What are the Main Computer Cables Every Business Needs?
Read this article to know about the various type of cables that the IT team must keep note of. Understand how and where these cables are used and which one you must keep a stock of in your inventory for frequent usage.
Businesses in every industry rely heavily on computers as part of their daily operation. This means that a business owner needs to make sure that the company has the right cables for their computers as well as spares (these should also be of the highest standard so that they can be relied on each day). Here are the main cables that you need to make sure that your business has.USB
USB cables are amongst the most used of all computer cables and will be essential for connecting hardware to your computer. This might include storage devices, input devices (keyboards etc), output devices (printers, speakers etc), wireless adapters and chargers just to name a few. You should always make sure that you have a few spare USB cables because they can serve so many purposes.Audio Cables & Connectors
Audio cables, such as the standard headphone jack, can be used to connect speakers and microphones to your computer. This could be for many reasons in a business setting, such as videoconferencing or audio recording. Places like RS Components will be the best place to stock up on connectors for your business so that you always have a spare or backup if needed.Video Cables
There are many types of video cables and these are important for connecting monitors and high-definition TVs to your computer. This includes VGA cables and is commonly used to connect monitors while for televisions you are more likely to use an HDMI which can provide audio and video transmission through one cable (it is a good idea to have a few of these in the office). Other common video cables include a DVI which are often used with newer, thin laptops as opposed to a VGA.Ethernet Cable
Ethernet cables are also highly important in today's day and age as a way of creating a wired network. These cables are most often used to connect the computer to a router or network switch and they feature a clip which can help it to maintain a tight connection. You should have multiple ethernet cables and of varying length in the office. UTP Cables
UTP cables are cheaper alternatives to Fibre Optic and Coaxial cables. These are used for telephone and Ethernet connections. They have copper wiring with a polyethene coating. Office networking and video calling solutions often use these cables.Hybrid Cables
Hybrid cables are called as such because they are a combination of Optic Fibre and Metallic cables. They are high-performance cables while providing cost-saving due to their hybrid nature. These cables are used to real-time video communication within office or sharing of large image files. There is another class of Hybrid cables which provide fibre-to-antenna solutions. These serve structures likes towers and poles which are used to digital communications.TRS Cables
TRS is an abbreviation for "Tip, Ring, Sleeve". It is similar to a 1/4" or 1/8" plug but has an extra "ring" on its shaft. These are used for balanced communication or for running both left and right mono signal to headphones or earphones. These are also used in Y cables like mixer insert jacks where one line is used for sending the signal out and another for receiving it back in. These are highly useful if you work in a media company where you need to do audio or video recording.XLR Cables
This is yet another cable which is used in studios for professional audio video and stage lightening equipment. It is circular in shape and usually has 3 to 7 pins. In audio recording, these are used for balanced audio interconnection, including AES3 digital audio and in lightening use cases it is used for lighting control, low-voltage power supplies, and other applications.Type C to USB Converter Cables
If your employees are using Mac laptops then you will need to provide them Type C to USB cables so that they can connect external devices which support USB to their Mac laptops. These cables are required for connecting external storages devices, smartphones, speakers and even Ethernet ports to Mac laptops like Macbook Air which come only with 2 Type C ports.
These are the main types of cable that your business will need for its computing needs. It is important to have the right cables and a few spare ones so that you can always rely on your computer each day and not suffer from any downtime if you experience any issues with your cables.
