Posted by Cablewholesale

The Cablewholesale has many particulars. The engineering of a cable’s electrical properties and it’s application is usually formost in a consumer’s thoughts when looking to purchase a cable. What’s not as frequently considered is the material used to insulate the cable. This is known as the jacket. Most store-bought cables are expected to be used in a home or office, but when buying cables for a more particular use the materials used in construction become more of a concern. Do you want to run a coax cable to your detached garage for a TV? Can you run a normal network cable in the plenum space in your office building? Is it legal to send this cable to my customer in Germany? We hope our answers to these questions, and more, will help make your next project a lasting success.

e information printed on a cable jacket will usually tell you everything you need to know. Typically this includes the manufacturer or UPC code, jacket material, any electrical standards it meets, temperature rating, and frequently a material rating that will tell you where the cable can be run in a building. Let’s look at a common Cat-6 network cable as an example.

CM - This is the material class for the cable. This is an example of a UL rating. A detailed explanation of UL ratings is given below. CM means this cable is made for general purpose. If this specified CMP or CMR, the cable would be suited for plenum or riser applications.

24 AWG (American Wire Gauge) - The indiviudal conductors of this cable are 24 gauge. This does not indicate that the conductors are solid or stranded.

75 degrees Celsius - This does not mean that the cable will combust at this temperature, but rather the plastics used will slowly degrade if kept above this temperature for extended periods.

Underwriters Laboratories - This is a standards body that oversees the design and manufacture of all kinds of products. It is not part of any federal code requirements, but is sometimes required by some companies for insurance purposes.

The UL reference number relates to the manufacturer of this product.

Canadian Standards Association - This is another standards body like UL, but is obviously more specific to Canadian installations.

Just like the UL reference, the CSA reference number relates to the manufacturer.

CMG - This is the rating of the fire retardent in the cable.

Electrical Testing Laboratories - The standards body that verified this cable

Verified - Indicates that this cable was verified by the afore mentioned body.

TIA/EIA-568-b.2-1 - The coloring specification for the conductors inside this cable is in EIA-568-b revision 2-1 format. For network and phone cables, this lets you know which order to put the conductors in a crimp connector or to punch down to a block.

CAT.6 - This of course indicates that this is a Catagory 6 network cable. Were this a coax cable, it would specify an appropriate standard like RG6, RG59 or RG59.

Unshielded Twisted Pair - Twisted pair cables offer a simple form of shielding by twisting two conductors together down the length of the cable. The number of twists per inch (TPI) in networking cable is usually around 2 to 3 TPI, but this is up to the manufacturer. Catagory specifications like Cat 5 and Cat 6 do not define cable construction, only the electrical performance after manufacture. If this were shielded cable, this would say STP for Shielded Twisted Pair. Frequently cables will also specify the percentage of the shield. Coax cables can be anywhere from 60% to 99% shields, and frequently have several layers. Many satellite TV providers reccomend “Quad Shield RG6″.

While this information is rarely in the same order on different types of cables, the material ratings have the same meaning.

UL Ratings

The Acronym UL stands for “Underwriters Laboratory.” So what’s this organization and what do they do? Underwriters Laboratory is an independant organization that tests thousands of products under controlled conditions. The goal is to determine in what applications these products are safe to be used. The end result is recognizable standards (such as CM - see above) that help consumers and businesses select products that they can reliably count on for their specific applications. A few ratings that are frequently encountered in cabling are:

CL-2 / CL-3

This rating signifies the cable is intended for use with class-2 or class-3 circuits inside the walls of residential or commercial buildings. Most of our audio and video cables, including our HDMI cables, have this rating designation, something that becomes important if you’re considering setting up a home theater where the cables will be run in-wall.

CM

This rating signifies the cable is intended for general use within buildings.

CMX

This rating signifies the cable can be used inside of buildings where the wire or cable is enclosed in a non-combustible conduit or raceway or in nonconcealed spaces where the exposed wire does not exceed 10 ft. This cable may also be used outdoors and anytime you’re looking to run an outdoor setup CMX-rated cables should definately be considered.

VW-1

The VW-1 is a the name of the vertical flame test the UL uses to determine the flamibility of the wire.

P Suffix

Ratings ending in P designate that the cable is plenum-rated as well allowing it to be used in plenum areas. Plenum-rated cables are more resistant to fire then normal cables. (Examples: CMP, CL2P) Plenum cables are extremely important if the area you’re

running cables through requires them (Usually determined by your local fire code). One reason why a plenum cable might be required would be that areas such as a plenum space serve as one of the main airways for buildings and burning PVC would pose a considerable healthrisk for the buildings occupants.

R Suffix

Ratings ending in R designate that the cable is intended for use in riser applications (vertical shafts) in residential or commercial construction. (Examples: CMR, CL2R)

14/2 (14AWG 2C) 105 Strand/0.16mm Speaker Cable CL3 Rated

22/4 (22AWG 4C) Stranded CM Security Cable

18/2 (18AWG 2C) Plenum Shielded Stranded CMP Security Cable, White

Jacket Material

The material the jacket of the cable is made of is one of the most important features in defining where the cable can and can’t be used. It’s important not only in how physically durable the cable is but also how resistant it is to things such as fires. Some examples of materials are:

PVC

This commonly used material’s name stands for PolyVinyl Chloride. It’s one of the most popular construction materials due to the fact it’s relatively inexpensive to manufacturer and highly durable. PVC comes in many different versions (Example: Anti-UV PVC seen in outdoor rated cables).

CPVC

Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride. This cable is similar to PVC however it can withstand much higher temperatures.

FEP

Fluorinated Ethylene Polymer. One of the two plastics used in plenum cables along with a low-smoke version of PVC.

XLPE

Cross-Linked Polyethylene. This is an alternative for PVC and is good choice for high-temperature applications.

LSZH

Low Smoke Zero Halogen. This material is a good choice to use in situations where the smoke given off from cables catching on fire present health risks. When exposed to fire this cable will burn with very little smoke and no halogens.

Shielding

One of the most important considerations you can make when choosing a cable is selecting a cable with the appropriate shielding. If this decision is neglected it could lead to a poor signal or no signal at all. The culprit is electrical interference, electrical currents effect other nearby electrical currents and in the world of electronics this leads to unwanted performance degradation. The amount of shielding required will vary widely depending on what type of cable you’re using but also your application. Examples of when shielding decisions are necessary includes: - A Cat5 cable being used in your home vs. in a commercial server room. - A coxial cable being used in your living room vs. be run into your home with your power cables. - Another example would be if you’re running a multimedia application over something like Cat5/6. In general whenever your cables are in close proximity to power cables a shielded cable should be a consideration, especially when the cables are running parallel to each other. Some examples of shielding include:

Aluminum Foil

This is a common type of shielding seen on anything from an RG6 coxial cable to a Cat6 cable. It an excellent choice for deflecting electrical interference.

Aluminum Foil

This is a common type of shielding seen on anything from an RG6 coxial cable to a Cat6 cable. It an excellent choice for deflecting electrical interference.

Copper Braiding

Copper braiding is used in cables such as coaxial cables to provide shielding. It’s typically expressed in the percent of coverage it provides (example: 95% coverage).

CAT6, STP (Shielded), 24AWG, Solid, 500MHz, Bulk Cable, Blue

RG6 18AWG, Solid Pure Copper Coaxial Cable, 95% Copper Braid

Dielectric Insulators

Cables such as coaxial cables have a dielectric insulator. The primary responsibility of a dielectric insulator is to keep the wire in the center of the cable as well as keeping a distance between the wire and anything that may be able to cut or pierce the jacket. The dielectric insulator is usually made of polyethylene or polytetrafluoroethylene. In Cat5/Cat6 cables that are shielded Mylar is used as an insulator. Mylar is a polyester film that is extremely strong with excellent insulation properties. A good picture of a coaxial cable’s dielectric insulator can be found here.

Outdoor Ratings/Direct Burial

Most cables are not inherently made to be used outdoors. A cable being exposed outdoors presents a few challenges which, if not addressed in the manufacturing of the cable, could lead to the long term failure of the cable. It’s important to consider the following when looking at outdoor-rated cables:

Moisture Protection

Being exposed to the elements the cable will most certainly encounter moisture. The cable must be manufactured to withstand moisture and continue working in damp or wet conditions. This becomes increasingly critical with direct-burial cable. Two commonly used solutions for moisture protection are waterproof tape or non-reactive gel, both increase the moisture barrier around the wires inside. Cables designed for this may also have a “-2″ after their UL rating.

Temperature

While all cables have a temperature rating this becomes a large concern with outdoor-rated cables. Outdoor rated cables will typically be more resistant to cold and heat than a non-outdoor rated cable. Outdoor-rated cables go through additional testing such as a cold-bend test where the cable will be kept at a temperature such as -20C for 4 hours while bent in a pre-determined radius. If the cable does not crack it passes. Still it is always wise to check the temperature ratings as there’s a big difference between using the cable under a sheet of ice and using a cable on top of a metal room in New Mexico.

RG59U 20AWG, Solid Direct Burial Coaxial Cable, Black

CAT5E, CMXT Outdoor / Direct Burial, Waterproof Tape

Questions and Answers:

Q: Why do I have to use special cable just to run outside?

A: The jacket material of most cable is just a simple PVC (Polyvinylchloride). PVC will degrade in UV light (sunlight) and becomes brittle with dramatic changes in temperature. You may get through a season or two with a normal cable, but eventually it will fail. It’s best to either use the correct type of cable, or run it in a metal conduit.

Q: Can outdoor rated cable be buried?

A: Generally, outdoor rated cable does not have enough of a moisture barrier to withstand being buried. It is possible for manufacturers to use an outdoor rated coating on a cable, and then fortify it with a waterproof tape to increase the moisture barrier and make it safe to put in the ground. Alternatively, some cable coatings can be buried without fortification (CMX). It is also common to fill the cable with a non-reactive gel to keep any water that make it through the jacket from spreading through the length of the cable.

Q: I’m running a network in an existing home and I have a particularly difficult run to make from the switch to the kitchen. I’d like to run the cable in a heating duct. Will a normal network cable do the trick?

A: Not quite. A heating duct is a plenum space and a plenum rated cable would be required. If you’re traveling between floors, you’ll have to use a riser rated cable (CMR). Also, check with your local building department for the regulations on putting holes into a plenum box.

Q: My woodworking shop is in a detached garage about 150 feet from my home, and I’d like to run network and phone line out there. What should I use?

A: While a good argument could be made for a wireless solution, you have two cabling options. Either you can run a conduit and run your cables inside, or bury the cables directly. Burying the cable directly is faster and usually cheaper, but if you run a condiut you can add cables to it later if you need to. No matter what your choice, be sure to use solid core cable. It conducts better over longer distances.

Q: Can I include a cable a with a product I ship to Europe?

A: Yes! However, quite soon it will be important to make sure the product meets the requirements of the ROHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive. We currently offer a large selection of ROHS compliant products.

Thanks for joining us for this month’s discussion. If you’re interested in any of the above products, here’s a 10% promotion code valid for any purchase at CableWholesale.com:

Join us next month for another Worldofcables technical article.

Sincerely yours,

Your Worldofcables.com Technical Support Team

Pradeep@worldofcables.com

ATLANTA–(Business Wire)

Transmit Audio and Video Signals from a Computer to a Remote Display up to 30Feet Away in Conference Rooms, Classrooms and Home Entertainment Rooms.

Cables To Go, a leading provider of high-performance cabling and connectivitySolutions, today announced a wireless adapter for transmitting VGA and audioSignals. Wireless VGA with Integrated Audio from Cables To Go adds audioCapabilities to the company’s award-winning Wireless USB to VGA Adapter Kit.This innovation allows users to wirelessly display audio and video content on
Computer monitors, projectors or televisions up to 30 feet away. 

The Wireless VGA with Integrated Audio is certified by the USB Implementers

Forum (USB-IF) for compatibility with other standards-based Wireless USB

Products. It provides a highly secure wireless connection through Ultra-Wide

Band (UWB) technology, which makes it ideal for classroom or conference room

Presentations or to display content from a laptop to a home entertainment

System.
"We have seen a huge demand for our Wireless USB to VGA Adapter, and the one

additional feature that was most requested was to the ability to wirelessly

transmit the audio signal as well," said Bill Diederich, president of Lastar,

parent company of Cables To Go. "With the Wireless VGA with Integrated Audio we

are able to provide quick and easy wireless connectivity that supports multiple

users in training, classroom, conference room and home theater settings." 

Additional features of the Wireless VGA with Integrated Audio from Cables To Go

include:

 * Wireless transmission of high-resolution UXGA and WSXGA video up to 30 feet 

* Wireless transmission of 3.5mm stereo audio signal up to 30 feet 

* Wireless display connection can be shared by up to six computers 

* Video streaming up to 720p resolution 

* Supports extended desktop and dual monitor screen modes 

* Supports native mode for playback of high-resolution video

 The Wireless VGA with Integrated Audio is based on chipsets from Realtek and

Display Link, which provide premium performance and reliability. It will be

available through Cables To Go partners in October and will be demonstrated at

CEDIA 2009 in Booth 3347 at the Georgia World Congress Center. Customers who

have already purchased the Wireless USB to VGA Adapter Kit will also be able to

purchase an audio adapter separately.

“Everybody looking a VGA cable, VGA adapter, VGA products, VGA plugs, VGA coupler, super VGA cables, HDMI cables, DVI Cables, etc. Now Cable wholesale launched new VGA products on www.worldofcables.com & World of cables also giving lowest price guarantee for all Cables Togo, cables unlimited & Cable wholesale items. Some of what we discuss here is also important in newer HDTV’s.”

(WorldofCables.com, Santa Clara- CA) With all the talk about new video technologies, it’s easy to forget that computers have been well-served by the same graphics technology for over 20 years. In this article, we’ll talk about the VGA graphics standard and its later variations. See for more
www.worldofcables.com

Before we begin, it’s important to understand two terms: resolution and color depth. The resolution of a computer monitor is defined as the number of pixels (dots) used to create the image; the higher the resolution, the more detailed the picture. Resolutions are typically expressed as (number of pixels wide) X (number of pixels high); for example, a “typical” resolution these days for a computer monitor might be “1024 x 768.” (In the digital camera world, resolution is expressed as “mega pixels”, where a 6-megapixel camera would take pictures at a resolution of 3000 x 2000).Color depth is a term used to describe how many different shades of color are possible to display on each pixel. The more distinct shades of color you can choose from, the more realistic the image appears. Modern computer monitors typically can display any one of 16.7 million different shades of color! With those two definitions behind us, we can start to understand the various standards and technologies that comprise the VGA family of displays.
www.worldofcables.com

By FARHAD MANJOO
Do you sometimes feel yourself slipping into an organizational abyss? Do you get behind in your e-mail, overlook a few appointments, forget your mom’s birthday and neglect to pick up milk on the way home?

A couple of years ago, I fell into such a state, and because I’ve long believed in the redemptive powers of technology, there was only one thing to do: I ran over to my nearest AT&T store and bought an iPhone.

I was hoping the phone would function as a poor man’s personal assistant — that it would constantly remind me of what I had to do next, and would record anything urgent I had to say. In truth, it took some time for the iPhone to work its way into my life. Even though smartphones can be tricked out with thousands of add-on applications, only a few prove truly useful when it comes to organization.

Here are some of the best apps to keep your life running smoothly.TO-DO LISTS The iPhone has so many apps for to-do lists that I had to make a to-do list just to get through the main offerings. Your preference will depend on how you work. Some of the best task-management apps — including Things, by Cultured Code, and OmniFocus, by the Omni Group, which each cost $10 — are meant to be used with their very good Mac counterparts; if you’re a fan of those programs, you would do well to add their iPhone companions.

My favorite stand-alone organizational app is reQall, which David Pogue has already praised in The Times. ReQall really does turn your iPhone into a personal assistant — you dictate all your to-dos, reminders, appointments and other ephemera, and it translates your commands into actionable tasks. (I find the free version good enough, but heavy users might want to invest in the $25-a-year Pro version.)

If you’re not a fan of dictation, consider Remember the Milk, a to-do app that distinguishes itself from others by its extensive operations on the Internet cloud. The program syncs with lots of calendar programs (including those from Microsoft, Apple and Google), and can be used anywhere online. To use Remember the Milk on your mobile device — not just for the iPhone but also BlackBerrys and Windows Mobile phones — you must subscribe to the Pro edition, which costs $25 a year.

AT WORK ON THE GO A great personal assistant will always be on hand with just the right document, spreadsheet or other little gadget that helps you out when you’re traveling. To get that kind of service from an iPhone, you’ll need to download several dedicated apps.

Among my favorites is Air Sharing ($5 for the standard version, $10 for more features), which turns your iPhone into a wireless drive — think of it as a U.S.B. thumb drive, without the U.S.B. plug.

Air Sharing requires a bit of one-time set-up on your computer (Mac, Windows or Linux); after that, your iPhone looks and acts just like another drive on your machine. Drag files in and out, and they are transferred over Wi-Fi. And now they’re accessible through any other computer you come into contact with. Plus, because the app works wirelessly, several people can gain access to the files at once. You can’t do that with U.S.B.

Of course, many kinds of files don’t travel well on a phone, because they don’t look very good on a small screen. A large spreadsheet, for instance, is nearly incomprehensible on an iPhone. That’s where RoamBi comes in.

This free app takes standard spreadsheet files from your desktop and turns them into beautiful interactive “visualizations” — pie charts, bar graphs, flip books and other designs made especially for a small interface. RoamBi is a terrific way to analyze huge sets of numbers quickly. You can feed it your company’s sales list, for instance, and then brush up on each client’s detailed sales history on the cab ride to the meeting.

Sometimes, when you’re traveling, you need one of those old-school devices that is still annoyingly necessary — a fax machine. Say the home office needs you to send a file with your signature, or you’ve got a pile of receipts that you need to scan in for your expenses. JotNot ($3) turns your iPhone into a scanner.

Snap a steady picture of a document and then outline the area you want to scan — JotNot enhances the image and turns it into a document to be e-mailed. I’ve found that if you take the picture carefully, JotNot can capture a document as well as a fax machine can. And, of course, it’s much easier to carry around.

Last, an app meant to keep you safe while you multitask: Email ’n Walk is a 99-cent program that uses your iPhone’s camera to show you a live picture of everything you’re missing while you hold your phone in front of your face.

This way, you can write a message while still keeping an eye on the sidewalk ahead. That’s probably still not very safe — use it wisely! — but it’s certainly better than e-mailing blind.

WHEN YOU NEED TO EAT Personal assistants, my celebrity friends tell me, have a talent for helping out with all the little things in life — making sure that your refrigerator is well stocked, or that you have reservations to the best restaurants. Here, the iPhone excels.

Take Grocery IQ (99 cents), the best of several grocery-list apps. It has a clever predictive-entry system that seems to know about every single item in the modern American megamarket. Type in K-R-A-F, for example, and a list pops up to show every product made by Kraft, like cocktail sauce or Jet-Puffed Mini Marshmallows. (You can also type in generic items, like toilet paper or toothpaste.)

Because you need to enter only a few letters of any word, drawing up your list is incredibly quick. Even better, you can check off each item as you buy it — and if you tell Grocery IQ about the layout of your neighborhood market, it will sort the list according to aisle number.

When it’s time to check out, try CardStar, a free app that displays your supermarket or drugstore club card. You can then scan the iPhone’s screen at the checkout. You no longer have to carry around a dozen discount cards every time you leave the house.

Your personal assistant will thank you.

By - Aleratec

Aleratec announced today up to 26% price reductions on its line of USB flash drive and flash memory card duplicators.

Chatsworth, CA (PRWEB) June 2, 2009 — Aleratec Inc., leading developer and manufacturer of “Prosumers’ Choice” solutions for the USB, Flash, HDD, Blu-ray, DVD/CD, duplicating, and DVD/CD publishing markets, announced today up to 26% price reductions on its line of USB flash drive and flash memory card duplicators. The 1:27 USB Copy Tower SA and the 1:11 USB Copy Tower SA, stand alone flash drive duplicators will copy, compare, or erase up to 27 or 11 flash drives simultaneously with no computer required. The 1:21 USB Flash Drive Copy Cruiser is a computer connected unit that will duplicate up 21 USB flash drives at once and the 1:6 Flash Memory Card Copy Cruiser, also a computer connected unit, will duplicate up to 6 flash memory cards at once.
1:11 USB Copy Tower SA
1:11 USB Copy Tower SA

Demand for USB Flash drives is steadily increasing, resulting in lower product costs. Aleratec is pleased to pass on these cost savings to its customers. “USB flash drives and Flash Memory Cards are becoming the most widely used tools for businesses and individuals to share data and multimedia files due to their size, convenience, and universal compatibility. Aleratec is committed to providing our customers outstanding values for superior solutions and these flash drive and flash memory card duplicators are great examples,” stated Perry Solomon, Aleratec President and CEO. “These products have been very successful enabling us to offer our customers more value in these difficult times.”

Proudly assembled in the USA from components sourced globally, the high throughput 1:27 USB Copy Tower SA (Aleratec Part # 330106) has an new low estimated retail price of $3,675.
The already economical 1:11 USB Copy Tower SA (Aleratec Part # 330105) has a new low estimated retail price of $1,159.

USB flash drives and Flash Memory Cards are becoming the most widely used tools for businesses and individuals to share data and multimedia files due to their size, convenience, and universal compatibility. Aleratec is committed to providing our customers outstanding values for superior solutions and these flash drive and flash memory card duplicators are great examples
These products have been very successful enabling us to offer our customers more value in these difficult times.
The 1:21 USB Flash Drive Copy Cruiser (Aleratec Part No. 330104,) and the 1:6 Flash Memory Card Copy Cruiser (Aleratec Part No. 330103) both have been reduced to an estimated retail price of $839.

Aleratec has successfully overcome a key shortcoming of alternative solutions, making it the practical and affordable solution for anyone that needs to duplicate large numbers of USB flash drives or flash memory cards whether for business, education, government, house of worship or individuals.

The full line of Aleratec solutions, and accessories is featured at AAFES, Amazon.com, B&H Photo Video, Best Buy, Buy.com, CDW, Circuit City.com, CompUSA.com, Dell, HP, Insight, J & R, Mac Connection, MacMall, Micro Center, Office Depot, PC Connection, PC Mall, QVC.com, Staples, Tech Depot, Tiger Direct, and Wal-Mart in addition to other leading U.S. retailers. Government and Education customers may purchase from Government and Education Specialists including AAFES, B&H Photo Video Gov, Best Buy Gov/Ed, CDW-G, CompuCom, EnPointe, GovConnection, GTSI, Insight Gov, PC Mall Gov, Pomeroy, Shi.com, Softchoice, telcobuy, TIG, and Unisys. All products are available to resellers in the U.S. through D&H Distributing, Ingram Micro, and Tech Data; in Canada through D&H Canada and Ingram Micro Canada; in Latin America and the Caribbean through Tech Data Miami. Complete information available at http://www.aleratec.com/.

1:27 USB Copy Tower SA (Aleratec Part # 330106, D&H Distributing SKU 330106, Ingram Micro SKU V04479, Tech Data SKU 92096M)
1:11 USB Copy Tower SA (Aleratec Part # 330105, D&H Distributing SKU 330105, Ingram Micro SKU Q67538, Tech Data SKU 24694I)
1:21 USB Flash Drive Copy Cruiser (Aleratec Part # 330104, D&H Distributing SKU 330104, Ingram Micro SKU N68530, Tech Data SKU 01475I)
1:6 Flash Memory Card Copy Cruiser (Aleratec Part # 330103, D&H Distributing SKU 330103, Ingram Micro SKU N68531, Tech Data SKU 01474I).

About Aleratec
Aleratec Inc. is a leading developer and manufacturer of “Prosumers’ Choice” solutions for the USB, Flash, HDD, Blu-ray, DVD CD duplicating, and DVD CD publishing markets. Exciting new disc duplicating and disc publishing products and optical recording media are establishing a higher standard in the industry offering professional strength solutions at consumer prices that are exceptionally easy to use, creating the ultimate “out of box” product experience. Aleratec, Inc. is headquartered at 9851 Owensmouth Avenue, Chatsworth, CA 91311. For more information please visit http://www.aleratec.com/. Please visit http://www.youtube.com/Aleratec for video demos and check out the Aleratec micro blog at http://www.twitter.com/Aleratec. Toll Free Tel: 866-77-ALERATEC, FAX: 818-678-0486.