networking

The Source of our Phone Refurb Power

May 1, 2015 by Shanyce Watkins

Ever wondered what process the refurbished phones go through. We put our phones through an extensive process to refurbish and make new. The phones go through a 4 step process to ensure each phone is up to code and satisfaction.

CablesAndKits takes phones that have been gently cared for in the past and brings them up to speed. The inspection team physically inspects each phone by its physical appearance and its ability to perform its job. Each phone goes through testing and if all is well, they are reset back to factory defaults. If the phone passes its test, it will go to the [Read more…] about The Source of our Phone Refurb Power

5 Ways to Mark Earth Day in your Company

April 22, 2015 by Shanyce Watkins

April 22, 2015 marks the 25^th anniversary of Earth Day, a day we celebrate the birth of the modern environmental movement. Today we celebrate Mother Nature and highlight the different ways we can help save the planet in our daily lives while working for any tech-savvy company.

Here are five steps you can take to help save the Earth and build sustainability into your daily operations:

Switch computers off at the end of the day

Computers should be turned off at the close of business and on weekends to save energy. According to IBM, by telling their employees to turn off their computers for at least one hour each day, can save the company $1 million per year in energy cost.

Use recycled paper and double side Printing

Using recycled paper not only saves trees but it also helps to save energy, water and landfill paper. The recycled paper produces less pollution that is essential for a healthy environment. In efforts to save trees, double side printing will be a great start. By using half the amount of printing paper, you will in turn save some money while being eco-friendly.

Use the Cloud

The cloud is a network of servers that can store all your saved documents and data with accessibility from anywhere. The cloud gives you the capability to share documents with coworkers without having to print. Using the cloud gives you the opportunity to save energy and the earth by reducing the need to print documents.

Source energy efficient servers and VOIP Phones

Brands such as Cisco provide a program named EnergyWise on their products that measure and control energy between the network devices and endpoints. Company’s such as CablesAndKits offer products that are energy efficient to helpful in more than the intended reason.

Use a laptop instead of a desktop computer

Laptops use less power than a desktop. Most desktops consume between 70 and 200 watts while in use, while laptops use between 15 and 60 watts. Laptops tend to use less electricity than a desktop in turns uses less energy.

Many times we overlook the one thing that can be a huge energy drain- our computers. Let’s help out our beautiful world and make a difference!

Did we miss any helpful tips? Comment and let us know or tweet us @cablesandkits using the hashtag #EarthDayatCK

All Wireless Standards are NOT Created Equal

August 28, 2014 by Jason Gazaway

Upgrading your Wi-Fi hardware is critical to future-proofing your network. When the time for new components is at hand, it is important to select the products that fully support your communication and data transfer wireless_logo needs. From fiber cabling to Wi-Fi routers, the choices abound and each one can have direct impact on your overall network performance.

Today, we are going to take a look at the foundational 802.11 technologies that can power your network. Despite very similar nomenclature, the varying forms of 802.11 are all quite different.

How to Make Your Choice

Being able to clearly articulate the differences between Wi-Fi options is a must in order to help your management and procurement teams approve the right products for your applications. Following are the factors you will want to educate teams about so that they can effectively evaluate any new wireless purchase:

Bandwidth

Bandwidth, measured in terms of Mbps or Gbps, determines the speed with which data can be transmitted across a network. As can be expected, a higher bandwidth rating delivers faster data transmission. Today’s 802.11 technologies offer bandwidths ranging from 11 Mbps to as high as 300 Mbps.

It can be easy to immediately believe you want the maximum bandwidth range but it is important to keep in mind your own use. The higher bandwidths are generally only needed by larger networks or those running intensive applications such as streaming video.

Frequency

The frequency, measured in Gigahertz, determines a network’s range. It also directly affects interference by other wireless elements such as cell phones or microwaves or by physical obstacles such as walls. Standard Wi-Fi networks run on either 2.4 GHz or 5.8 GHz (commonly referred to as only 5 GHz) frequencies.

Frequency is one of those features that definitely does not comply with the “bigger is better” concept. A shorter frequency actually has a longer range, although it is more susceptible to interference from other wireless devices. A longer frequency flip-flops those benefits to provide a shorter range but better protection against other wireless interference. However, 5.8 GHz networks are more likely to be impeded by solid interference.

Single or Dual Band

Most Wi-Fi technologies run on only one frequency but some tout the ability to run on both. Before you jump for joy and assume that is the best way to go, you better get the facts.

Technology that includes only one signal but says it is dual band does not actually give you both 2.4 and 5.8 GHz functionality at once—it simply gives you the ability to choose which one you want at any given time. Only 802.11n which leverages multiple antennas actually supports both frequencies simultaneously.

Knowing the different functionalities offered by the key Wi-Fi network features can [Read more…] about All Wireless Standards are NOT Created Equal

Why Fiber Cabling Should Be Your Future – Today

August 1, 2014 by Jason Gazaway

Is it time to upgrade your network? Perhaps you are installing an all-new network. Either way, one of the primary decisions you must make is what type of cable you will use. Copper cables have led the way for traditional computer networks but in recent years, an increase in the use of fiber cabling has been seen.

Should your business build its network based on fiber technology? We think the answer is a resounding “yes”. But, we don’t want you to just take our word for it and we’re pretty sure your CEO won’t either. Instead, we want you to understand what a Fiber To The Office (FTTO) network can do for your business.

The Wonders—or Not—of Copper Cabling

To truly understand the benefits of fiber cabling, it is important to understand copper cabling. Copper rose to the top as the choice for computer networking professionals in part due to its affordable price tag. Even as fiber optic cables entered the marketplace, copper continued to dominate largely for this reason. In recent years, however, the rising cost of copper cabling coupled with the decreased cost of purchasing, installing and maintaining fiber cabling has all but eliminated this benefit.

Without a clear-cut cost benefit, the limitations of structured copper cabling have become more apparent to CEOs concerned with both performance and price, furthering the search for alternatives.

Among the problems noted with copper are:

Space Requirements
Copper can only transmit data up to roughly 100 meters. This requires multiple nodes to be placed throughout a building, taking up valuable space—and money.

High Energy Consumption
The hardware demands of a structured copper cable network necessitate additional hardware and infrastructure for cooling due to the level of heat produced. The heating and cooling both contribute to high energy use and costs.

Poor Expansion Options
Upgrades of a copper-based network require all new-cabling, making this option anything but a way of future-proofing your network.

Unpredictable Performance
Copper’s conductibility makes it highly susceptible to electrical interference, resulting in a higher-than-satisfactory risk of network interruptions.

When no other options existed, copper filled the bill well. Perhaps for some smaller businesses that have [Read more…] about Why Fiber Cabling Should Be Your Future – Today

What’s your network’s personality?

March 11, 2014 by Jason Gazaway

Have you ever wondered what the personality of your network is? If not, should you? It is something to ponder. I mean think about it…

Is your network calm?

Is your network crazy?

Is your network energetic?

Is your network romantic?

Or maybe your network has a split personality…

Seriously, the personality traits of your network could go on and on. It would probably be in your best interest to nail down what its personality and mindset is so you can better support it, or change it!

Well, this is where we are here to help! We have broken down what all the colors mean as it pertains to your network. So let’s take a deep psychological look at what the color of your Ethernet cabling means for your network (or at least humor us in our feeble attempt at some lightheartedness). Don’t forget to let us know what personality your network has.

(click images below to enlarge)

Top Eight Reasons to Choose CablesAndKits

April 9, 2013 by Jason Gazaway

Have you ever stopped and wondered why you buy from the places you shop at? Go ahead stop and ponder why you shop from your favorite store. I’ll wait…

< Jeopardy music playing in the background>

Oh, you’re back! That didn’t take as long as I thought it would. It is an interesting question, huh? Sometimes it is difficult to pinpoint exactly why you buy from that store or company and then at other times it is as plain as day. There are so many factors to think about.

Now think about your business. With everything you are doing to run and maintain a successful business, time and energy are in short supply. We get that thought process. We also understand when it comes to finding your networking equipment and accessories you don’t really want to shop around. You want to find one place that offers exactly what you need at a competitive price.

But, you deserve so much more than that! At CablesAndKits, we go above and beyond what’s expected to offer you a trusted and reliable interaction every single time. Our core purpose is to positively impact the lives of others, so we go the extra mile to enhance our surrounding community while enriching the lives of the [Read more…] about Top Eight Reasons to Choose CablesAndKits