SF Cable Blog - Get Expert Tips & Advice on Cables & AccessoriesIn our blog, we educate customers on the various types of cables, components and accesscories for computer, laptops and mobiles. Find More Blog
|
|
SF Cable Blog - Get Expert Tips & Advice on Cables & AccessoriesIn our blog, we educate customers on the various types of cables, components and accesscories for computer, laptops and mobiles. Find More Blog
|
|
Digital Signal Processing is the process of transmission and production of data that takes place without any interference. This process asks for an Ethernet Cable. Most of the wired networks of today including routers, PCs and switches use Ethernet cables for the smooth transmission of data. These Ethernet Cables are of two types – Shielded and Unshielded. They are also known as STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) and UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair). The question that arises next is - which one out of the two you should buy? To find this out, make sure you know about the environment you need Ethernet cables for.
One of the major reasons behind networks slowing down is - voltage interference. Hence, you must make sure that the electrical line intersects with low voltage communication cable at 90 degrees. Given below are some other factors you should consider before buying shielded or unshielded Ethernet cables. Alien CrossTalk The antenna of Ethernet cables are like the cross-section. During the times of high frequency signal transmission, Alien CrossTalk (AXT) creates major hindrances. To avoid this, you need to know what is causing interference - the near end crosstalk or the foreign interference. Once you find that out, you can decide which cable to use for installation. In order to curb the effects of ATX, one should choose a shielded cable. Even if the shields are electrically bonded, robust grounding is must. Natural grounding can be enabled by appropriate couplers and jacks. Choosing cables for places with heavy machinery When it comes to choosing the Ethernet cable for healthcare facilities or places where heavy machinery is used, Cat 6a STP should be preferred over Cat 6a UTP. Cat 6a STP comes with a shield that keeps the radio frequency interference away from the twisted pair. Installation time for UTP and STP There is no need to discriminate between the two shielded cables on the basis of installation time required. STP’s latest version comes with easy to set up die cast jacks and thus it doesn’t ask for prolonged steps of installation. However, you must keep in mind that you will take some time to detach the general shield from the cable. If you choose UTP, you will take time to test the AXT process. Installing STP, on the other hand, won’t take long. Cost Consideration A shielded Ethernet cable would definitely cost you more than UTP. But considering factors like less testing time and superior quality performance, it may be totally worth buying it. After all, time is money. Keep the future upgrades in mind The field of communication technology is always evolving. Hence, you must make sure that you don’t need to upgrade the cables time and again. Make sure you utilize transmission cables that surpass the current transmission rate of 10 GB/s. Keeping these factors in mind, STP is always a better choice. Bonding process for STP It is believed that installing shielded cables asks for a more robust grounding and bonding process. This might be a myth. STP, just like other cables requires the same kind of grounding provided its shield is attached to the patch panel. The quality of signal that is received at the end of transmission is dependent on the quality of data that is fed to it. So now you know the difference between Shielded and Unshielded cables. While buying Ethernet Cables, keep the above points in mind and you will never have network hindrances. You can also ask the installation experts to guide you in case of any confusion.
0 Comments
When you undertake installation of your devices with power cords, you must have observed in the specification sheet that one part of the cord is approved and another isn’t. This might lead you to wonder as to why is it so? Well, it can be a bit tricky to understand international approvals of cords. Let’s obtain a detailed understanding behind the process of approvals and regulations.
Approvals in parts Every power cord that you come across is approved in its parts and not as a whole. Its connector, wire and plug are approved differently. Although the IEC standard connectors are used all over the world, the standards of their approval change from one country to another. This authorization depends on the agency they are being approved by. For eg, in China and Argentina, the whole cord set is approved instead of its parts. IEC Regulations The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) based in Geneva, is an association that establishes international standards for the electronic, electrical, and other similar technologies. Before IEC standards are established, a consensus is carried out wherein the experts from different countries participate. As mentioned above, the IEC connectors are used all over the world and hence even if the approval agencies are different, they must follow the regulations laid by IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) Ratings based on the current capacity The IEC 60799 5.2.2 states that “The rated current of the plug shall be not less than the rated current of the connector.” It means that the connector shouldn’t have a rating higher than the attached plug. Due to this reason, the international power cords of today have no approval on the IEC-320-C19 side of the cord. For eg, The highest rating a UK plug can have is 13A and if its C19 connector is rated 16A, IEC will not approve the connector as its rating is high. The same applies to countries like Denmark, Switzerland, Australia and Argentina. The plugs available in these countries have ratings lesser than their connector. Looking into their specification sheet, you will see that the power cords will show “NONE” on the C19 column of approval. Changing international standards Different ratings are applicable on different chords in different countries. IEC C13 power cords are given approval by UL (Underwriters Laboratory) upto 15A in North America. But if you carry IEC C13 to Europe, it won’t be an approved standard because it is only approved till 10A. Same holds true for IEC C19 power cords. It is approved up to 20A in North America and if you take it to other countries, it wouldn’t be considered an approved standard. The standards set by IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) and UL (Underwriters Laboratories Inc.) differ notably. IEC standards state the minimum safety requirement for a device, whereas, UL specifies the technical details pertaining to application and product safety. We hope that this gives you a little understanding about the standards set for power cords. Keep reading this blog for more! SF Cable introduces its CAT6 RJ45 Shielded Industrial Panel Mount Bulkhead Couplers and Punch Down Keystone Jacks that can sustain harsh environments with its IP67 waterproof rating. SF Cable introduces its CAT6 RJ45 Shielded Industrial Panel Mount Bulkhead Couplers and Punch Down Keystone Jacks that can sustain harsh environments with its IP67 waterproof rating.
As part of its wide array of network products, SF Cable, Inc. is introducing high-quality products suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Industry professionals and residents looking to protect their indoor and outdoor patch cables from harsh environmental conditions such as dust and water can look into the company's inventory of industrial panel mount bulkhead couplers and keystone jacks. These Cat6 Couplers are good for adding an outdoor Ethernet connection in backyard BBQ kitchen / entertainment center, keeping water and dust out. SF Cable's CAT6 RJ45 Shielded Industrial Panel Mount Bulkhead Couplers and Punch Down Keystone Jacks (also offered with water/dust cap) have 50 micron gold plated pins and have IP67 rating, making these products water resistant and protected from contact with harmful dust. According to CNET, an IP67 rating means the product can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. The company also offers patch cable waterproof caps for use on industrial environments such as factory automation, residential outdoor network installation, and wet or untidy locations. This product must be used with unterminated wire for insertion as it will not fit with an RJ45 plug. People who carry out installation procedures often come across plugs that are labeled ‘NEMA’-National Electrical Manufacturers Association. Over the years, this label has earned the reputation for being a safe and standardized product. There is an array of plugs offered by NEMA and there often is a confusion regarding which one is the best. Here’s a brief overview of these power cords and their types.
Standard North American Power Cords The standard North American Power Cords come with two, three, four or five prongs. Out of these NEMA power cords, plugs with two or three prongs are most popular. These plugs fit with every standard wall outlet of Canada and United States. Most of these configurations include 5-15, 5-20, 6-15 and 6-20. Hospital Grade Power Cords Power cords that are utilized in hospital must meet certain standards and requirements set by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). UL conducts rigorous testing on these cords to approve its durability and conductivity. These NEMA plugs are embossed with green dot which depict the trademark of hospital based UL cords. Locking NEMA Plugs The Locking NEMA plugs are used for high voltage requirements. These plugs are usually rated upto 30A and 60V. The locking NEMA plugs are mostly used for industrial and commercial applications. As they come with a lock that can be twisted, they remain connected even while undertaking the toughest jobs at commercial, industrial and construction sites. NEMA L6 The NEMA L6 Plugs are used when it comes to using heavy-duty equipment like welders, wherein the supply voltage is 240 V. NEMA L6 connectors are rated for 250 V. These L6 connectors do not offer a neutral connection. Based on the phase, these plugs are used for two-pole, three wire hot-hot-ground circuits having a supply of of 240 or 208 V. NEMA 10 NEMA 10 connectors are rarely used now but were quite popular at some point of time in the US for using with kitchen ranges and laundry dryers. They fall into the 125/250 V (hot-hot-neutral) category and were used in a way which indirectly grounds the frame of the appliance. NEMA 5-15P The NEMA 5-15P plug is used to power the household electronic items like microwaves, air conditioners, refrigerators etc. These plugs come in an array of shapes, widths, dimensions, voltages and current capacity. NEMA 5-15R is a standardized 15 electrical outlet which is mostly found in Canada, United States and Mexico. You can also find other plug types in this series that are suitable for heavy-duty applications. Above mentioned are some of the most commonly used NEMA Power cords. You can get more information about each of these by reading through manuals about their application. Make sure you use the right one for the right purpose. HDMI, also known as High Definition Multimedia Interface is an advanced technology that is used for transmitting digital data between two digital devices. This technology was developed by leading electronics manufacturers like Philips, Toshiba, Hitachi, Sony etc. Ever since it was introduced, it has become quite popular. Its latest version, 2.0, was introduced in September 2013. If you are new to HDMI Cables or HDMi adapters, and want to know more about it, take a look at some frequently asked question and their answers. These will give you more insights about HDMI cables and their working.
What is the purpose of HDMI technology?HDMI technology is mostly utilized to transmit multichannel audio and high definition video data between two digital devices. This process of transmission takes place through a single cable. You will be able to find HDMI technology in all the latest electronic equipment including AV receivers, personal computers, set top boxes and camcorders. How does it work? An HDMI cable utilizes the Transition Minimized Differential Signaling (TMDS) technology for transmitting data between two digital devices. It also takes care of the fact that the data doesn’t get compromised when it gets transferred from one device to another. Due to HDMI cables, there is no need to convert data for making it compatible. And as no conversion takes place, images and videos look exactly like they should without the quality getting affected. What Is It Compatible With? Since HDMI is an updated version of DVI (Digital Visual Interface), it is compatible with DVI for video only. HDMI and DVI use similar digital signals. So there is no need to convert anything while connecting the two devices. Also there is no compromise with data quality when you use an adaptor. HDMI being the most dynamic technology, it will never have major issues related to compatibility. Does HDMI have competitors? Displayport is one of the primary competitors of HDMI technology. It is a digital display interface which was developed by Video Electronics Standard Association (VESA). It is not compatible with HDMI in anyway and also doesn’t work with any equipment supported by HDMI technology. So DisplayPort cables won’t work with HDMI equipment. Can HDMI Cables Cope with 4K? When you buy an HDMI cable, make sure that it is High Speed rated and has 3D and 4K internet sharing capacity. Long cables might have issues maintaining functionality under certain circumstances. This is because long cables have high electrical resistance and it lowers the available bandwidth. In case you’re using long cables, you would need high quality cables for the bandwidth to be maintained. HDMI has become the most accepted and universal standard of connecting HD devices. It has been embraced by people because of its potential to change with evolving technologies, user-friendliness. It also offers High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection. |
Author
Archives
October 2022
Categories
All
|