Triangle Cables Blog

The evolution of technology is inevitable. These days it seems like computers and peripherals are practically obsolete by the time you get them out of the store. For some people it can be hard to say goodbye to a favorite printer, mouse or monitor when a computer is upgraded. As the technologies evolve newer machines have different port configurations forcing people to upgrade components and change their ways.

At Triangle cables we understand the frustration this can cause, and we want to help. By offering a full line of USB converters we can help you get your connectivity back. By converting your old device connections to USB you can plug them into newer computers that lack the old ports. This is great news for people who don’t want to see their favorite peripheral find its way to the trash heap.

Whether you have an old printer that uses an IEEE 1284 connector, and old mouse that uses a PS/2 connector or an old joystick that uses the DB15 game port connector, Triangle Cables has a USB converter that can keep you connected. Check out our selection of USB converters today and bring back your favorite computer accessories.

When it comes to telecommunications cables are king. Without the endless web of cables connecting communication hubs data would go nowhere. In the not so distant past the world of traditional telecom cable was revolutionized by fiber optics. Fiber optic cables bring many distinct advantages to the world of data handling that was not previous available.

Compared to traditional copper cabling fiber optics can carry far more data at a fraction of the price. Not only that, but data can travel much farther without needing amplification. It’s not uncommon for fiber optic lines to transmit signals over 80km before needing a boost.

In addition to cost and signal transfer, another important improvement the fiber optic cable offers is signal quality. Fiber optic cables have a much higher degree of signal fidelity than traditional cabling and over 1000 times greater bandwidth. And, because Fiber optic cables are transferring light through glass they are not affected by electrical interference in the same way copper cable is.  This makes them an important asset in lightning prone areas.

Safety is an added bonus for fiber optic cables. Because there is light, and not electricity, being transferred through the lines there is no risk of fire. Electrical fires are generally caused by damaged cables that run too hot and in turn create fire hazards.

Like most people these days you may have multiple devices that utilize an internet connection. More often than not these devices are not wired directly into an Ethernet plug. Devices like smartphones, tablets, game consoles and internet ready televisions can all use a wireless signal to connect to the internet. This makes finding the right wireless router a challenge. You need to find something that will handle your homes unique demands for wireless data sharing.

For homes with high demand for wireless signal it may be a good idea to choose a multiband wireless router. These routers broadcast multiple wireless frequencies so your home electronics don’t have to compete for a connection. Typically these routers use a 2.4ghz and 5.1ghz signal to connect to your wireless devices. While the 2.4ghz signal travels farther, the 5.1ghz signal is less susceptible to signal interference from other household items like cordless phones or microwaves.

For homes with fewer wireless devices a single channel router would be sufficient. Once you’ve selected the best wireless router for your home, all you need to do is connect it. Simply connect a Cat6 patch cable from your broadband modem to the wireless router’s WAN port and you should be on your way to wireless internet connectivity.

If you’re building or remodeling a home, consider installing HDMI wall plates in areas where you will install televisions. Wall plates are a great way to conceal wiring inside walls for clean and professional installations of wall mounted televisions. HDMI wall plates can also be used to connect different areas of the house to the same signal source. For example, if you have a Blu-ray player in one room that is connected to a wall plate, that plate can be wired to a plate in another room where you can connect a television and receive the Blu-ray signal.

HDMI wall plates are also a practical solution for bars or restaurants which often have several televisions running simultaneously. The wiring for the elaborate entertainment system can easily be concealed within the walls to prevent patrons from accidentally disconnecting anything.  Not only does this mean other patrons can enjoy uninterrupted television broadcasts, but it also prevents accidental damage to your audio visual equipment.

The best part about using HDMI cables to connect your audio visual equipment is that it provides a high quality video signal that meets high definition standards. The HDMI cable also carries both audio and video signal, so there is no need to mess with multiple wires to connect your devices, a single cable will do it all. When installed next to a power outlet an HDMI wall plate is a practical choice for simple TV installations.

When connecting televisions with video devices, there are often several choices available. Some may look familiar, while others may seem completely alien. Today’s blog post is about the pros and cons of common video connections and how to identify them. Hopefully it will help you identify the right video cable for the job and make connecting your video components even easier.

Probably the most common video cable is the RG-6 coaxial cable. This is the familiar cable TV connection that most Americans have in their home. Its primary benefit is its universality. This connection can be found on many video devices, however it should be noted that it is not the highest quality connection available and is not suited for high definition applications.

After the RG-6 cable, the second most common cable is the composite video / RCA audio cable. This is the classic red, yellow and blue cable often packaged with video components. This cable was once a standard but today it appears less and less on newer televisions and video components. Its advantage is that is carries both video and audio signals, but it is also not a high quality signal cable.

After the composite video cable there are the component video and S-video cables. Both of these cables attempt to improve on the signal quality by separating the color channels. The component video cable has red, blue and green connectors. Each connector carries one color of the RGB video signal preventing crossover and making for more accurate color reproduction. The S-video cable is a single circular connector with prongs. This cable also separates color signals in an attempt to make more accurate color. The disadvantage of these two cables is there lack of audio transfer. Using these cables means an additional audio cable will also be required.

The most recent video cable to join the bunch is the HDMI cable. This cable is designed to carry a high definition video signal along with audio, making it the ideal choice for high definition applications. Its plug is wide and flat and can be found on most new televisions and video components. The only disadvantage of this cable is its lack of compatibility with older analog televisions or video components.

Cables are often the first thing to go bad on an electronic device. Because cables often move and bend they have a tendency to pull or break on the inside, a signal can no longer transfer through the line. This can be very frustrating and if the bad cable goes undetected it can ultimately lead to electronic devices being thrown away prematurely. That’s why Triangle Cables carries replacement AC power cords!

By replacing the AC power cord of an electronic device you can often fix the problem of what appears to be a broken device that will not power up. These cables are also perfect for buying second hand items that may be missing their original cables, such as computers, stereos or game consoles. Often items that are missing their original cables are discounted, making them a great buy if you can find replacement cables.

In addition to replacement power cords, Triangle Cables also offers power cables extensions and adaptors. These extensions and adaptors are compatible with a variety of electronic devices. So next time you have an electronic device that is not powering up, or is intermittently powering down, check your power cable for signs of wear or damage. A replacement AC power cord may be all you need to get things working again.

You may be asking yourself, “what the heck is EMI and why should I be worried about it?” That’s a good question–and exactly what we will be discussing in today’s blog post! EMI stands for ElectroMagnetic Interference, and it is a major culprit in the loss of audio visual and communications fidelity. Electromagnetic Interference is created either by electromagnetic induction or electromagnetic radiation. In both cases the EMI will have a negative effect on the performance of the circuit. It may cause signal interruption, or introduce static noise to a line. In the case of a television or audio devise this may result in audio visual static. In the case of a home network it may result in a loss of signal speed or strength. That’s why we recommend using shielded network cables for home network installations.

Using a shielded network cable offers protection against EMI. By adding in a thin layer of shielding it prevents the cables from acting like an antenna and drawing in EMI from surrounding devices. This means the signal is preserved and the communication speed is unaffected by any interference. Replacing old network cables with shielded models is a great way to ensure you home network is operating with maximum effectiveness.  Shop TriangleCables.com today to find Cat6 shielded network cables today!

Let’s face it, when you work around cables all day you have to love technology. That’s why we’ve put together some of our favorite songs about cables. Okay, maybe they’re not literally about cables, but we can pretend that’s what the artists had in mind. This mix of tunes features songs for everybody and is certainly not short on technology and connectivity references. So get your sound system set up properly, double check your audio cables and follow along with our audio exhibition about the joy of cables. Enjoy!

Triangle Cable’s

Totally Wired – Volume 1

1. Connect Up To Me – The Cars
2. Live Wire – AC/DC
3. Sound and Vision – David Bowie
4. Connected – Stereo MC’s
5. Static Age – The Misfits
6. Sound System – Operation Ivy
7. Electricityscape – The Strokes
8. Through The Wire – Kanye West
9. Speed of Sound – Coldplay
10. Digital – Joy Division
11. Connection -JeffersonStarship
12. Living on a Thin Line – The Kinks
13. Electric Avenue – Eddy Grant
14. Video Killed the Radio Star – Buggles
15. Disconnected – Goo Goo Dolls
16. The Sound of Silence – Simon and Garfunkel

Not all network problems are obvious. Sometimes the issues that cause connections to slow down or fail are hard to diagnose. This is because sometimes the culprit is not a computer or a network switch, but the cable that is connecting them. Bad cables can be the cause of network issues just as easily as bad hardware, that’s why it’s important to check cable connection strength with a LANtest Network Cable Tester. This tester allows you to connect category 5, coaxial and modular telephone cables and test their connections.

It’s too easy for a bad cable to go overlooked, especially if you may be working in an environment where there are hundreds or even thousands of cables connecting server racks together. When these cables go bad they can often lead to more serious communication issues. Using a LANtest Network Cable tester is as easy as connecting a cable. Simply connect one end of the cable to the master box and the other end to the remote box and you can instantly find out if a cable is damaged.

These tools are great for any IT department or even for a home network enthusiast. Each LANtest Network Cable Tester is a professional tool that makes maintaining a communications network a breeze. Save time and energy by quickly spotting bad cables and get your network up to speed.

As technology progresses it always seems to outgrow cables and connectors. Modern high definition televisions utilize HDMI connections to carry audio and video signal between components. This can make it difficult to connect older technologies to them such as laptop computers or game consoles. That’s where signal converters such as a VGA to HDMI converter come in handy.

A VGA to HDMI converter, like the one pictured here, allows you to connect an older analog video source, such as a PC to a high definition television. These converter boxes accommodate a VGA signal input for video and a stereo RCA input for audio. On the other side of the HDMI converter there is a single HDMI output that takes the analog audio and video inputs turns them to a digital HDMI signal that can be connected to a modern HDTV.

While the output signal will not be high definition, it will be in a digital format that the HDTV can read. This makes it possible to use a digital television as a display to show a power point presentation, a photo slide show, or anything else you may want to share on a larger display. An HDMI converter is a great utility of a business person who may have an older laptop. It is best to be prepared for any presentation situation even if technologies seem incompatible.