It is often said that now, in the 21st century, we live in a totally wired world. This is certainly true, and various cables such as USB 3 cables, fiber optic cables, and even 100 ft HDMI cables are connecting devices like never before. Such cables are complimented with wireless tech, most often for cell phones and laptops, which are meant to be used on the go. But cables are far from obsolete, and in many applications, they may prove preferable over a wireless connection. Cables such as USB 3 cables are easy to find in online catalogs and at electronic goods stores, and an ordinary homeowner can easily create their own home entertainment center, home office, or even a miniature data server with those cables. Cat5 cables and cat6 cables are two different types of ethernet cables, which allow for a secure internet access once plugged into a router. How can cables help out in the office or home?

Cables for the Office

Most places of business make use of computers to make spreadsheets, order items wholesale online, access Cloud storage accounts, and a whole lot more. A small shop with one or two computers may have the option of using a wireless connection, but a larger office certainly cannot do that. Having too many wireless connections in one place means signal interference, so ethernet cables are used to secure dozens of work PCs into the internet safely. An ethernet cable will never suffer from interference, and a typical cable will contain four pairs of copper wires for the fast and smooth transmission of data. So, IT professionals are tasked with setting up all those cables, and plugging them into PCs and routers. It is best to thread these cables discreetly through the office, and avoid tripping hazards. Holes can be drilled into the floor to allow cables to pass right through. Not only that, but USB 3 cables can plug a computer into an auxiliary device such as an external hard drive, a printer, and more for office work.

Ethernet cables also make data servers possible. This is when a specialized room contains cabinets or shelves that house hundreds of computers, all of them linked to each other and switches via ethernet cables. This creates a single entity that has enormous storage space, and connected desktop PCs may easily share data with each other, access that huge storage space, and enjoy a boost to their processing power. Cables make that connection possible. Of course, all these cables in the office will need regular inspections, since they are a serious fire hazard if their sheaths are damaged and the hot inner wires are exposed. Buyers should also be aware that cables vary in length, so the proper size should be obtained. In a store, a cable package will clearly describe how long the cable inside is, and some of them may be as long as 100 feet. Extended length ethernet cables are the cat5e and cat6e models, useful for large offices.

Cables for the Home

Many homeowners own a variety of devices that need cables, such as a desktop PC or Mac, a video game console, and their smartphones. Cell phone cables can plug into a smartphone’s port at one end and plug right into a USB port at the other, and this allows a phone to recharge its battery and share data with another device (a PC, game console, etc). Adapters allow these cables to plug into ordinary wall sockets or even car cigarette lighters to recharge the phone.

Meanwhile, ethernet cables and USB 3 cables are useful to set up a home office, to access the internet and connect devices such as printers or external hard drives. PCs can be fun, too, and an ethernet cable allows for online gaming. Dedicated gamers may build a powerful PC, then plug in specialized gaming keyboards and mice with their USB cables. Once the drivers (software) install, the new hardware is ready for use. HDMI cables can connect a game console or a laptop to an HDTV or a digital projector for high-def visuals, and an ethernet cable can plug a game console into a router for online games and videos.