We have written before about the benefits of buying your cable in bulk lengths rather than in shorter pre-made cable assemblies. Bulk cable allows you to cut custom lengths to perfectly fit your installation, it costs less, and with less excess slack in your network it is easier to perform maintenance.

However, in past blog posts we have centered mostly on our wide selection of bulk Ethernet cable, from Cat5e up to Cat8. This time we are highlighting 6 of the 11 other types of bulk cable we offer.

Bulk Savings

At ShowMeCables, buying bulk cable means buying by the foot or by the spool, with a spool typically measuring 500 or 1,000 feet. The general rule is that the more feet or more spools you buy, the less you pay per foot.

The savings can be considerable. For instance, for some types of coaxial cable, our price for 1,000 feet is 20% to 30% less per foot than if you buy up to 49 feet of coax. With other types of cable the bulk savings is in the 13% to 18% range.

Below we list and link all 15 types of cable we offer in bulk, with some helpful details about 6 of them: fiber optic, 10 GX, VFD, telephone, audio and video, and portable cable.

Bulk Fiber Optic Cable

Though copper Ethernet cables are still the standard for most business connectivity, some scenarios benefit from a switch to bulk fiber optic cable. Fiber transmits more information faster, over longer distances, and with no threat of electromagnetic interference. That’s why it is often the choice for systems that demand high bandwidth over long distances, as well as short distances with large bandwidth requirements such as data centers.

One key benefit of buying fiber cable in bulk is the ability to better position your n

In today's world, where connectivity is paramount, having the right network cabling is a necessity. Among the various options available, Cat6 (Category 6) wiring stands out for its superior performance and flexibility. This article aims to guide you through the ins and outs of the Cat6 wiring diagram, ensuring that you have all the information you need at your fingertips.

Understanding the Cat6 Wiring Diagram

A Cat6 wiring diagram illustrates the layout and connections within a Cat6 cable. Category 6 is an Ethernet cable standard defined by the Electronic Industries Association and Telecommunications Industry Association (EIA/TIA). It is used for Ethernet connections in various devices, such as computers, routers, and switches.

The Cat 6 wiring illustration showcases the arrangement of wires within the cable, enabling efficient communication between devices. Understanding the Category 6 wiring illustration is crucial for setting up a reliable network that meets the demands of today's digital age.

Components of a Category 6 Wiring Diagram

When you look at a Cat 6 illustration, you will notice specific components that are vital to its functionality:

• Twisted Pairs: Cat 6 cables contain four pairs of twisted wires. These pairs are color-coded, making it easy to follow the wiring diagram.
• RJ45 Connectors: These are standard connectors used in Cat6 cables. The Category 6 wiring diagram usually highlights the proper alignment of the wires within these connectors.
• T568A and T568B Standards:

If masses of tangled cables seem to be taking over your data center or IT closet, don’t despair. ShowMeCables has you covered. We’ve been in the cable business since 1995 and we know a few things about cable management.

But before you browse our 150+ cable management solutions, you might read on to see our summary of those products. We’ve broken everything into 10 simple categories, with links so you can go straight to whatever type of product you’re looking for.

So, let’s get ready to get organized . . .

Wire Mesh Cable Trays and Accessories

Wire mesh cable trays look so simple but they do so much. They route and protect network cable, communications wiring, and electrical wire throughout offices and many other types of commercial and industrial buildings. The rugged but light cable trays are mounted on walls, ceilings or under raised floors to provide an orderly path of connectivity for hundreds and even thousands of cables.

Wire mesh cable trays help you solve a lot of challenges. They allow you to get your cables off the floor to free up room space for other uses. They organize your cable flow to make them easier to find. They protect your cables without enclosing them, which reduces heat buildup. And in most cases they are easy to install and to customize for however your room is configured.

ShowMeCables offers 10-foot lengths of wire-mesh cable trays in 20 sizes – with nine width options from 2 inches to 24 inches and depth options of 2, 4, or 6 inches. We also have all the mounting brackets and couplers you’ll need to install the cable trays.

Lace Bars and Strips

Lacing bars – strain relief for cables where they enter a rack, to prevent bending. Our nearly three-dozen options include solid round lacer bars,

In today's digital era, where Wi-Fi and wireless connectivity tend to steal the spotlight, the humble Ethernet cable still holds a crucial role in maintaining a sturdy and reliable internet connection. Many folks might wonder, what does an Ethernet cable look like? In this blog post, we'll dive into the aesthetics and design of an Ethernet cable to help you identify and understand its function better.

A Basic Overview

An Ethernet cable, also referred to as a network cable, is a type of cable used to connect computers, routers, switches, and other devices within a local area network (LAN). This cable facilitates data exchange within the network, contributing to the efficiency of your internet experience.

The Appearance

The Ethernet cable resembles a larger telephone cord and typically comes in different colors – blue, black, grey, yellow, and even red, to name a few. These color variations don't affect the cable's performance but can help users to organize and differentiate various network connections.

Ethernet cables consist of several intertwined pairs of copper wire, each encased in a protective layer of insulation, all wrapped together inside a flexible outer jacket. The size of the Ethernet cable can range from a few inches to hundreds of feet, depending on the needed application.

The Connector

One of the most identifiable parts of an Ethernet cable is the connector at each end – known as an RJ45 connector. This clear, rectangular plug is slightly wider than a traditional phone jack (RJ11). The connector has eight gold pins, which match up with the eight internal wires of the cable. When you plug the connector into a device, you'll usually hear a small click as

Perhaps no device does so much work for so little money than a patch panel. With its array of ports on one labeled, easy-to-see panel, this wonder component centralizes and organizes network connections. It simplifies maintenance and future upgrades and even lets you connect one network to another.

This blog post lists seven ways you can benefit by using patch panels. We conclude with brief information about four Cat6a patch panels we recently added to our extensive line of patch panels, patch panel accessories, and other cable management devices.

7 Benefits of Patch Panels

Ethernet patch panels offer several benefits in network infrastructure management. Here are some key advantages:

• Cable organization: Patch panels provide a centralized location for terminating and managing Ethernet cables. They typically have multiple ports where cables can be connected and labeled. This organization reduces cable clutter, simplifies troubleshooting, and makes it easier to identify and trace specific connections.
• Flexibility and scalability: Patch panels enable flexible and scalable network configurations. By using patch cables, you can easily reconfigure or modify connections between devices without having to rerun new cables. This flexibility is especially beneficial in situations where devices or network layouts change frequently, such as in data centers or office environments.
• Improved network performance: Properly terminated Ethernet

Office space isn’t exactly cheap these days. Organizations are looking for ways to get the most from their square footage, especially in cramped IT rooms and closets.

Most everybody has discovered that wall-mount rack enclosures are a great way to fit more IT gear in a room with no more available floor space. But there is another type of product that allows you to truly maximize what little space you might have left: vertical wall-mount enclosures.

Wall-Hugging Top-Loaders

A vertical rack is top-loading – it turns your 19-inch-wide components 90 degrees so that they face the ceiling. In such an orientation they do not stick out from a wall some 2 or 3 feet like horizontal racks do. A 2U vertical enclosure extends only about 5 inches and a 6U needs less than a foot. And yet they are tall enough, up to 35.4 inches inside in SMC’s line of verticals, to hold your deepest components.

SMC’s vertical enclosures have most of the features of our horizontals, such as:

• For cooling, air vents on all models, two fan vents on 5U, 6U, 8U
• For security, 16-gauge steel panels; key locks on all models, a second lock on top panel for 5U, 6U, 8U
• For connections, cable access punchout holes on top and bottom
• For flexibility, a reversible front door for hinges on left or right
• For quick installation, ships fully assembled with mounting hardware

However, vertical wall enclosures are not always the right choice. Whether your next wall cabinet should

If your office feels a bit cramped but your company is not ready to take the plunge into a bigger floor plan, it might be time to further maximize the space you have. The thought of squeezing more usable square footage out of already-small confines such as server rooms, telecom closets, or retail spaces may seem daunting. But there’s a smart solution that’s relatively inexpensive: wall-mounted equipment cabinets.

This blog post describes two big benefits of wall-mounted cabinets and concludes with some details about ShowMeCables’ large selection of them.

Wall-mounted cabinets offer most of the benefits of floor cabinets – they’re rugged, secure, come in many sizes, and have pro features like built-in fans, locking front and side doors, and a front panel of tempered glass for monitoring rack components.

Freeing Up Floor Space

A few benefits make wall cabinets unique. First, they don’t hog floor space. Install one or two in place of a floor cabinet and you’ll marvel at how much bigger the room suddenly seems. Or keep the floor unit in place and use the wall cabinet for new components that improve your capabilities.

Using Vertical Wall-Mounted Cabinets

Second, you can install wall-mount cabinets in your previously unused vertical spaces. ShowMeCables offers 50+ different vertical wall-mount enclosures that position components sideways to take up less space. For instance, our 2U vertical enclosure extends only 4.5 inches from the wall. Such a low-profile enclosure can fit just about anywhere, from hallways to retail spaces to cramped IT

Adapting an RJ11 to an RJ45 Cable: A Practical Guide

Using an RJ11 to RJ45 wiring diagram is the best way to convert from the 8-positon RJ45 to a 6-position RJ11 connector. In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, the need to adapt and repurpose existing equipment is becoming increasingly common. In this blog post, we will explore the steps required to successfully adapt an RJ11 to an RJ45 cable.

Before diving into the adaptation process, it is crucial to understand the fundamental difference between an RJ11 and an RJ45 connection. RJ11 cables are commonly used for telephone connections and have six positions and four contacts. RJ45 cables are primarily used for Ethernet connections and consist of eight positions and eight contacts. Adapting an RJ11 to an RJ45 cable allows you to repurpose telephone lines for Ethernet connectivity, thus maximizing the utility of existing infrastructure.

An RJ45 to RJ11 converter cable is designed to connect your RJ11 devices such as analog phones, answering machines, fax machines etc. through a VoIP RJ45 Ethernet port.

Since the RJ11 only uses four wires, it will only work with 10/100 Ethernet. 1 Gigabit Ethernet requires the use of eight wires or leads.

Looking at the top of the RJ45 connector (the clip is facing down) you can see the pin reference for both T-568A and T-568B wiring schemes. With T-568A and T-568B the pin locations stay the same, but the wire color location scheme is different.

When building or repairing DB9 cable assemblies many customers request a DB9 connector pinout reference drawing in order to determine where each conductor of the cable should be terminated to. There are several primary types of DB9 connector pinout schemes that we will review in  blog post.

DB9 Connector Pin Locations

First, we will take a look at the DB9 connector pin locations for a male and female DB9 connector. Note the orientation of the connector where the short side of the shell is located on the bottom and the longer side is on the top.

There are several DB9 connector Pinout schemes to address different standards and technologies. Here we take a look at two of the predominantly used configurations.

DB9 connectors used for RS232 communications

DB9 connectors have long been used in serial communications to attach peripherals to PCs. With the advent of USB connectors, DB9 is no longer the connector of choice for this function but there are still legacy devices using DB9 connectors for RS232 connectivity.

Another use for DB9 connectors is with Null modem communications.

A null modem DB9 serial cable (frequently called a crossover cable) is used to connect

Floor-mounted rack or wall-mounted rack? It’s a key consideration when you shop for a rack for your IT networking equipment. The obvious benefit of wall-mounted models is that they don’t take up floor space in small rooms. But space isn’t everything.

Below we list six solid advantages of floor-mounted racks, also known as free-standing racks. We conclude with a summary of ShowMeCables’ floor-mounted offerings.

Advantages of Floor-Mounted Racks

• Increased Weight Capacity: Floor-mounted racks are typically designed to support heavier equipment and larger network setups. They can accommodate a higher weight capacity compared to wall-mounted racks, making them suitable for larger networks with multiple servers, switches, and other network devices.
• Enhanced Stability: Floor-mounted racks are more stable and less prone to movement or vibrations compared to wall-mounted racks. This stability is especially important for delicate or sensitive equipment that may be affected by excessive movement.
• Improved Accessibility: With a floor-mounted rack, you have easier access to the front and rear of the equipment. This facilitates equipment installation, maintenance, and cable management. You can easily reach the devices from all sides, making it more convenient to manage and troubleshoot the network infrastructure.
• Greater Flexibility: Floor-mounted racks, especially those on caster wheels, offer more flexibility in terms of equipment placement and expansion. You have the freedom to position the rack wherever needed in the room, allowing for better utilization of space. Also, floor-mounted racks can be extended or modified to accommodate future