CablesAndKits Blog

Let’s start the week with something sweet. National Cupcake Day celebrates the tiny treats that have been brightening dessert tables for generations. The original cupcake recipe was so simple it earned the nickname 1-2-3-4 cake. What unique cupcake flavor have you tasted?

In This Issue: 10 Days to Christmas & Cozy Weekend Wins | Deal of the Day | 3-Outlet Grounding Tap Adapter | Migrating to a 40GB Network | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – 10 Days to Christmas & Cozy Weekend Wins

Happy Monday!

Only 10 more days until Christmas! This upcoming week is going to be a busy one as we head into the final stretch of the year. It’s also finally starting to feel cold out, which makes everything feel a little more like Christmas around here.

This weekend I got a chance to slow down a bit and hang out with some friends. We watched Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, and it was a lot of fun. It’s hard to believe it’s been about 10 years since the last one, but this one brought back the same heist and magical charm that made the originals so enjoyable.

With the colder weather settling in, we’ve started thinking about Christmas movies. I have a few favorites that I try to watch every year. Home Alone, The Santa Clause, Elf, Jingle All the Way, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and of course Die Hard. What’s your go-to Christmas movie?

I hope you have a great day and a wonderful week!

Cris

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Helping Hands for the Holidays: CK & iServe Join Forces

As a new week begins, we want to take a moment to reflect on the importance of generosity at CK. Giving has a way of bringing people together and reminding us that even small acts of kindness can have a meaningful impact. 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 meet real, 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 level of need this year is greater than ever.

iServe Toy Giveaway Amazon Wishlist

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

As we step into a new week, 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 real joy for others.

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Easily expand a single grounded outlet into three with this UL-Listed 3-Outlet Grounding Tap Adapter. Designed for durability and safety, this compact power tap handles up to 15A / 125V / 1875W, making it perfect for everyday home, office, or workshop use. Its 3-prong grounded design ensures secure connections and compatibility with standard AC power sources. The unit supports 60Hz frequency and is UL certified for added peace of mind.

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Learning Center Article – Migrating to a 40GB Network: Now a Necessity

As data centers rapidly grow and develop, the need for a faster network connection also increases. With the ratification of the IEEE 802.3ab in 2010, 40G has displaced 10G as the next network speed evolution in the enterprise. What drives the need for 40G today is the same force that drove the need for 10G just over 10 years ago: increasing bandwidth demand. In the modern enterprise, bandwidth demand is driven by the changing nature of applications and advances in server and storage technologies.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Walmart‘s abrupt self-checkout shift shakes the multi-billion-dollar retail sector. 
• ​​​​AT&T settlement: Deadline to claim part of $177 million settlement is less than a week away.​
• Roomba maker iRobot files for bankruptcy, pursues manufacturer buyout.

We are wrapping up the week with some classic holiday color. National Poinsettia Day highlights the bright, cheerful plant that instantly makes a space feel festive. Aside from poinsettias, what other plants remind you of the warmth and wonder of the season?

In This Issue: Finding the Win in Survival Mode | Deal of the Day | Color-screen Expansion Module | Optical Transceiver | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Finding the Win in Survival Mode

Good Friday to all! This week was… a ride. It started with sick kids everywhere, which somehow turned into me getting sick too. Shocking, I know. There’s nothing quite like thinking you’re in the clear and then realizing you’re absolutely not.

Even so, we made it through. Somewhere between wiping noses and drinking way too much cold medicine, I realized I was handling it better than I thought I would. Also, people showed up in little ways, the kind that don’t make a big scene but definitely matter. It was a good reminder that some folks really are as solid as you think they are.

What kept me going was knowing there was a break coming. No school schedules, no running from one thing to the next, just some overdue family time. Nothing fancy, just slowing down, catching our breath, and resetting before life cranks back up again.

All in all, not the easiest week, but we survived. I’ll count that as a win.

Matthew

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Spread Joy with Us: CK to Match Donations for iServe Families

As we wrap up the week, we want to take a moment to highlight something that matters deeply to us at CK. Giving is a meaningful way to care for others, and it often brings joy to both those who receive and those who give. This season, we are honored to support a local Georgia organization we are connected to through board service: iServe Ministries.

iServe serves our local community by providing free food through a range of programs. Each Christmas, they also host a toy giveaway in partnership with several local organizations. A few days before Christmas, families are invited to a free breakfast where children can select gifts to celebrate the holiday. The need this year is greater than ever, and every gift makes 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 we head into the weekend and continue this season of giving, we encourage you to support a cause that is close to your heart. Sharing your time or resources can create meaningful connections and lasting joy.

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Yealink EXP50 Color-screen Expansion Module is an ideal solution for receptionists and call center workers in managing large volume of calls. It boasts a large 4.3” color screen LCS giving you a clear visual experience. EXP50 extends the functionality of Yealink T5 Series IP phones like T53/T53W/T54W/T57W/T58A by setting the provided multifunctional line keys as BLF, speed dial, call forward, transfer, call park, call pickup, etc.

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Learning Center Article – What is an Optical Transceiver? Types And Benefits

At the heart of these operations are optical transceivers, small devices crucial for modern communication networks. They convert electrical signals into optical signals, enabling fast and reliable data transmission over fiber optic cables. In this blog, we will delve into the functionalities and benefits of optical transceivers.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• US inflation may slow, but the affordability debate is likely to keep raging. 
• Lululemon boss to step down early next year​.
• ​​​​New Home Depot Creator Portal connects influencers with home improvement enthusiasts to drive new revenue opportunities.

It’s Thursday, everyone! Today is a great day to give your body a little attention. National Stretching Day reminds us that mindful movement can boost flexibility, comfort, and overall well-being. What stretch helps you feel your best?

In This Issue: Easing into Winter | Deal of the Day | Wifi USB Dongle | Ways to Power Your Cisco Phone While Working Remotely | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Easing into Winter

Happy Thursday!!

It has been a luckily uneventful week. Last week was spent preparing for my finals, taking two of them, and this week looked almost exactly the same. Thankfully everything was uneventful in the sense that everything went smoothly, and I feel great about how they went. Now it is just a waiting game for grades to come back from my professors!

Most of my days were spent on my computer working or studying, so by the time I finished my Friday night final I was ready for a little break. So, Alex and I finally started the new season of Stranger Things! We rarely have time for shows during the school year, so it was amazing to slow down and watch something together. We finished the season this week, and I am excited for the next episodes to be released!

Now that finals are officially over, we are back home and happily settling into winter break starting today. There is still plenty to do with work, doctors appointments, and family gatherings, but we are grateful for the chance to rest a bit and enjoy time with the people around us. It has made me even more excited for the season we are stepping into, and I hope you’re feeling that too! I’m wishing us all restful winters, whatever that may look like for you!

Rachel

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Help Us Share Christmas Cheer: CK + iServe Giving Initiative

As we move through the week, we are reminded of how important generosity is to our culture at CK. Helping meet the needs of others often creates moments of joy that stay with us, and this season we are grateful to partner with a local Georgia organization that we support through board service: iServe Ministries.

iServe plays a key role in serving families within our community by offering free food through a variety of programs. During the Christmas season, they also coordinate a toy giveaway in partnership with several local groups. A few days before Christmas, families gather for a free breakfast and children have the chance to choose gifts for the holiday. The need this year is higher than ever, and each contribution helps make a real difference.

iServe Toy Giveaway Amazon Wishlist

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

As the year begins to wind down, we encourage you to support a cause that is meaningful to you. Whether through time, resources, or simple encouragement, giving has a way of bringing people together and creating joy for everyone involved.

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

WF40 Wifi USB Dongle is a dynamic plug-and-play USB device to achieve wireless networks for IP Phones. Reinforced with a solid transmission rate of 150 Mbps, the solution is able to quickly and reliably establish Wi-Fi connectivity so that users can optimally communicate, collaborate, access pertinent documents and resources and more.

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Learning Center Article – 3 Different Ways to Power Your Cisco Phone While Working Remotely

The most common way to power your desk phone is by simply using a power supply. With these products, power comes directly from the power supply while data is transferred via a separate Ethernet cable.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• New US border rules could require selfies, 5 years of social media history. 
• YouTube TV rolls out lower-priced plans, including all-new sports bundle​.
• ​​​​Tether has launched QVAC Health, centralizing wellness data securely and giving users full control.

Midweek is the perfect moment to pause and steady your pace. Whether this week has been smooth, busy, or somewhere in between, taking a brief reset can make all the difference. What is one small thing you can do today to recharge?

In This Issue: Holiday Prep Mode | Deal of the Day | Yealink Wireless DECT Handset | CMP Cables | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Holiday Prep Mode

Yey, Wednesday, everyone! How’s everyone doing so far?

We’re just two more weeks away from Christmas Day. The Christmas breeze is officially here, and it’s getting much colder outside. I’m still excited thinking about Christmas, even if things feel a little different since the pandemic. Some people say it doesn’t feel as exciting as before. Do you feel the same way?

Speaking of Christmas, my mom and I are already preparing our grocery list for this weekend, especially the food we will be cooking on Christmas Day. Is it too early? For us, no, because we don’t want to deal with the crowds. I’m sure the week after next will already be the full Christmas rush. As someone who gets anxious in big crowds, it’s better to be early than stressed.

Aside from the shopping list, I’m also thinking about fun games we can play as a family that day. I’m honestly feeling a little pressured, but in an excited way. We already have ideas we can search online, but maybe you have your own fun games to share. Do you have any family favorites you recommend? I would really appreciate any suggestions from you guys.

Hope everyone is excited and wrapping up plans for the holiday celebration.

Kat

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Give Hope This Season: CK Partners with iServe Ministries

At CK, generosity is something we try to practice throughout the year, but the holiday season always brings it into sharper focus. There is something deeply meaningful about stepping in to help meet a need, and this year we are grateful to support a local Georgia organization that we know well through board involvement: iServe Ministries.

iServe serves our neighbors by providing free food through several community programs. During Christmas, they also host a toy giveaway in partnership with local organizations. A few days before Christmas, families are invited to a warm breakfast where children can choose gifts for the holiday. The need this year is the largest iServe has ever seen, and every contribution truly matters.

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 head into the final weeks of the year, we encourage you to choose a cause that is meaningful to you. Giving your time or resources can create connection, hope, and a surprising amount of joy.

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

The Yealink W56H is the next-generation wireless handset designed for business use with excellent battery life and high compatibility. Combining the benefits of wireless communication with rich business features of Voiceover-IP telephony, it empowers users with convenience of wireless communication that users can enjoy conversations in excellent speech quality, benefit from freedom of movement and its professional features.

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Learning Center Article – Don’t Risk Your Network’s Safety! CMP Cables for Fire-Resistant Performance

In any modern building, safety and reliability are essential, and choosing the right network cabling plays a vital role in achieving both. CMP-rated cables are specifically engineered for environments with air circulation systems, such as plenum spaces, where standard cables may increase fire risks. CMP cables use fire-retardant materials to reduce flame spread and smoke production. They are essential for maintaining safety and meeting fire regulations.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Google‘s first AI glasses are coming in 2026. 
• ​​​​Robotics industry insider says the future is one soldier backed by AI controlling swarms of drones.​
• ​​​​UNESCO recognizes ‘Italian cooking’ as intangible world heritage.

Happy Tuesday! A new day brings a little holiday spark. Christmas Card Day reminds us how meaningful a simple handwritten note can be during the season. In modern days, do you prefer writing Christmas cards or sending digital ones?

In This Issue: From Flu Season to Festive Fun | Deal of the Day | Patch Panel Brackets | Twinax Cables | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – From Flu Season to Festive Fun

Good Morning & Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone’s having a great week! It’s been a while since I wrote for the CK Daily and it’s safe to say it’s been a roller coaster ride the past few weeks!

Thanksgiving was wonderful and filled with lots of food and quality time with family! We celebrated early this year and doubled the fun by also celebrating my niece’s 9th birthday! Black Friday was a fun day of relaxing at home and watching lots of college football, including a Dawgs victory which is always exciting! Unfortunately, I woke up that Saturday feeling a bit under the weather. I’m currently in a half marathon training cycle, so I decided to head out for my 8 mile run despite knowing it was a bad idea. I was able to power through it, but felt like I had been hit by a bus afterwards! Shortly thereafter, I tested positive for the flu which meant I had a few days of misery before starting to feel better!

Thankfully, I was feeling great this past weekend and we were able to do our 3rd annual “Christmas Family Fun Night”. It’s a casual evening where we order in pizza and do all sorts of Christmas crafts and minute-to-win-it style games! We decorated a gingerbread house, made clay snowmen, put together ornaments, and had lots of laughs playing all the games!

This year, we also played a game called “Don’t Get Got” which was a huge hit. The game is basically running “in the background” so to speak throughout the party. Everyone was given 5 “mission cards” when they came over, and the goal was to be the first person to successfully complete 3 missions. They were things like “get someone to smell a candle” or “cheers with the same person 3 times in a minute” and other silly things like that. You had to try and complete your missions without getting called out for it! It was a fun underlying game and we got a whole lot of laughs out of it!

Hope everyone has a great week!

Rebecca

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Together We Can Bless Our Community: Support the iServe Toy Giveaway

Giving has always been an important part of who we are at CK. We believe there’s something truly special about stepping in to meet a need and seeing the joy it brings—both to those who receive and to those who give. This year, we’re honored to support a local Georgia organization we’re connected to through board service: iServe Ministries.

iServe plays a vital role in serving our neighbors by offering free food through several community programs. Each Christmas, they also coordinate a large toy giveaway alongside local partners. Just days before Christmas, families are invited to a warm breakfast where parents and children can choose gifts together. This year, the demand is higher than ever, and every act of generosity makes an impact.

iServe Toy Giveaway Amazon Wishlist

To help meet the increased need, CK is matching donations from the wishlist up to $10,000, whether through additional gifts or a direct contribution.

As we move through this season of giving, we encourage you to support a cause that matters to you. Whether it’s through time, resources, or kindness, there’s incredible joy to be found in lifting others up.

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Kendall Howard swing-out mounting brackets are ideal for mounting patch panels or small equipment. They are made of heavy-duty 16-gauge steel and are a great alternative to a full size rack or large wall mount rack or cabinet.

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Learning Center Article – Fast Data, Zero Hassle: Discover the Power of Twinax Cables for Seamless Connectivity!

Twinax cables have emerged as a popular solution. They provide high-speed data transfers with minimal interference. Twinax cables also strike the perfect balance between performance and cost-effectiveness. In this article, we’ll explore why Twinax cables are a top choice and highlight two standout products: the Meraki QSFP+ Passive Twinax Cable and the 10GBASE-CU Twin-Ax SFP+ Active Cable.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Google shows off XREAL’s Project Aura smart glasses. 
• ​​​​US uncovers scheme to reroute Nvidia GPUs worth $160 million to China despite export bans.​
• ​​​​Pokémon Go’s big new feature is here: Remote trades.

Let’s start the week with something fun. Today is National Crossword Solvers Day, a celebration for the millions who enjoy tackling clues and sharpening their minds one square at a time. How fast can you finish a crossword puzzle?

In This Issue: Lessons, Little Moments, and Holiday Kickoff | Deal of the Day | Phone Cable | Choosing the Right Data Center Power Cords | News to Start Your Day

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The CK Daily – Lessons, Little Moments, and Holiday Kickoff

Happy Monday!

This weekend felt like a blur. I honestly can’t remember what I did on Friday. On Saturday I went to another Pokémon tournament and it was probably the worst finish I’ve had in a long time. I placed 17th out of 30. Not great. I did learn some valuable lessons though, and sometimes you lose simply because you weren’t prepared. I was definitely not prepared this time, but now I know what I need to work on for next time. The tournament was pretty exciting too, because a Pro player showed up to our game store (and that was a first), and it was interesting watching him play.

My oldest has been feeling a bit down because of some school drama. Drama is never fun, especially at her age, so I took her out on a lunch date to give her some space to talk and sort out her feelings. I’m really glad she felt comfortable opening up. It also made me realize I need to be more intentional about doing this with both of my girls. These little moments matter more than I sometimes remember. By the end of lunch she seemed lighter, and she’s already looking forward to Christmas break in two weeks. I’ll take that as a win for the weekend!

On Sunday at church we started what I call the Christmas music run. I play bass, and from now until Christmas it’s all holiday music. It’s a nice change of pace and always helps me get into the season. This year feels extra busy, but I’m planning to make the most of it.

Cheers, and I hope you have a great day and a wonderful week!

Cris

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Helping Our Neighbors This Christmas: CK + iServe Toy Giveaway

At CK, we believe strong communities are built through generosity, compassion, and showing up for one another. We genuinely believe that few things bring more joy than stepping in to meet the needs of others in meaningful, tangible ways. This year, we’re excited to once again support a local Georgia organization we know well through board involvement: iServe Ministries.

iServe works directly within our community to serve our neighbors by offering free food through multiple outreach programs. Each Christmas, they also host a toy giveaway in partnership with several local groups. Just a few days before Christmas, families are invited to a warm, free breakfast where parents and children can choose gifts together. The need this year is greater than ever, and every contribution makes a real difference.

iServe Toy Giveaway Amazon Wishlist

To help meet the growing need, CK will be matching donations from the wishlist up to $10,000—either through additional gifts or a direct contribution.

As we wrap up the year, we encourage you to consider supporting a cause that’s meaningful to you. Whether you give time, resources, or simply encouragement, you may be surprised by the joy that comes from lifting others up.

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Deal of the Day

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Product Spotlights & Updates

Use this RJ-12 silver satin straight-through cable to connect a modem, fax machine, or other data device to a wall outlet in your home or office. Straight-through-pinned modular cables are commonly used for data transmission applications and ensure clear, reliable connectivity.

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Learning Center Article – Tips for Choosing the Right Data Center Power Cords

When you are optimizing a data center, you will consider a lot of design choices. You’ll compare different cable infrastructures. You’ll look at hardware options and their performance capacities. What you might not think about soon enough are power cords. Data centers have specific demands, and you need the right power cords for optimal electrical flow that doesn’t create too much waste heat. These six tips will help you think about power cord optimization and what choices you have that can make a difference.

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Today’s News to Start Your Day:

• Trump warns Netflix’s $83bn deal for Warner Bros poses competition concerns. 
• ​​​​Meta’s ‘Phoenix‘ mixed reality glasses delayed to 2027.​
• ​​​AI surveillance startup caught using sweatshop workers to monitor US residents.