Network Cables Blog by Cables Plus USA 2008-08-28T12:57:03Z http://network-cables-blog.com/atom.aspx Quick Blog Cables Plus Moving To NEW E-Commerce Platform + Eclipse Tools tag:network-cables-blog.com,2008-04-07:acdb56da-b542-4f84-afcb-9dfc4664abf6 Nick Beranek 2008-04-07T17:33:28Z 2008-04-07T17:17:00Z
Eclipse Tools Crimp Tool 902-086In other news, Cables Plus has recently started to carry products from Eclipse Tools. Founded in 1997, Eclipse supplies a wide breadth of high quality tools and accessories in the electronics, electrical, telecom and datacom industries. Anything from hand tools to network testers, Eclipse Tools is a sure solution for any technician. Whether you're terminating category cable or testing your fiber optic infrastructure, Eclipse Tools and Cables Plus can supply you with the right product.

We have commonly stocked items already on our website. You can see that line by visiting this link for Eclipse Tools. For a complete listing, please contact Cables Plus at 866-678-5852 and ask to speak with a sales rep. Make Cables Plus your one-stop shop to networking tools and accessories.
]]> Pelco Security Cameras tag:network-cables-blog.com,2007-07-17:f12e3f9e-19e2-4a39-b3b9-0c7438d245e5 Nick Beranek 2007-07-17T09:13:31Z 2007-07-17T08:38:00Z Pelco is renowned in the industry for being the leading provider of security infrastructure products in the US and in many other countries around the world. Their superior cameras and software have helped numerous businesses protect their assets.

Enter their new line of video security: Their 5100 Series UTP/Coax security cameras. Using your existing CAT5 run, you can save a lot of time and money by utilizing that medium to satisfy your security needs. Of course, you can always run coax if that's what your existing infrastructure is based on. That's the power of choice. The 5100 series also features Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) technology which helps to increase resolution of the foreground against a strong lighted background while still maintaining the integrity of the background imagery.

It features:
  • 1/3-inch High Resolution Imager
  • Auto-Sending NTSC/PAL
  • 95dB of Dynamic Range Typical/120dB Max
  • Built-in Unshielded Twister Pair (UTP) Output
  • On-Screen Programming
  • 12VDC/24VAC
  • Optional Feedthrough Mount

You also have a wide range of camera mount and camera enclosures (including domes) to choose from! The possibilities are endless! The Pelco PCM150 optional/integrated mount offers full feedthrough connections for a quick, error-proof installation. And if you need help setting your cameras up, Pelco offers the tools necessary to do that. The CST100 and CST150 allow you to simply plug the battery-powered tool directly into any new Pelco camera. The CST150 has an integrated TFT viewer, allowing for even greater fine focus precision and setup flexibility.

Need a dome? Pelco also has WDR Camclosure Systems that allow you to increase the range of motion of your camera while also protecting it from dust and moisture.

Visit our Security Infrastructure section today for great deals on these systems. Check back frequently for sales and new product listings, as well, as the security world is ever-changing.

]]> Checkers ADA Ramps for Cable/Hose Protection tag:network-cables-blog.com,2007-06-22:1f336fb6-ea97-4c84-9030-6e50c66e63fc Nick Beranek 2007-06-22T12:27:00Z 2007-06-22T12:27:00Z Checkers Cross-Guard ADA Compliant Ramps for Cable/Hose ProtectionCheckers Industrial, a company based out of CO that produces high quality cable and hose protectors for commerical and industrial applications, came out with a revolutionary ramping system designed to fit ADA standards. These ADA ramps, named Cross-Guard, will connect to a variety of their cable/hose protection systems, such as the Linebacker heavy duty 5-channel protectors and the Guard Dog 3-channel drop-over protectors. They come in standard lengths of 36" and comply to ADA standards for width and height ratios. Please note that they do not come with the cable protectors themselves so you'll need to purchase those separately.

These have been used at special events such as the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, UT, because of their durability and their safety. You can even purchase rails for each of the systems for added safety for wheelchairs, etc. Great for carnivals and other high-trafficked areas where safety is a must.

Take a look today at Checkers' ADA ramps for cable/hose protectors!]]> Standalone and Wall Mount Cabinets tag:network-cables-blog.com,2007-06-20:4fcdd87c-577a-4816-9925-e072fc1d8710 Nick Beranek 2007-06-20T12:30:00Z 2007-06-20T12:30:00Z 12U SOHO Server CabinetEssential for any data center are network cabinets capable of housing and cooling your servers, patch panels, switches, etc. Coming in a variety of heights and sizes, standalone cabinets may be a good solution for you whether you're a small business owner or IT engineer for a large corporation. Cables Plus carries a variety of these different types of cabinets from SOHO cabinets to up to 79" high! Colors in both ivory and black, our cabinets are manufactured out of cold rolled steel. The standalone models have 8 RU up to 45 RU of rack space and most have to be shipped via freight carrier. When ordering, always remember to select freight carrier and we'll send you a freight quote within 2 hours (during regular business hours).

If you're looking for something that will save some space and you don't need high load capacity, then you should look at our wall mount cabinet enclosures. Suitable for switches and patch panels and models with up to 16 units of rack space, these might be the solution for you. There are also low-profile wall mount cabinets that utilize a vertical "knobs-up" style instead of standard horizontal installation to save even more space. These have capacities of up to 8 RU.

So whether you need to house electronics for your home office or you need 30 high-capacity cabinets for your data center, we have the right products at a great price.]]> 10 Gig 50 Micron Fiber Patch Cables tag:network-cables-blog.com,2007-06-15:5079ab97-4730-4943-b733-7cb055d83572 Nick Beranek 2007-06-15T16:22:49Z 2007-06-15T14:26:00Z 10 Gig 50 Micron ST-ST Fiber Patch CableLooking for a faster solution for your existing fiber optic infrastructure? Capable of transmission speeds up to 10 Gbps, LightWave Manufacturing's GigaWave laser optimized 10 Gig Aqua Fiber Cables are the right solution for you. Completely backwards-compatible with your existing equipment and with speeds 5 times faster than standard multimode cabling, 10 Gig is the way to go. They come in standard lengths of 1 meter up to 30 meters, but can be drawn out to further lengths if you have a custom fiber application. Our jumpers are OFNR (riser) rated and come in several connector types: ST, SC, MTRJ, and LC. If you're looking for another connector type, please use our custom fiber cable form.

If you don't have 10000Base-FX electronics, then this will future-proof your existing 10/100/1000 system. No need to waste your money buying standard 50 micron when you can buy our 10 Gig at about the same price and not have to switch out any cabling in the future. We also carry 10 Gigabit MTP cassettes and 10 Gig harnesses which will take you to the next level considering the amount of fibers you can put into one MTP connector (up to 72!).

Until next week... have a nice weekend from Cables Plus!

]]> New KTI Network Electronics - Switches tag:network-cables-blog.com,2007-06-14:14c6310f-2cfb-479d-8cae-2f613c14b3dd Nick Beranek 2007-06-14T13:04:44Z 2007-06-14T13:15:00Z 10/100TX SOHO Workgroup Fast Ethernet SwitchKTI has been providing network electronics to Cables Plus for years and we have developed a great working relationship with them in order to provide you with great quality at a great price. Recently, we have updated our network electronics product line to include some of the newest technology that the copper/fiber optic world has to offer. Everything from switches and media converters to transceivers and fiber/copper network interface cards. I would like to talk about their new SOHO switches. They now have 16-port 10/100 SOHO switches which are great for smaller networks looking to increase workflow (they also come in 5- and 8-port).

What I would like to concentrate today on the most are their Gigabit switches. Used mainly in a fiber/copper interface, these switches are 10/100/1000 and capable of speeds of 1 Gbps. Some have just Ethernet interfaces, but we do carry switches that can convert an Ethernet signal into an optical signal and transmit as far as 30KM away! I made a previous post about GBICs, and some of these switches have SFP ports where you can put a SC or LC fiber GBIC to go from fiber to copper. So check them out today. We have them in several different configurations, and some can even be web-managed.

]]> Protect Your Cable! Canare Cable Reels tag:network-cables-blog.com,2007-06-11:465dcbe3-8e7a-4309-b96b-4d7c6b0c61bf Nick Beranek 2007-06-11T10:42:46Z 2007-06-11T10:15:00Z RS300S Canare Cable ReelLooking for a premium solution to protect your Category, Coax or Fiber Optic Cable while in storage or in the field? Canare cable reels are right for you. Capable of holding thousands of feet of cable, our Canare cable reels come in three different sizes to suit your application: Small (R300S) (as seen on the left), Medium (R380S) and Large (R460S). The small version is even stackable! They come with a 3-part braking system: 1) Free spool which allows you to pull the cable with ease and is great for rewinding; 2) Soft brake which offers a little bit of tension so as to avoid spillage; and 3) Full lock for transportation and storage.

Made of tubular steel and durability-tested, these will last through several applications. Reuse them as much as you want! Canare cable reels are a great alternative to standard wooden reels which can rot and break easily. To be used in both business and personal applications.

If you're looking for a more rugged cable reel, we recommend the Shane military cable reel. It's mostly used in military applications for TFOCA (tactical fiber optic cable assemblies). If you have any questions about TFOCA, please send Mike Horan an email and he'd be happy to answer your concerns. Again, these cable reels come in three sizes: Small - 300 Meters 6mm Cable (RFO-300); Medium - 500 meters 6mm cable (RFO-500); X-Large - 1000 meters 6mm cable (RFO-1000).

]]> MTP Solutions Coming Soon! tag:network-cables-blog.com,2007-06-08:8d734bdb-d596-46eb-bd52-1c1846f3098d Nick Beranek 2007-06-11T10:15:26Z 2007-06-08T16:50:00Z MTP Ribbon Fiber Cable - 12 StrandCables Plus is getting ready to launch its newest line of MTP Standard and Secure products. These products include MTP ribbon and enterprise cable assemblies, standard and secure "keyed" couplers, and our already popular MTP cassettes.

Why MTP? With today's increasing network demands, network engineers are looking for a more cost-effective/space-saving solution for their data centers. With valuable real estate in racks taken up by large servers and switches, engineers need a smaller solution to patch their data. MTP cassettes within RAC series rack mount fiber patch panels is the solution. With 12 ports in a RAC-4X, you could fit 12 cassettes with 6 LC Quad couplers (24 fibers). That's a total of 288 fibers! The average data switch in a high-capacity application has about that many ports so by using up only 4 units of rack space, you're patching that entire switch. Another benefit to MTP is the less amount of space it takes up. A 12-fiber MTP ribbon cable is very very thin with a jacket size smaller than the average 3.0mm single fiber. If you're worried about damaging the fibers and have to do a lot of patching and moving of the cables, you can go with the Enterprise version which has a thicker, bundled jacket for all of the fibers.

Our standard and secure MTP cable assemblies are also 10 Gig 50 micron which is a dramatic increase in speed and bandwidth. This also serves to future-proof your installation by having the 10000Base-FX spec and also having the MTP connector which we predict is going to take the place of LC connections.

More news to come on this exciting development!

]]> New Arrow Wire & Cable Tackers On Sale tag:network-cables-blog.com,2007-06-07:5b3fbae4-7b8c-4325-8985-6f5ab1092e75 Nick Beranek 2007-06-07T16:49:50Z 2007-06-07T16:12:00Z Arrow Wire and Cable Tackers and Staple Guns for Voice/DataCables Plus has just added new Arrow Fastener Company Staple Guns to its repertoire. Including the T25 Wire & Cable Stapler for cable sizes up to 1/4" (6mm) (bell wire, communications, alarm systems, and electronics); the T59 Insulated Staple Wiring Tacker for cable sizes up to 5/16" (TV cable, computer cable, delicate plant vines, alarm wire, and low voltage wire); and the brand new T72 Insulated Staple Wiring Tacker for wire up to 1/2" (12mm) (non-metallic sheathed cable, 12/2, 14/2, and other wire up ~1/2" wide).

The T25 is perfect for higher gauged wire for alarm systems, etc. Professional grade and extremely easy to use. Not recommended for coaxial cable or category cable.

The T59 is great for coaxial cable such as RG6/RG59 specs. Can be loaded with different-sized staples for a wide variety of applications (3/16", 1/4", up to 5/16").

The T72 is more for lower gauges (up to 12AWG) such as category (CAT3, CAT5E, and CAT6) and larger coaxial cable. Can use two types of staples: 1) 31/64" wide insulated staples for single-strand NMC (non-metallic sheated cable)/CATV applications where hardwood can be found, and 2) 19/32" wide insulated staples for dual RG6 cable.]]> GBIC - Up and Coming Standard for Gigabit Ethernet tag:network-cables-blog.com,2007-06-06:c0f15682-552c-4508-8bda-0870548d83b7 Nick Beranek 2007-06-06T12:13:59Z 2007-06-06T11:16:00Z gigabit interface converter) is the newest addition to the transceiver market, which has been gaining a lot of steam due to its incredible flexibility. Able to plug into an existing gigabit copper switch port, you can support a wide range of different media including copper to fiber optic channels, that can travel hundreds of kilometers.

GBICs can be purchased as needed and that's why they're becoming so popular. You do not need to plan in advance and they're hot swappable. This can dramatically cut costs and pain due to the copper/fiber interface that most networks are facing today.

Cables Plus sells media converters that have GBICs already installed. You can go from 10/100/1000Base-TX to 1000Base-SX (GBIC standard) using only SFP/LC fiber patch cords and shielded CAT5E/CAT6 patch cords as the physical media.

If you have any questions about GBICs, please feel free to contact us toll-free at 866-678-5852.]]> Fiber Optic Patch Panels - The New Way to Manage Data tag:network-cables-blog.com,2007-06-05:b8d35c8c-0e5b-4a5a-8759-0f534b94b183 Nick Beranek 2007-06-05T11:33:27Z 2007-06-05T10:01:00Z Fiber Patch PanelsFiber optic patch panels are gaining steam in the industry because of lower costs and ease of use and termination. With capacities up to 288 fibers (RAC-4X - 4U 12-port FDU with LC Quad Fiber Adapter Panels), you can pass an unbelievable amount of data but just using 4 units of rack space. Not only do the patch panels carry ST, SC, MTRJ, FC, and LC fiber adapter panels, but they can also carry MTP cassettes! MTP is the leading high-capacity solution in data centers, capable of housing 24 fibers in one connector! This means that you could plug one MTP connector into the back of a cassette and have the connection fanout to 24 LC connections.

Rackmount isn't the only way to go. You can also use wallmount fiber enclosures (such as the 1 Panel WAC-1X Fiber Patch Panel). With a swing-out door and compact design, this is a good solution for limited space applications. Cables Plus stocks them big enough to hold 8 Panels (WAC-8X Fiber Patch Panel).

Whether you're looking to hook up 6 computers on a SOHO fiber optic network, or you need several hundred computers and servers connected in a large data center, Cables Plus has the right fiber patch panel for your application.

]]> CAT6 Shielded Patch Panel Installation tag:network-cables-blog.com,2007-06-04:189b98ac-83db-42b3-b242-3521088730fe Nick Beranek 2007-06-04T12:07:49Z 2007-06-04T11:42:00Z Last week we talked about how to terminate a shielded jack onto the end of shielded bulk cable. This week we're going to talk about how to put a CAT6 shielded jack into a CAT6 shielded panel.

How to install a CAT6 shielded jack:

  1. Turn the locking tab to the horizontal position then slide the patch panel forward and down for insertion or removal of the keystone shielded outlets.
  2. Line up the module with the available panel opening.
  3. Carefully push the module forward into the opening.
  4. Push cover on the module to snap in place.

How to remove a CAT6 shielded jack:

  1. Place a flathead screwdriver underneath the module and lever up the module from the steel base of the patch panel.
  2. Push the module down to release it from the panel front.
  3. Lift the module to separate it from the adjacent modules.
  4. TO close the panel, lift up and slide back the patch panel against the cabinet fixing rails. Turn the locking tab to the vertical position to secure the panel shut.

Our CAT6 shielded patch panels are very easy to use and easy to install. They utilize a slide out tray design to allow for easy access to the rear part of the assembly. This is particularly helpful for maintenance, especially when you need to replace a jack. There's a common ground for all ports, too, since proper grounding is essential for all shielded applications.

]]> 10 Gigabit Ethernet CX4 Cable Technology tag:network-cables-blog.com,2007-06-01:3eb9a9b6-ac6f-4059-b207-ef296fe42e0d Nick Beranek 2007-06-04T12:08:10Z 2007-06-01T11:54:00Z Many networks now are moving away from 10/100 and even 10/100/1000 and investing in electronics that can handle 10GB technology. 10 Gig 50 micron fiber optic cable has already been out for a couple of years and people are catching onto that, but 10GB Ethernet has seemed impossible until now. These high-capacity, high-speed CX4 Ethernet cables will revolutionize the industry. Right now, Cables Plus carries 10 Gigabit Ethernet CX4 cables for storage area networks (SAN) and plans to keep up with this new technology with new product releases scheduled in the near future.

Cables Plus has these cables at lower prices than Belkin, Cisco, D-Link, IBM, and 3COM. They come with ejectors or latches for the connectors for easy removal from the server, at lengths up to 15 meters. These are a must-have for server rooms and data centers that transmit billions of bytes of data per day. The start-up cost is small compared to the benefits of ROI that you would receive. More transactions means more money and potentially more profits.

]]> New CAT6 Shielded Products Available! tag:network-cables-blog.com,2007-05-31:4023a39a-93b5-4fc6-91bf-7bb1c5f8dba1 Nick Beranek 2007-06-04T12:08:26Z 2007-05-31T11:53:00Z CAT6 Shielded Products from Cables Plus USA are now available!

Cables Plus now carries an extensive line of CAT6 shielded products including CAT6 Shielded Patch Panels, Shielded Jacks, Bulk Shielded Plenum, Shielded Modular Plugs, and CAT6 Shielded Patch Cables. Shielded products allow you to minimize noise interference and crosstalk between cables. It's important if you're like to keep your network safe and reliable and also to lessen loss of bandwidth due to the aforementioned problems (i.e. noise and crosstalk).

They are very simple to install, but have to be properly installed to work. Here are some instructions to get you started:
  1. Tools required: Cyclops or no nicks type cable sheath stripping tool; 110 IDC tool; Flat side (PCB trimming) wire cutter; Steel metric rule
  2. Remove 50mm of the cable sheath, taking care not the damge the shield
  3. Carefully fold the foil back over the sheath (Note: With SFTP (braid and foil screen) the braid should be folded back over the sheath and the foil removed.)
  4. With FTP (foil screened cable) the foil MUST not be damaged. If the foil tears, the process of removing the sheath and folding the foil must be repeated.
  5. Carefully separate the four pairs and trim the separator back to the sheath.
  6. At the end of the cable where all four pairs are correct; hold the cable central to the rear of the connector between the IDC contacts. Position the pairs over its correct IDC.
  7. At end of the cable where the pair colors are a mirror to the connector carefully, without opening the twist on the pairs, cross the Blue & Brown pairs, and then the Green & Orange pairs. Position the pairs over its correct IDC.
  8. Working around the connector, push each wire into its correct IDC slot ensuring all the pairs stay in their correct position without opening the twist of the pair.
  9. Take the 110 IDC tool and with the cutting black to the outside of the IDC punch the pair down into the bottom of the IDC slot.
  10. Using the flat sides cutters, trim any remaining wire from the outside of the IDCs ensuring the wire is as short as possible.
  11. Close and lock the rear covers of the connector ensuring the sheath with the screen is located inside the rear of the connector with the screen contacts in the connector.
  12. Trim protruding screen to 5mm from the rear of the connector.
  13. Test termination before inserting connector into the outlet or panel.

And you're done! Next week we'll talk about installing shielded panels.

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