For smartphones, laptops, and tablets we prefer WiFi as the go-to option for connecting with local networks. Wired ethernet cables like cat5e ethernet cable still are the fastest and stable way to connect to the internet.

A wide array of cables, adapters, and various keystone jacks like cat6 keystone jack and many more makes for faster connection options.

We all know the number of ethernet cables we use in our everyday lives and its advantages. So, to understand them better, let's dive deep into the ethernet cables.

Brief History of Ethernet Cables:

"Ethernet" means a collection of technologies that are useful to connect computers and other devices together. It forms a connective branch of local area networks (LAN) and wide area networks (WAN).

The early standard of ethernet networking originated in the early 1970s, drawing inspiration from early networking tests. It went through a continuous iteration throughout the 70s and then went on to become commercially available and standardized in the early 1980s.

During coaxial cables, the dominant form of connective technology has a bit rate of 10 megabits per second across local networks. In the decades that followed, the cables got higher bit rates and bandwidth as well. A slow transition made with twisted pair and fiber optic hardware, along with a new technology switch. It enables speeds up to 400 gigabits per second.

There are thousands of networking technologies that have come up over the years. Today ethernet networks are the strongest wired network connection in the world and provide better stability and speed by connecting billions of devices, homes, data centers, and many such things.

Going further, let's understand importance of ethernet cables in our homes:

It is widely useful in a variety of industries but best known for its use in general public cables which connect home networks to the wider internet. Cables with RJ45 header or cat6 keystone jack connect desktops and laptops to local routers.

There are various types of cables such as cat 5, cat 5e, cat 6, cat7, and many more. These different types have different importance and play different roles based on their capabilities.

Categories older than Cat 5 provide low speed and fewer features. Whereas, modern ones provide better features and high bandwidth.

Which one to pick, Cat 5e or Cat 6?

The two most famous ethernet cables in current time are Cat5e ethernet cable and Cat 6 twisted pair cable. Picking the right cable is difficult as there are many variations with different features.

So, here we will be discussing some of the specifications of both cables and help you choose the right one. Let's first understand the acronyms i.e. TP stands for Twisted Pair, S and U stands for Shielded and Unshielded, F stands for Foiled.

So, when you see a word UTP, then it stands for unshielded twisted pair, FTP means foiled twisted pair, SFTP is a shielded and foiled twisted pair.

I know understanding tech stuff is very difficult and sometimes investing in them is costly too. But, data integrity is important, and investing wisely can help you get the most of your buck:

2. Cat 5e:

    

4. It's an old but enhanced version of Cat5 specification and overcomes the limitations of Cat5. It provides improved bandwidth capabilities and reduced crosstalk.

   It expands the maximum network speed to 1000 Mbps or one gigabit per second. It has a wire gauge of 24-36 meter and the cable 100 meters long.

6. Cat6:

    

8. Cat6 has overcome the limitations of Cat5e. It uses long cables for better performance and decreases crosstalk. It supports frequencies up to two and half times of Cat5e cables.

    

10. They can deliver up to 10,000 Mbps or 10 gigabits per second over lengths of cable up to 55 meters. It maximizes length of 100 meters with the longest cable length of Cat6 cables.

     

12. Apart from speed, Cat6 cables give less crosstalk and system noise mitigation. To provide these features, manufacturers use spline, a longitudinal separator within the cable to isolate individual wires within ethernet cabling.

     

14. Cat6 wires twist tighter and provide extra protection from external noise sources. This provides an extra benefit by preventing a Cat6 cable from stretching.

Further, there is a variant available of Cat6 like Cat 6a which is an enhanced version of Cat6 in terms of speed and cross talk.

Remember, even if Cat 6 is a new standard and provides improved features over Cat5e, it is backward compatible. It means they are available with the same endpoint connectors.

Thus, you will not run into problems while buying a Cat6 cable. If your network previously uses Cat5e or Cat5 cables and you are thinking to upgrade them then you can do so easily.

Final Words:

Cables or wires are very difficult to understand initially. But, once you know, you can handle them with ease. Today not a single infrastructure can exist without ethernet cables; be it internet or intranet. Hence, it's very important to understand the various types, differences, and uses of each.

Source: https://www.sooperarticles.com/communications-articles/broadband-internet-articles/what-ethernet-cables-1782920.html

Going into 2020, the wireless dream is alive and thriving. Qi wireless chargers have been around for a while now and we have successfully ditched the cord. Almost. But even the wireless chargers require a wire to get power to itself.

Moreover, not all gadgets charge wirelessly. Your Bluetooth speaker, your noise canceling headphones, your tablet, E-reader, power banks, etc., don’t charge wirelessly. Some of these gadgets don’t even come with power bricks. So you either have to use other power bricks you have or plug them into your computer, anything with the compatible USB port.

But what if you didn’t? What if there was another way to power up these devices? It is the USB keystone jack! Yes, these are USB ports that go directly in the wall of your house. So the next time you want to charge something but can’t find your brick, just plug your device into one of these!

Of course, you have to install one. There are two ways you can go about this, hire an electrician, or go about it in your own way.

Let’s see how to do it if you choose to install the USB keystone jack on your own:

• Start with removing the current power socket wall plates you have.
• Get new wall plates that have space for 2 or more keystone jacks.
• You will have to manage the inside cabling and then plug in those cables into the USB keystone jack.
• After that, put dust covers on them and arrange them on the wall plate.
• Before you fix everything back up, check that, the new installations are working properly. You can use any USB device for it.
• Fix it all up, close up your wall, and touch up the paint around the wall plate if you need to.
• Your new charging solution is ready!

Now that the installation is over, how will you make the most of this new convenience?

You can arrange different kinds of charging setups for your gadgets so that they are always ready for you.

A Basic Charging Station:

When you go out of the house, and if you prefer to carry your phone charger with you, then a charging station at home can really help. You can leave your brick in your bag or even at work, and just plug in your phone with a spare data cable at home. This data cable makes for your permanent charging station at home, so when you are in a hurry, you don’t have to bother making sure if you got your charger. You can just take your phone and leave.

A More Permanent Setup:

Bluetooth speakers sometimes end up being things that you only use on the weekends or for parties. A lot of this is because you don’t have it charged and ready. But if it were charged and ready, you’d be able to listen to music while eating breakfast, or even use it as a way to listen to a podcast while cooking your meals. A permanent setup encourages regular use. If the gadget is in your sight, and charged, it makes it that much easier to notice and therefore use.

Everyday Essentials:

Are you whiling away on social media during your daily commute? Probably yes, we have all been guilty of it. If your commute is a half hour or an hour long, you can get a lot of reading done! A lot of you have bought eBook readers on a whim or got it as a present but seldom use it. Bring that out and plug it in your new USB keystone jack near your entryway to charge. Buy a few books and make it a habit to take them with you every day on your way out to work. You can come back at the end of the day and plug it back in to top up the charge.

You can follow the same system with your earphones or headphones, depending on which you use.

Smart Home Solutions:

Some smart home gadgets use USB connectors. So your new installations make up for a great way to keep them plugged in without worrying about needing a brick in case you lose one. The smart home after all only works best, when all the components of it are actually available for you to interact with them. Or for them to interact with each other.

With this setup in place, you will never have to worry about a lost power brick, and it will positively influence your lifestyle. SF Cable keeps this particular keystone jack among others, as well all the USB cables you can possibly need. Browse our store for all your cabling needs and get in touch with us if you need an expert opinion.

Source: https://www.sfcable.com/blog/usb-keystone-jack-power-bricks-less-important-now/

Going into 2020, the wireless dream is alive and thriving. Qi wireless chargers have been around for a while now and we have successfully ditched the cord. Almost. But even the wireless chargers require a wire to get power to itself.

Moreover, not all gadgets charge wirelessly. Your Bluetooth speaker, your noise canceling headphones, your tablet, E-reader, power banks, etc., don’t charge wirelessly. Some of these gadgets don’t even come with power bricks. So you either have to use other power bricks you have or plug them into your computer, anything with the compatible USB port.

But what if you didn’t? What if there was another way to power up these devices? It is the USB keystone jack! Yes, these are USB ports that go directly in the wall of your house. So the next time you want to charge something but can’t find your brick, just plug your device into one of these!

Of course, you have to install one. There are two ways you can go about this, hire an electrician, or go about it in your own way.

Let’s see how to do it if you choose to install the USB keystone jack on your own:

• Start with removing the current power socket wall plates you have.
• Get new wall plates that have space for 2 or more keystone jacks.
• You will have to manage the inside cabling and then plug in those cables into the USB keystone jack.
• After that, put dust covers on them and arrange them on the wall plate.
• Before you fix everything back up, check that, the new installations are working properly. You can use any USB device for it.
• Fix it all up, close up your wall, and touch up the paint around the wall plate if you need to.
• Your new charging solution is ready!

Now that the installation is over, how will you make the most of this new convenience? You can arrange different kinds of charging setups for your gadgets so that they are always ready for you.

A Basic Charging Station:

When you go out of the house, and if you prefer to carry your phone charger with you, then a charging station at home can really help. You can leave your brick in your bag or even at work, and just plug in your phone with a spare data cable at home. This data cable makes for your permanent charging station at home, so when you are in a hurry, you don’t have to bother making sure if you got your charger. You can just take your phone and leave.

A More Permanent Setup:

Bluetooth speakers sometimes end up being things that you only use on the weekends or for parties. A lot of this is because you don’t have it charged and ready. But if it were charged and ready, you’d be able to listen to music while eating breakfast, or even use it as a way to listen to a podcast while cooking your meals. A permanent setup encourages regular use. If the gadget is in your sight, and charged, it makes it that much easier to notice and therefore use.

Everyday Essentials:

Are you whiling away on social media during your daily commute? Probably yes, we have all been guilty of it. If your commute is a half hour or an hour long, you can get a lot of reading done! A lot of you have bought eBook readers on a whim or got it as a present but seldom use it. Bring that out and plug it in your new USB keystone jack near your entryway to charge. Buy a few books and make it a habit to take them with you every day on your way out to work. You can come back at the end of the day and plug it back in to top up the charge.

You can follow the same system with your earphones or headphones, depending on which you use.

Smart Home Solutions:

Some smart home gadgets use USB connectors. So your new installations make up for a great way to keep them plugged in without worrying about needing a brick in case you lose one. The smart home after all only works best, when all the components of it are actually available for you to interact with them. Or for them to interact with each other.

With this setup in place, you will never have to worry about a lost power brick, and it will positively influence your lifestyle. SF Cable keeps this particular keystone jack among others, as well all the USB cables you can possibly need. Browse our store for all your cabling needs and get in touch with us if you need an expert opinion.

Source: https://www.sfcable.com/blog/usb-keystone-jack-power-bricks-less-important-now/

One of the major problems that we face nowadays is not having enough power sockets for the numerous gadgets we keep buying, the ones that apparently, we absolutely must-have. Now that smart home technology has come into the spotlight, it has not only changed our power socket needs but also our overall wiring needs.

Someday, when Wi-Fi is better and everything works on long-lasting batteries, we will not have to worry about wiring.

Until then however, you can read this article about why you should update the wiring of your house and how to set up a functional smart home for better connectivity.

Ethernet cables evolve. With each iteration, the goal is to make it better in terms of reliability and speed.

It is not simply enough to use a Cat8 cable to connect to your computer, if the wires that live in your walls are ancient. You need to update those to match the ones you connect to your devices.

You can do this process yourself or hire an electrician to do it.

If you choose to do this yourself, then here's how you can go about it:

• Start with removing the old Ethernet cables in the walls.
  Get wall plates that have space for 2 or 4 keystone jacks.
  You will have to fix the Cat8 cables into each RJ45 Keystone jack.
  Once you fix that, place the dust covers on it and then plug it into the wall plate.
  Before closing everything up, make sure that the wiring is proper and everything works. You can use a network tester for this.
  Establish a connection with your main internet inline into your house.
  Put everything back together and add finishing touches to your wall if needed.
  Plug in your new Cat8 Ethernet cables into all the RJ45 keystone jacks and into your modem and devices to enjoy blazing fast internet!
  I cannot stress the importance of better connectivity.

Now let's dive into a smart home setup that can make use of your new advance connectivity:

Start with a good mesh Wi-Fi setup. Wi-Fi dead zones are a big no for a connected home. Start with a smart home hub that has a decent screen. You can monitor and set up all the other devices with it.

Add a thermostat. You can save significantly on electricity with one that can automatically set the optimal temperature for your house. Another thing that will save you electricity is smart lights. You can operate them from anywhere so you never have to think about whether you turned them off or not halfway on your road trip.

The main reasons to have a truly smart and connected home is security, entertainment, energy saving, and convenience.

Now that we have covered the energy saving part, let's move on to the security aspect of it:

You get a smart doorbell that comes with a camera. The video captured from this camera can stream in your smart home hub and your phones as well if you want to keep a check on things remotely.

Additionally, you can put a camera in your living room to monitor it, in case you have babysitters taking care of your child. If you get parcels delivered to your house, then with such doorbells, you can keep an eye on the parcel.

The scope of entertainment in a connected home is vast. You can have music following you from room to room, wherever you go. A digital assistant tends to have features like playing music, and games as well as storytelling.

On the convenience side, a smart home is as if your whole house comes to your aid in your everyday life. If you have digital assistant speakers set up in every room, they work as an intercom so you can broadcast when dinner is ready. With a Wi-Fi mesh system, you can set the internet limits and restrict sites as well, making it safer for your kids to be on the internet.

A smart home changes the way you take care of your home, and therefore yourself. It reduces certain daily tasks with smart routines and elevates your way of living.

All of this is of course, next to impossible to do on a weak or spotty internet connection. To use the technology of the future, you need the wiring of the future and that begins by having cat8 cables running inside all your keystone jacks.

Source: https://www.sooperarticles.com/shopping-articles/electronics-articles/future-proof-your-house-internet-tomorrow-1756544.html

• Shielded Jacks
• Flush Mount Jacks
• Mini Jacks
• 8P8C modular jacks for computer networking
• 6P6C RJ11 modular jacks
• Optical fiber connectors
• Banana connectors
• F connector for TV antenna, satellite, or cable
• HDMI Jacks