’s “Black Widow,” the most-anticipated movie of the summer. It is debuting around the world right now, and the industry’s global weekend expectation is as high as $140 million.
  • Kaseya, an IT solutions developer for MSPs and enterprise clients, announced that it had become the victim of a cyberattack on July 2. According to Kaseya CEO, less than 0.1% of the company’s customers were embroiled in the breach — but as their clientele includes MSPs, this means that smaller businesses have also been caught up in the incident. 
  • A somber moment of silence marked the end of the two-week search for survivors of a Florida condominium collapse. The painstaking search for survivors shifted to a recovery effort at midnight Wednesday after authorities said they had come to the agonizing conclusion that there was “no chance of life” in the rubble of the Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside.
  • The United Arab Emirates’ Hope probe, which arrived at Mars in early February, spotted the scattered glow of auroras in the Martian night sky. Auroras on Mars are different from those on Earth because the red planet is thought to have lost its global magnetic field billions of years ago.

Filed Under: CK Daily Updates

CK Daily – 07.06.2021

July 6, 2021 by Ashley

In This Issue:  Cisco Original 1000BASE-LX/LH SFP Module | 3 Steps to Manifest Your Goals in Life | News to Start Your Day


Happy Tuesday! We hope you enjoyed the long weekend with friends and family! It seemed like it was the perfect weekend to celebrate festivities outside. How did you celebrate your July 4th weekend? We’d love to know!


The CK Daily – “I’ll keep moving”

Happy Tuesday! I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July weekend!

One of my favorite traditions on the 4th is the Peachtree Road Race. I’ve never run it, but hope to at some point check it off the bucket list! It is such a fun tradition here in Atlanta & I love watching the coverage, hearing cool stories, and seeing people outside having fun! This year I saw the Atlanta Track Club posted a picture of a lady named Betty who had just completed her 31st Peachtree (which is impressive in and of itself!), but what makes it even more amazing is that Betty is 96 years young! Not going to lie, I instantly became a little obsessed with Ms. Betty. I had to know more about her, so I did a quick internet search and found this video which made me an even bigger fan! I love her spunky personality, sense of humor, willingness to do hard things, and I really love that she ended the interview by saying “I’ll keep moving”.

I’m a firm believer in getting some sort of movement in every day (something beyond moving from the bed to the couch!) Sometimes being active can make us feel tired and exhausted, but ironically I really think it’s what helps to keep us young at the same time. I hope you are as inspired by this story as I was!

Rebecca


Product Spotlights & Updates

Hope you are having a great Tuesday! Today we’re going to spotlight a very popular transceiver from Cisco the GLC-LH-SMD. If you need an SFP that will go the distance this is it! The Cisco Original 1000BASE-LX/LH SFP Module has a max distance of 6.2 miles (10 km) and a data transfer rate of 1 Gbps. This unit features DOM support (Digital Optical Monitoring) and will support LC duplex connectors. Because of its higher optical quality, the GLC-LH-SMD can reach double the cabling distance over the industry standard of 5 km.

One of our reviewers commented “CIsco Original at a fraction of the price! Why pay more for the same part…” That’s a great point you made Eddy C. There’s no reason to pay more and to sweeten the deal even more this transceiver module is on sale this week for 15% off!


3 Steps to Manifest Your Goals in Life

If you’ve ever been confused about how to fulfill your dreams, or even where to start, you’re not alone. Many people struggle with the same problem. Like them, you probably know you need to master your mindset, build relationships and reach peak performance in your career. But when you’re unsure of how those things fuel your dreams—or even worse, you can’t visualize the end goal—it’s easy to postpone the existence you crave.

No matter what you’re trying to achieve, begin your journey with three simple steps. They’re listed below, and you’re going to need them when life gets tough.

1. Visualize your success before it happens.

When you imagine your life in the next five years, what do you see? Are you a world traveler using nothing but a laptop and Wi-Fi to earn a living? Do you own a successful business that’s about to go public? In your mind’s eye, visualize the rich relationships and the type of lifestyle you want to have.

2. Create a success plan by writing down your goals.

Now that you have your imagined memory, write it down. Put your goals in a journal so they seem less like fiction and closer to a burgeoning reality. After all, words on paper can become a list, and lists can be completed. It’s the same process as handling tasks at work or household chores. Your dream is just as important, and it’s something you can plan for.

3. Embrace the magic of daily routines.

Good habits are the key to success, so you need a solid routine for practicing them. It’s about more than simply organizing your day, week, or month. A routine creates the momentum you need to reach small, immediate goals. You get a burst of motivation with each accomplishment, so it’s worth the effort.

Want to read the full article from Success? Find it here! 


Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • As of yesterday, Jeff Bezos is no longer the CEO of Amazon. 
  • Instagram is working to compete with TikTok and will now prioritize video over photos. The Director of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, stated they are focusing on four key areas: Creators, Video, Shopping, and Messaging. 
  • Wally Funk, a woman who trained for NASA’s “Mercury 13” program in the 1960s, is Jeff Bezos’ guest for the trip to be made by his aerospace company, Blue Origin, on July 20.
  • A cybercrime organization has infected 1 million systems across 17 countries. They are demanding $70 million in bitcoin in exchange for a “universal decryptor.” They targeted Kaseya, an IT firm, and used their software to slip into the victims’ systems. 
  • As Tropical Storm Elsa approaches the coast of Florida, various counties are now under a tropical storm warning.

Filed Under: CK Daily Updates

CK Daily – 06.22.2021

June 22, 2021 by Ashley

In This Issue: Cisco 3750G Series 24 Port PoE Gigabit Switch | What is DWDM? | News to Start Your Day


Today we’re celebrating a batter-dipped, deep-fried bite of deliciousness that runs rings around other appetizers! Any guesses?! It’s National Onion Ring Day!  Head out to your favorite diner and order up some onion rings. Or make them at home! Here’s a delicious recipe to try! 


The CK Daily – Beach Days and More Exploring

Happy Tuesday!

As I mentioned last week, I’m on vacation this week! We’re spending the week on Amelia Island and have been having a great time so far! We’ve taken advantage of the cool mornings to get out for a few runs/walks, and have spent the afternoons hanging out on the beach!

I’m normally someone who spends most of my time laying out on the beach, but we’ve had some great waves down here so we have spent a good bit of time out in the water boogie boarding. I haven’t really done that since I was a kid, and now I’m realizing I totally forgot how much fun that is! We hope to get in a few more good beach days, check out Cumberland Island, and maybe explore Little Talbot Island. Lots to look forward to! I hope you’re all having a great week!

Rebecca


Product Spotlights & Updates:

Happy Tuesday! We’ve got some pretty sweet Deals of the Week going on this week. Today, we’re highlighting the Cisco 3750G Series 24 Port PoE Gigabit Switch, WS-C3750G-24PS-S. The Cisco Catalyst 3750 Series of switches are excellent options for midsized and large offices alike.

These 3750G switches offer (24) or (48) 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet ports plus 4 SFP ports. In addition, they include Cisco StackWise technology and allow users to stack up to 9 individual switches into one single logical unit. The unit comes with an IP Base image, Stacking capabilities, a POE budget of 370W, 128 MB of RAM, 32 MB of Flash, and has 1005 Total VLANs.

Grab one today for 10% off!


What is DWDM? – CK Learning Center

Fiber optics run the world. They’re deeply embedded in all of our communications at an infrastructural level. More than that, fiber optics consistently become more available and affordable for all aspects of networking. When you have to ensure the integrity of any network, you want to be certain you’re using the right tools for the job. The only way to gain that certainty is to have a deep understanding of what is available. Today, you can improve that understanding by learning about DWDM technology. It’s a vital form of fiber optic communications that is completely irreplaceable in many applications.

Dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) is a breed of fiber optics that are specifically geared towards extremely data-intense operations. Meeting those data-intense needs is primarily accomplished through two facets of DWDM design.

For starters, this is multiplexed fiber optics. That means the cables are paired in a way that allows data to stream in two directions at the same time. In other words, any node on the network can send and receive information simultaneously.

Perhaps more important to defining DWDM is the nature of the dense wavelengths. A single cable can simultaneously run up to 192 (96 on older designs) distinct communication channels at once. Since each channel can carry up to 100 Gbps, this leads to an aggregate bandwidth of 19.2 Tbps.

DWDM creates this reality by using extremely tight wavelength spacing for each channel. Typical designs are built on either 0.4 nm or 0.8 nm spacing. Since each channel is secured to prevent cross-channel noise and interference, DWDM communications rely on precise laser signaling. This drives up the cost of producing DWDM systems.

How Does DWDM Compare to CWDM?

The other big player in multiplex fiber optics is CWDM. The C refers to a coarse wavelength spacing. This limits CWDM cables to a maximum of 10 Gbps and enables the designs to use less precise equipment. In short, CWDM has lower data capacities and costs less money. Choosing between the two will always be determined by the function of the network. There’s little reason to pay for DWDM capabilities unless they’re needed.

What Are Common Applications for DWDM?

Considering the extraordinary data density that DWDM can transmit, it is mostly used in applications that require it. The most common of these applications is telecommunications. Internet providers typically run DWDM in communication hubs.

Similarly, dense data centers often run on DWDM. While the aggregate data rates are important, the ability to run separate data formats and rates on each channel tremendously help data centers streamline their networks.

Cloud service providers are the other big user of DWDM. As you might imagine, enterprise cloud providers require the extraordinary bandwidth provided by dense fiber optics to meet demand.

In summary, DWDM is one of a large number of means to build a network. It offers some of the fastest data rates available today, and DWDM systems are integral to networking infrastructure. Understanding how it works, its capacity and its applications can help you better determine when and where you should consider DWDM systems of your own. If you need the level of capacity offered by dense wavelengths, you won’t have many alternative options.

This article is from the CK Learning Center. You can find it here. 


Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • The European Court of Justice ruled that YouTube and other online platforms shouldn’t be held liable for copyright-infringing uploads in some cases. They could, however, be held liable if they are aware copyrighted content is available illegally and refrain from “expeditiously deleting it.”
  • Chipotle Rewards will now be able to redeem their points for more rewards across its entire menu and more quickly. Restaurants are leaning on loyalty programs to hold onto the digital customers the companies gained during the pandemic.
  • Target plans to make 100% of its private-label products environmentally sustainable by designing more durable items, eliminating waste, and encouraging reuse by 2040.
  • Peloton just launched a corporate wellness program. Businesses that sign up will be able to offer employees subsidized access to Peloton’s digital fitness membership and its high-end cycles and treadmills.
  • DoorDash is expanding its grocery delivery service. The company is partnering with Albertsons Cos. to offer on-demand grocery delivery from nearly 2,000 of its stores.

Filed Under: CK Daily Updates

CK Daily – 06.21.2021

June 21, 2021 by Ashley

In This Issue: Cisco Small Business 300 and 500 Series 19″ (1RU) Rack Mount Kit | Big U.S. retailers line up deals to take on Amazon Prime Day frenzy | News to Start Your Day


Happy Monday! We hope you had an incredible weekend celebrating dad! Today is the first day of Amazon Prime Day. Which deals do you have your eye on??


The CK Daily – Dads are Rocks

Goooood Morning CK Fam!!

Here we are again on a Monday morning to take on the week!

First of all, to all the dads out there, hope you had a great Father’s Day. For those that have lost theirs, may yesterday have been a celebratory reflection of a man you remember fondly of.

Dads are rocks. They are a rock as you grow up in the form of loving discipline and learning to do so much to be like them. They are a rock in always picking up the phone regardless of how busy they may be. A rock in the way of those that love unconditionally regardless of the mistakes in life you make.

So too is our holy Father. Always be praying.

Psalm 32:8.

Thanks for tuning in, and have peace on your heart this week,

Corey


Product Spotlights & Updates:

Happy Monday! Today we’re spotlighting the Cisco Small Business 300 and 500 Series 19″ Rack Mount Kit, CR124. There’s not much to say about this rack mount kit aside from its durable construction, lifetime warranty, and 100% compatibility to  Cisco SF200, SG200, SF300, SG300, SG500, and SF300 series switches! These rack mount kits also come with screws, everything you need for installation.

Since we don’t have much to say, here’s what some of our customers have said:

Blaine C. wrote, “Brackets and screws fit precisely and kit included mounting screws for the rack as well.”

Adam R. said, “These brackets are absolutely amazing. They screw onto the device, and allow it to be screwed into a rack! Absolutely incredible feat of engineering here.”

Eido I. commented, “Hard to review two pieces of metal, but here goes: they were solid. They work. Genuine parts. And promptly shipped.”

Enjoy 15% off this week! Head on over to our Deals of the Week page to snag yours!


Big U.S. retailers line up deals to take on Amazon Prime Day frenzy – Reuters

Are you ready to hear about all of the incredible deals going on right now? There are quite a few retailers fighting for your attention! This article from Reuters explains which retailers are going head to head with Amazon’s Prime Day Frenzy! 

Amazon.com Inc will face challenges from big retailers during its annual Prime Day promotion, as more merchants piggyback on the multibillion-dollar online sales event.

Target Corp, Walmart Inc, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Macy’s Inc, and Kohl’s Inc are some top American retail chains offering big discounts and promotions to coincide with Prime Day, which takes place on Monday and Tuesday this year.

The two-day sales event, which generated here $10.4 billion in gross merchandise sales for Amazon last year, is taking place earlier than its traditional July run date, as the e-commerce giant looks here to boost spending in what are historically slow sales days in the quarter.

And retailers are not missing the opportunity to get a slice of that pie.

Department store chain Macy’s is teasing customers with an “Epic Specials” event for two days starting Monday, while rival Kohl’s is promoting cashback and discounts on beauty, apparel, and household goods through its Prime-day coinciding event called “Wow Deals.”

Target has taken it up a notch this year, increasing the number of products and discounts on its website during Prime Days. This is in contrast to most U.S. mall stores, which have been cutting down on assortment and promotions this year, the data showed.

Home furnishing retailer Bed, Bath & Beyond is offering an “even bigger and better” challenger event to Prime Day this year, with same-day delivery on orders $39 or more and rewards that give customers up to $100 for future purchases.

Some of its top deals include 60% off on Crux appliances and 25% off on Graco Pack ‘n Play baby cribs.

Walmart’s competing sales event will start one day ahead of Prime Day and end on June 22. The world’s biggest retail chain, which launched its own subscription program called Walmart Plus last year, is offering deals on built-in Roku TVs and Roomba vacuum cleaners, among other electronic items.

Amazon Prime Day, which has grown into a two-day shopping bonanza rivaling the U.S. holiday shopping season, will see 20 countries participate this year. The event in India and Canada, however, has been postponed due to COVID-19.

Adobe expects Prime Day to top $11 billion in total online spending for U.S. retailers this year, surpassing sales generated on Black Friday and Cyber Monday last year.


Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • Shoppers booting up a web browser and expecting to see big discounts on Amazon’s Prime Day might come away disappointed. Experts say Prime Day deals this year could be particularly limited due to supply-chain obstacles and robust consumer spending that have left inventories lean.
  • With chicken wings in short supply and prices rising, Wingstop is “hacking” its own brand by launching Thighstop, a virtual restaurant that will serve up crispy chicken thighs. Like the original Wingstop, customers can pick one of 11 flavors and opt for either a bone-in or boneless thigh. The new brand will be available for delivery or carryout in 1,400 locations nationwide via DoorDash or on Thighstop.com
  • American Airlines canceled hundreds of flights this weekend due to staffing shortages, maintenance and other issues, challenges facing the carrier as travel demand surges toward pre-pandemic levels.
  • A number of workers have used the freedom of working remotely during the pandemic to leave behind their sedentary housing and move full-time into vans. These remote workers drive from location to location in their homes, working off internet hotspots in their vans, spending their free time in nature, and exploring new places. As vaccines roll out and states start to open up, some workers are returning to their offices, but for many of those who’ve adopted the van life, there is no end in sight to their life on the road.
  • Target is adding food and beverages to Deal Days, its sales event, and answer to Amazon Prime Day. The coming months will test whether Target and other grocers can convince consumers to keep filling up fridges and cooking, even as they make social plans and return to dining out.

Filed Under: CK Daily Updates

CK Daily – 06.18.2021

June 21, 2021 by Ashley

In This Issue: Cisco Aironet 1040/1140/1250 Series Power Injector | What does 5G mean for business networks? | News to Start Your Day


Happy Friday! Today is National Fishing Day and that seems like the perfect way to kick off the weekend festivities of celebrating dad! Just make sure you let dad catch the biggest fish! We hope you have a fun and relaxing weekend! 


The CK Daily – Rhythms & Reflection

Happy Friday folks! I’m on vacation this week, so I’m writing this daily post from a completely different city. We’ve had this trip planned for a few months now and are enjoying our family time! So while I’m away from the office, this means I’m not in my home office going through my normal daily rhythms each day. And I’m missing those!

I had a mentor tell me once that he took time off every quarter. He found that just like seasons changes every 13 weeks or so (some seasons in Georgia are way shorter, like spring), he also needed to take time off every quarter. This was not only a time to relax & recharge, but also a time to reflect. I didn’t fully understand that statement then, but it’s starting to make more sense as the years pass. I now realize the power of not doing my daily rhythms for a few days. By the end of a few days, I start to yearn for it again. I’m also able to evaluate the rhythms for effectiveness. Once I’m back into the swing of things, I pick right back up with the rhythms that have the most impact, and I change those that don’t.

What things have you learned recently by taking time to reflect?

Chris


Product Spotlights & Updates:

Happy Friday! Today we’re introducing you to the magic of the Power Injector. These devices provide you flexibility in setting up your access points, by providing a way to power them with an Ethernet cable. This is especially useful if your network does not have a PoE switch or enough PoE budget to run additional access points.

Instead of replacing your switch or buying an additional PoE switch, you can deploy power injectors with access points where needed.

The AIR-PWRINJ4 is specifically designed to power up Cisco Access Points including, but not limited to the 1040, 1140, 1250, 3500, and 3600 series Access Points.

Pick one up today for 15% off!


What does 5G mean for business networks? – CK Learning Center

There is a lot of technology generating excitement for more applications than we could hope to name. One central theme to virtually all of that technology is an increased demand on data and need of higher bandwidth for connectivity. More devices than ever are actively communicating, and they are placing massive burdens on existing infrastructure. Copper networks and 4G wireless have a shelf life. Within the next couple of years, they will no longer be able to service standard demands — much less cutting-edge applications. Ultimately, we all need a network that is built for the new age of connectivity. That network will run on 5G.

What Is A 5G Network?

The name itself refers to fifth generation mobile wireless networking. In effect, it is an overall upgrade to every aspect of performance in mobile networks. It’s designed for faster data rates, more connectivity and traffic, lower power demands and lower deployment costs. It’s still largely in a developmental phase. Components of 5G networking are ready to go to market, but large scale networks are still primarily in testing phases. Because of that, raw data on 5G performance is a mix of practical and theoretical.

5G aims to achieve data rates up to 20 Gbps. Early iterations might be slower, but 5G is intended to provide Gigabit or faster wireless connections. It can also operate with a theoretical 1ms latency. In order to achieve these impressive numbers, it will largely be built on optical transceivers and a solid fiber backbone.

How Is it Different From 4G?

Aside from the raw performance improvements, 5G is embracing a fundamentally different design philosophy. 4G and its predecessors are designed around massive towers. Any individual tower is intended to handle many thousands of users and transmit across kilometers of air. 5G is completely abandoning this approach.

The primary design of the new networks incorporates far more network nodes. By attaching optical transceivers to fiber networks, 5G wireless can create coverage that serves far fewer users per node. Ultimately, this decentralizes the 5G hardware. The smaller, faster devices can be mounted with greater freedom than traditional cellular towers, and the result is a more robust, scalable network.

You can loosely compare this design to other modern, decentralized concepts. IoT and blockchain both try to connect as many different users as freely as possible, and 5G is being engineered to support those demands.

The Bottom Line on 5G

When it comes to business infrastructure, there are key takeaways from this 5G overview. First, 5G is an inevitable necessity. Traffic demands are only growing, and 4G is already up against a wall. Any applications that have to cover more area than is economical with Wi-Fi need to already consider moving towards 5G.

Another huge takeaway is 5G’s reliance on fiber infrastructure. This isn’t entirely new; 90 percent of internet data is carried on fiber optic lines already. The difference is that 5G aims to reduce the distance between cellular relays and the fiber backbone. For your infrastructure, that means that a fiber network is key to any system that spans more than 500m in a single direction.

The last takeaway is equally important. 5G runs on optical transceivers. These use far less power than slower alternatives, and it means that large networks with many nodes will be more affordably served by 5G than older technology. The hybrid of fiber and optical components gives network designers far more freedom. The idea that a faster, more reliable, large-scale wireless network will also be more affordable might seem like a pipe dream, but that’s the promise of 5G. Just keep in mind that it only saves money after you have access to fiber-optics infrastructure.

Continue reading the rest of the article from the CK Learning Center here. 


Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • Roku has out-executed larger companies and leaned on an unusual corporate culture to gain a $45 billion valuation. Roku founder Anthony Wood is now spending much of his time thinking about the company’s content ambitions.
  • The coronavirus pandemic could boost newer modes of transportation in China, like making autonomous driving more mainstream. The Covid-19 outbreak accelerated the commercialization of autonomous aerial vehicles — or driverless drones — which were used to transport goods, medical supplies and even passengers to and from quarantine zones.
  • Burger King’s new chicken sandwich, the Ch’King, marks a shift in its menu strategy. Burger King is shifting its menu focus from promotional to foundational to unlock the next level of growth.
  • The biggest change to Microsoft’s Office documents in decades is coming to life soon, as the company’s Fluid framework arrives in Microsoft Teams, OneNote, Outlook, and Whiteboard. Instead of tables, graphs, and lists that are static and bound to specific documents, Fluid components are collaborative modules that exist across different applications. They will begin showing up in Microsoft Teams first this summer, embeddable in meetings and chats.
  • Samsung is ending sales of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 in the US, but it’s unclear if the device is entirely being discontinued at this point.

Filed Under: CK Daily Updates

CK Daily – 06.17.2021

June 17, 2021 by Ashley

In This Issue: Cisco Original 1000BASE-LX/LH SFP Module | Understanding MPO/MTP Cabling Systems in Data Centers | News to Start Your Day


Happy National Eat Your Veggies Day! Everyone’s favorite day, right? We’re supposed to consume 3 to 5 servings of vegetables per day, and some of us can’t even begin to fathom consuming that many vegetables in a full year. Grab your favorite vegetable and enjoy!! 


The CK Daily – Get out of the rut

Being in a routine has been my friend for as long as I can remember. If I didn’t have my daily routines I would chase squirrels so many times during the day it would be ridiculous. Plus, I would never get anything done. My ADHD can get wild sometimes. My routine has served me well with getting everything done around the new house, at work, and with my family, but sometimes you just need to shake things up to gain a different view or perspective on things.

I have noticed lately that my routine has gotten me in a rut and with that has come some negative effects primarily in my thinking, especially about my health, working out, eating, and just the way I have felt overall. I thought a lot about this all weekend and week and decided I needed to get out of my “rut”. I have just felt “blah” lately and I don’t like it. I feel like I have gotten complacent and just been on autopilot with a lot of things. If you have ever been in a rut, you know what I am talking about.

I am working on a list of things that I want to change along with getting my mind right and getting positive about stuff is the first step. I got a view of where I want to be and started working towards that. Motivation is key. I decided to start working on my mindset, positivity and getting active again. I hurt my arm a while back so working out and exercising has been a bit of a challenge, so I am starting with baby steps again. I have also switched up my working environment and have been listening to music while I work instead of having the news or sports on in the background. Been trying to surround myself with stuff that makes me feel good and that I enjoy. So far, so good.

What kind of things do you do to get out of a rut or shake things up when your routine has made you feel “blah” overall?

Jason


Product Spotlights & Updates:

Happy Friday-eve! We hope you’ve been enjoying all the great deals we’ve been highlighting this week. Good news though, we’re not done yet! Today we’re spotlighting the Cisco Original 1000BASE-LX/LH SFP Module, GLC-LH-SMD.

Cisco’s industry-standard SFP is a hot-swappable input/output device that plugs into a Gigabit Ethernet port/slot, linking the port with the fiber-optic network. SFPs can be used and interchanged on a wide variety of Cisco products and can be intermixed in combinations of IEEE 802.3z- compliant 1000BaseSX, 1000BaseLX/LH, or 1000BaseZX interfaces on a port-by-port basis.

The Cisco GLC-LH-SMD fully complies with the IEEE 802.3z 1000BaseLX standard. The GLC-LH-SMD also operates with digital optical monitoring. However, their higher optical quality allows them to reach 10 km over single-mode fiber (SMF) versus the 5 km specified in the standard.

This week, enjoy 10% off!


Understanding MPO/MTP Cabling Systems in Data Centers – CK Learning Center

When it comes to maintaining a data center, the job is never-ending. As soon as the last upgrade finished, new technology arrived to force a new round of improvements. Some networks are still installing 10G fiber optics, even while 40/100G is essentially the new standard. It’s just part of the game. If you want to give yourself a fighting chance to keep up with these paces, you need fiber optics that are scalable and efficient. Those two words form the entire design philosophy behind MPO/MTP systems. If you haven’t already explored this option, it’s time to start learning.

What is MPO and MTP?

The short answer is that these are high-volume data cables. MPO is a multi-fiber push-on. MTP is short for multi-fiber termination push-on. Both cables utilize the same connector type and serve a lot of the same functions. We’ll get into the main differences in a minute. For now, let’s look at the basics of why these systems are so popular in data centers.

MPO/MTP are pre-terminated and support speeds from 10G up to 100G. Both cable types use connectors that are the same size as SC, and these cables support 12 or 24 fibers per cable. The sheer information density within these cables is massive, and considering how much space the compact design saves, it’s easy to see why they’re so common in data centers.

A few design elements really shape the functionality of MPO/MTP cables. They perform parallel optical communication. This allows simultaneous transmission and reception (like a simple duplex cable). The difference is that these cables handle a lot more than a single fiber pair at a time. With so many strands pre-arranged in the cables, the volume and capacity of these systems is achieved with far less effort on-site.

MPO vs MTP

For the most part, the design and advantages are identical between the two systems. We’ll be discussing those advantages at length. Before we do, let’s talk about the defining difference. In many cases, the two terms are used interchangeably. While shopping around, you’ll find this is commonplace, but there is a minor distinction that we can make now.

MPO is a generic fiber connector type. Any manufacturer can conceivably make MPO cables and equipment. MTP is trademarked by US Conec. So, technically speaking, any MTP cable is from a single manufacturer. This is akin to calling a tissue a Kleenex or a guide dog a Seeing Eye Dog (that’s a bonus fact for you). It doesn’t really matter which term you use as long as you understand why both exist.

Bridging the Gap

While MPO and MTP cables are common in data centers, MTP cables perform a special service. In particular, MTP-LC breakout cables are the key piece to bridging gaps between older 10G equipment and newer 40/100G systems. The breakout cables have an MTP connector on one end while the other “breaks out” into groups of LC connectors (6 or 12 in total). This allows 10G equipment to piggyback off of 40/100G systems with minimal investment. A single breakout cable is sufficient to combine the systems. This takes cost, strain, and stress out of upgrading or transitioning 10G systems to keep pace with modern data demands.

Want to read more of this article, head on over to the CK Learning Center to do so! 


Today’s News to Start Your Day:

  • Facebook announced that it will begin testing advertisements that will appear within the company’s Oculus virtual reality headsets. The Oculus headset ads will first appear in the shooter game Blaston from Resolution Games. 
  • Google provided a peek inside its first retail store a day before it opens in New York. Customers can come to try and buy all of Google’s products and services. The store will also offer support for devices and software. 
  • Reports of new Covid-19 cases have decreased in every region of the world except Africa.
  • The Department of Education announced Wednesday it has approved the cancellation of about $500 million worth of federal student loans held by 18,000 borrowers who attended ITT Technical Institute. The borrowers will have 100% of their loans canceled.
  • Amazon is calling on social media companies to help it curb the spread of fraudulent product reviews. Amazon said bad actors are turning to outside platforms to solicit fake reviews, which has made it more challenging for the company to stamp out the activity on its site.

Filed Under: CK Daily Updates

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 191
  • Page 192
  • Page 193
  • Page 194
  • Page 195
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 256
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • CK Daily – 06.01.2026
  • CK Daily – 05.29.2026
  • CK Daily – 05.28.2026
  • CK Daily – 05.27.2026
  • CK Daily – 05.26.2026

Recent Comments

  • CEO Daily Update - 10.6.2020 - CablesAndKits Blog on CEO Daily Update – 10.5.2020
  • CEO Daily Update - 9.29.2020 - CablesAndKits Blog on CEO Daily Update – 9.28.2020
  • CEO Daily Update - 9.22.2020 - CablesAndKits Blog on CEO Daily Update – 9.15.2020
  • CEO Daily Update - 9.22.2020 - CablesAndKits Blog on CEO Daily Update – 9.10.2020
  • CEO Daily Update - 8.24.2020 - CablesAndKits Blog on CEO Daily Update – 8.17.2020

Archives

  • June 2026
  • May 2026
  • April 2026
  • March 2026
  • February 2026
  • January 2026
  • December 2025
  • November 2025
  • October 2025
  • September 2025
  • August 2025
  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • November 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • January 2018
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • February 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • October 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • May 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • February 2010
  • November 2009
  • April 2009
  • December 2008
  • December 2007
  • December 2005
  • July 2005
  • March 2005
  • August 2004
  • May 2004
  • August 1998

Categories

  • Accelerate Your Network
  • Awesome Week in Review
  • CablesAndKits.com News
  • CEO Daily Updates
  • CK Daily Updates
  • Get More. Spend Less.
  • Inside CablesAndKits
  • Press
  • Product Guides & FAQ's
  • Technology
  • Technology Explained
  • Uncategorized
  • Value Offerings

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Blog Search

Recent Posts

  • CK Daily – 06.01.2026
  • CK Daily – 05.29.2026
  • CK Daily – 05.28.2026
  • CK Daily – 05.27.2026
  • CK Daily – 05.26.2026

Categories

  • Accelerate Your Network
  • Awesome Week in Review
  • CablesAndKits.com News
  • CEO Daily Updates
  • CK Daily Updates
  • Get More. Spend Less.
  • Inside CablesAndKits
  • Press
  • Product Guides & FAQ's
  • Technology
  • Technology Explained
  • Uncategorized
  • Value Offerings

Archives

CK on YouTube

https://youtu.be/KorUg6l38O4?list=PLLoVIpEM8zpPVUeoIKrWyEC1vsM8YCTYy

Blog Cloud

Apollo 13 Awesome Birthday Business Business News cablesandkits cablesandkits.com cat6 CEO Christmas Cisco Cisco Accessories CIsco Equipment Cisco Switch Clorox Wipes Core Values Coronavirus COVID-19 Dell Ethernet Face Masks Fiber Hand sanitizer HP Inventory Reduction IT Lifetime Warranty Million Dollar Sale N95 Masks networking Networking Equipment Nitrile Gloves Office OM4 PPE RV Adventures Safety Products Safety Supplies sales Servers Service technology thermometers VOIP Webcams
  • Shop CablesAndKits
  • Blog Categories
  • CK Learning Center