Remember the time when our TV’s only showed in black and white and the sense of color was only a figment of our imagination? Yeah me neither, I’m too young but I bet it would be weird. In other news, CablesAndKits recently added two brand new lines to our IP phone family and we are super stoked about them. Not like hearing about an 18th Star Wars Rogue One Trailer stoked, but seriously we are geeked out! We are talking full color with Bluetooth, WI-FI capabilities, and USB ports. Lets jump into the details:

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Access Points bring many advantages to working wireless with high-speed internet. We’ve surveyed our coworkers here at CK and came up with the Top 5 places you definitely wouldn’t work, but you could with the help of an Access Point.

1. Bathroom

A room containing a toilet and sink which is usually a location to relieve yourself. We typically wouldn’t go to a bathroom to work, but you most certainly could. Just think, you could kick back, relax and enjoy a day of work in the comfort of your own bathroom stall.

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We recently had the opportunity to catch up with the fast-moving OM4 Fiber and sat down for a rather interesting interview. We feel like we got to know OM4 Fiber a lot better, and we wanted to share our findings with you.

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Let’s face it: everyone loves a superhero. They’re strong, courageous, usually good looking, plus they use their superpowers to serve mankind.  But we can’t forget about their brightly-colored and emblem-adorned tights that make them stand apart from any civilian. If you ask me, you aren’t a superhero without a cool outfit and it has to be paired with an awesome mask. Maybe these outstanding outfits are part of the reason they tend to take the spotlight as much as they do. For all their heroics (and sweet apparel), however, we can’t forget the Unsung Hero – those who take a backseat to the one flying around the city, but still offer just as much day-saving mojo as their superhero partner.

Here at CablesAndKits, we often put a lot of emphasis on the heavy-hitters of our product line – the switches, routers and phones that save the day when you have a networking need. But we can’t forget the Unsung Heroes that support them behind the scenes – the ever-necessary accessories!

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Nowadays, we are always looking for the greatest and fastest technology.  Regardless of the ever-changing landscape of that industry- we will always need Ethernet.  Ethernet is one of the most important forms of networking cable used on wired networks.  Here are the top nine reasons you will need Ethernet for your company or home network.

1. Achieve high speeds on stabilized internet

With wired Ethernet, you will see a much more stable connection and increase in speed. Ethernet eliminates the possibility of Wi-Fi interferences or drops and gives you a piece of mind.  We all know what it is like to drop a connection and run around frantically until the bar goes up on the Wi-Fi signal.

2. Ethernet Friendship Bracelets

You can make friendship bracelets for all of your co-workers with the many different Ethernet colors. Relive your childhood and show those “special someone’s” at your office how much they mean to you by giving them their very own Ethernet friendship bracelet. It is the gift that will last forever. (Remember that Lifetime Warranty?)

3. Direct file sharing

Transferring files over WiFi may not be the most efficient way to move large files. Instead, consider direct file sharing with Ethernet to increase stability and speed. If at least one of the computer’s network card supports auto-crossover, you can connect both with a direct cable.

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Cake and ice cream, peanut butter and jelly, spaghetti and meatballs… what do all of these combinations have in common? They are all a match made in heaven, two peas in a pod. Okay, I’m sure you get what I am saying by now, everyone loves a deal—and so does CablesAndKits! Allow us to introduce our deployment bundles, encompassing everything you may need to set up a network or signal at a lesser cost. Just like shampoo and conditioner, we have combined items that we know you will need together to gain its greatest use, and at the best price possible.

Are you a medium to large size business who’s looking for top of the line, upgradeable switches? Well, we’ve got the perfect deployment packages for you! The Cisco 3750X Series 48 Port and the Cisco 3750 Series 48 Port PoE Switch (each of which have their own deployment package available) allow efficiency by giving IT managers the needed support for enterprise applications and advance traffic management.

Cisco 3750-X Deployment Package

The 48 port Cisco 3750-X PoE switch has all the bells and whistles you may ever need to successfully run your medium to large business. The switch can be customized and scaled to support nearly any application, and it also includes StackPower power sharing and StackWise Plus logical port aggregation. StackPower is a power sharing feature in which you can stack all of your switches and manage its common power through a single cable, while StackWise Plus improves the ability to hold up to 9 switches and be manageable under one IP address.

• Cisco 3750X Four Port Gigabit Ethernet Network Module, C3KX-NM-1G

This network module offers one Gigabit Ethernet network connection through SFP connectors. Any combination of standard SFP (mini-GBIC) modules are supported on this unit and is also very reliable with a Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) of a whopping 5,083,574 hours.

• Cisco Original 1000 BASE-SX SFP Module, GLC-SX-MM

The Cisco original, hot swappable, GLC-SX-MM’s provide gigabit up-link capabilities in many Cisco switches, routers and firewalls. These SFP’s, or Small Form-factor Pluggable, devices offer support for 50/125, 62.5/125 and laser optimized 50/125 (OM3) fiber providing the ability to connect, or uplink, switches and other Cisco devices. This flexibility allows users to use existing cable runs in distances up to 550 m on 50/125, 220M on 62.5/125 and 1km over 50/125 OM3 fiber cables.

• Cisco StackWise Stacking Cable

Cisco StackWise stacking cables can connect a combination of Catalyst 3750 and 3750-E stackable switches to form a single switching unit. It is designed for Gigabit Ethernet and to allow switch additions, deletions and redeployment without service interruption. You can stack up to nine switches to be united as a single unit with a selected master switch.

• Cisco 3750X 715WAC Power Supply

This 715W internal AC power will offer you a backup supply, in case a power supply fails.

Cisco 3750 Series Deployment Package

If you have a midsized business, then the Cisco 3750 Series 48 Port PoE switch will be perfect for you. This switch eases deployment of converged applications and adapts to constant business changes by providing configuration flexibility, support for converged network patterns, and automation of intelligent network-services configurations. This switch is also optimized for high-density Gigabit Ethernet deployments that meet access, aggregation, or small-network backbone-connectivity requirements.

• Cisco Original 1000 Base-SX SFP Module

This module can deployed in a “mix-use” environment of single-mode/multi-mode SFP’s and a variety of Cisco GBIC’s providing a flexible and customizable solution to meet the demands of today’s IT infrastructures. These Small Form-factor Pluggable devices offer support for 50/125, 62.5/125 and laser optimized 50/125 (OM3) fiber providing the ability to connect, or uplink, switches and other Cisco devices. This flexibility allows users to use existing cable runs in distances up to 550 m on 50/125, 220M on 62.5/125 and 1km over 50/125 OM3 fiber cables.

• Cisco Stackwise Stacking Cable

Cisco Stackwise stacking cables can connect a combination of Catalyst 3750 and 3750-E stackable switches to form a single switching unit. This cable is designed to allow switch additions, deletions and redeployment without service interruption. Stacking allows up to nine switches to be united as a single unit with a selected master switch.

Now we know how much you love bundles, so we’ve created a few more for your use. Check out the rest of our Cisco equipment deployment packages that will assist you in your IT endeavors. All of these packages have you and your pockets in mind, so take advantage of these deals for your company!

FAQ

Is this switch stackable?

Yes, both 3750-X and 3750 Series Switches are stackable with the use of the Stackwise Stacking Cable.

Can I upgrade the Flash or DRAM?

No, you cannot upgrade the Flash or DRAM on either switches.

Is this for small or enterprise office?

The 3750 is great for small or enterprise offices. If you are running a larger enterprise, we would suggest the 3750-X series.

Refurbished technology has made its mark in the technology field and has left a question in everyone’s mind; should I buy something refurbished? What does refurbished actually mean? Why buy refurbished, if I can buy new?

I’ll admit that I was skeptical of using anything refurbished, but it wasn’t until I understood the quality and warranty that came along with buying refurbished at a cost-effective price.

Let’s take a look at why refurbished Cisco VOIP phones (oh, and other types of equipment) are the way to go:

Quality: It’s practically brand new!

A refurbished product is simply a product that has been gently used and may have some almost unrecognizable wear and tear on it. CablesAndKits assures the quality of each refurbished Cisco VOIP phone, and we pride ourselves on the standard of each product. At times, we receive phones that have a minor defect that our testing technician will inspect and fix to bring it back to brand new standards. Our phone refurbishing process reinforces the quality of each phone that is sold.

Cost Effectiveness: Who doesn’t like to save money?

The average cost savings for a consumer when buying a refurbished product is about 40%. So if you have a phone system upgrade project estimated to cost $10,000, you could’ve budgeted for $6,000 by buying refurbished. Imagine what other projects you could add in the budget with all that extra money! Purchasing refurbished Cisco phones is the answer to getting the biggest bang for your buck and accomplishing your mission of receiving an awesome VOIP phone system for your business.

Lifetime Warranty: Awesome is guaranteed!

We test and certify all Cisco VOIP phones that come from CablesAndKits. With risk-free purchasing and hassle-free returns, awesome is guaranteed.  Test out the phones and if you decide they are not right for you, we’ll take them back and refund your money. CablesAndKits will also provide a lifetime advance replacement, just in case your phone experiences a malfunction or failure during the full lifetime of your ownership. Our customer service members will even expedite the shipment so you will not have to worry about an extended downtime.

So, as you can see purchasing refurbished, pre-owned equipment is not scary at all. It has great benefits for your business as well as your “budget and support” sanity. If you still have questions about purchasing refurbished items, shoot us an email or give us a call. We would love to chat with you and find the best solution to meet your needs today.

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 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 …

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 …

As you may have heard, there is a new widespread security vulnerability out on the interwebs called “Heartbleed”.

Let me start out by saying that cablesandkits.com was not / is not vulnerable. We were aware of the Heartbleed vulnerability and took steps to confirm our status within 24 hours of when the vulnerability was made known to the public.  Our on-going promise is to take every precaution possible to keep our site and your information safe not only from Heartbleed, but any other attack.

Now that we have that out of the way, you are probably wondering, “What in the world is Heartbleed?”

Well, we can help with that. Since this is an ever-evolving situation, we will stick to the facts and the best ways to protect yourself and your personal data.

First off, what exactly is Heartbleed? (Ok, this is going to get VERY technical, but only for a moment…)

From cnet.com:

Heartbleed is a security vulnerability in OpenSSL software that lets a hacker access the memory of data servers. That means a user’s sensitive personal data — including usernames, passwords, and credit card information — is potentially at risk of being intercepted. The vulnerability also means an attacker could steal a server’s digital keys that are used to encrypt communications and get access to a company’s secret internal documents.

Now, most importantly, what do you need to do about it?

• If you think you might have visited a site that is infected or is vulnerable to Heartbleed, you need to change your password, please wait until you get confirmation from the specific website/online store that the vulnerability has been patched. You can check a site with a tool called LastPass. We would recommend even if you use the tool to check with the company itself to confirm that they are safe and not vulnerable to Heartbleed.
• You should be cautious about visiting websites that you do not trust.  Generally the risk is …