Thinking of setting up a new home entertainment system or renovating your work space to be more functional and up-to-date? Knowing where to start with cables should be your first option, as you could end up wasting money unnecessarily on expensive models and pricey brand deals. When you have terms like ‘bulk plenum zipcord fiber optic cable’ and ‘CAT6 Ethernet cables’ filling up your list, though, it can all seem very daunting. Rest assured you’re in the right place! Let’s take a look at what all these different terms mean, how you can apply them to everyday technology and craft the home entertainment system or computer desk of your dreams.
Did You Know?
Let’s start off this list with some life hacks. Did you know that smartphones typically have a lifespan of two or three years? That’s not a very long time, if you think about it! The iPhone 6 takes nearly two hours to charge using a 12 watt USB power adapter, while the iPhone 6 Plus takes two and a half hours. A cheaper 12-watt iPad charger can power up your modern phones in half the time than the device that ships with your package. Not a bad deal! A popular myth about HDMI cables is that they need to cost $50 or more, which is far from the truth. There are plenty that are cheaper and work just as well. Now how about keeping your equipment working in tip-top shape?
Safety First!
Next up is safety. Buying the best CAT5 cables or cell phone accessories around won’t mean much if they’re damaged, frayed or out-of-date. Faulty cords can, at best, waste your electricity and, at worst, put you at risk for a fire! The year 2008 saw nearly 54,000 home fires occurring through electrical failures or malfunctions, causing more than 500 deaths and injuring over 1,500 people. While not as extreme as a fire, remember that phones are handled frequently throughout the day and, as such, accumulate a host of nasties. Each square inch of your phone has around 25,000 germs, making it even dirtier than your pet’s food dish or even your toilet seat! When it comes to cables, knowing the difference between a CAT6 and a bulk plenum zipcord fiber optic cable is key to spending your money wisely.
Cables Made Simple
Now for the homework! Thankfully, cables are remarkably simple once you set aside the basics. There are three types of HDMI cables — the HDMI Standard, HDMI Standard with Ethernet and the HDMI Standard Automotive. Which one will benefit you depends on your lifestyle and budget. Cat6 is a cable used for both networks and multi-line phone systems, while the similar Cat6a cables are used for networks and have a maximum frequency of 500 MHz. Contrary to popular belief, the length of the cable doesn’t actually matter beyond how large your working space is — they all work the same in the end! If you need a cable that is 100 feet or longer, make sure to find one specifically for that purpose so you don’t end up buying something a little too cheap. Lastly, a bulk plenum zipcord fiber optic cable can be useful if you need several renovations.
Setting Up Your Space
Your home entertainment system should be optimized to store everything, from game consoles to your television to additional features like speakers and monitors. Thankfully, cables are highly flexible and can see to a variety of different tasks. Whether it’s an HDMI Standard with Ethernet giving you the speed you’ve always wanted or a bulk plenum zipcord fiber optic cable specifically designed for your unique movie tower, trust that there’s always a cable for the job. Remember to maintain plenty of space in case of future renovations and to put your cables out of reach of children and pets. Now that you’re caught up on your cables, do’s and don’ts — where are you going to get started?
