Executive conference rooms are in dire need of technology upgrades. While residential AV systems that you're probably familiar with have already embraced digital video and audio (1080p, widescreen, surround sound, etc.), commercial spaces are still lagging far behind.

With the "sunset" of analog technologies happening right now, CEOs that use these conference rooms are going to find out the hard way that their current technologies are obsolete. For example, MAC and iPad users will not be able to plug in their laptops into antiquated systems anymore - their digital systems are simply not compatible with the projectors and AV systems of yesterday. It's the same for Blu Ray DVDs and many more emerging technologies.

What we are trying to do here at TSAChoice is to up-fit new and existing conference rooms to include digital sources, displays, wiring, and touch panel control systems. Without these digital improvements, the conference rooms (the "CEO space") is obsolete. Other technologies include integrating flat panel displays and projectors, video conferencing, and interactive white boards and touch displays.

This is what we did for the Veterans Health Administration, and it's what we've done for many others. As a small part of a larger telecommunications/IT company (TSAChoice), the Audio-Visual Division uses the resources of the company at large to integrate audio-visual services/devices into our clients' networks and telecom systems.

Choosing the right media and category of networking cable for your business can be a tricky task. Here at TSAChoice, we have the expertise to help you make the right decision both for now and into the future.

So what is the difference between CAT 5e, CAT 6, CAT 6A, and Optical Fiber anyway? We explain all of that below:

CAT 5e: This is the superseded version of the Category 5 twisted pair cable, with the “e” standing for enhanced. This can often be the best, and most cost-effective choice for many small businesses as it allows for data to be transferred at a rate of up to 1 Gigabit per second while operating at a frequency of 100 MHz and beyond. Cat 5e also allows for the cables to be run up to 100 meters without signal degradation.  For most small businesses with this cable, any noticeable slow down of speed is more likely to be caused by a device on the network, rather than the cable not being able to handle the rate of data transfer.

CAT 6: This cable adds more stringent specifications for crosstalk than CAT5e and is backwards compatible with CAT5/CAT5e systems. The most common application for CAT 6 is Gigabit Ethernet while operating at a frequency of up to 250 MHz, doubling the bandwidth capability of CAT 5e. Like CAT 5e, CAT 6 can also be run for distances of up to 100 meters.

CAT 6A: This copper cable category takes CAT 6 one step further. The ‘A’ in CAT 6A stands for augmented, meaning it performs at improved specifications, particularly in the area of alien crosstalk as compared to Cat 6. CAT 6A has been tested to 650 MHz and provides guaranteed performance out to 500 MHz. CAT 6A demonstrates superior capability for 10 Gigabit Ethernet and all other bandwidth intensive and legacy applications.

Optical Fiber: Unlike copper cable media, optical fiber cables are made up of hair-line filaments drawn from molten silica glass. There are numerous advantages to optical fiber cables which come in two basic types, multimode and singlemode. One advantage is that they can be run for much longer distances, are immune to electrical interference and disturbances, and they can take much less space in cable pathways. Another and perhaps the most important advantage are the tremendous bandwidth and transmission speed capabilities of optical fiber. Depending on the transmission source technology, multimode fiber is capable of delivering 10 Gigabit Ethernet at 550 meters, and singlemode can deliver 10 Gigabit Ethernet at 40,000 meters.

Similar to the universal remote control devices found in many home-theater systems, Touch Panels are programmed to give you complete control over all your conference room technology.  This includes projectors, computers, video conferencing systems, whiteboards, motorized screens, lighting controls, audio systems, etc. At home, you can combine all of your remotes (TV, amp, DVD player, iPod, cable box, etc.) into one "master remote" to make life easier.

TSAChoice has handled some recent installs of Extron's TouchLink panels in Western North Carolina at National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), the Pack's Tavern Century Room, Carolina Hand and Sports Medicine, and the Veterans Administration.

Have your own tale of conference room set-up woe? Or seen an extra slick set up you like? Share it with us. We’d love to hear from you.

Japan manufactures many of the electronic components we all use in our daily lives: automotive electronics, flat-panel displays and of course, computer components such as RAM, flash storage and motherboards.  Naturally TSAChoice depends on many products and parts manufactured in Japan for its product offerings across all our divisions.

Unfortunately this disaster has compromised many of the supply chains the rest of the world relies on for these items.  In the coming weeks we expect to see shortages and delayed availability of numerous parts; consequently we are already seeing increased prices as a result.  We will make every effort to continue delivering high-quality products to our customers as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.

We ask that all our customers please bear with us as we continue to serve you during Japan’s crisis.  And of course, please continue to keep Japan in your hearts and pray for their peace and comfort.

Although consumers have been using this technology for years, businesses have shied away from Wi Fi’s expense and limited use.  Now it’s time for enterprises, schools, healthcare firms and government organizations to start looking at upgrading whatever wireless infrastructure they currently have (if any) in 2011.

If IT managers can implement wireless successfully, they’re looking at cutting all kinds of costs (eliminating switch ports, hardwired cable drops, etc) and finally freeing themselves from the “patch cable leash.”  New “Voice over Wi Fi” solutions cut the cord to desk phones, and even HD video can be pushed out over wireless networks for company/campus wide digital signage.

For small businesses, wireless is finally becoming less of a novelty and more of a reality.  Thanks to competition among vendors, costs for these solutions are plummeting and end users are more and more satisfied with the results of rock solid wireless networks.

To kick this blog off, I want to let you know the kinds of things we do, and why this blog should appeal to you.  No worries --  this is the last (overt) TSAChoice sales pitch you'll read on this blog!

There’s limited glamour in telephony, IT, cabling, and audio-visual services. Chances are you'll never see flashy TV commercials or big billboards for our company, and we probably won’t be hiring Rick Flair to be our spokesperson any time soon.

But, whether your phone system needs upgrading, your IT network needs an overhaul, your conference room needs a 21st century boost, or if you’re building a new business and you need it all at once, you’ll need us.

TSAChoice specializes in integrating all the components of business communication technology. Our mission is to help businesses start communicating and keep communicating – and we love fulfilling it.

Let’s start a conversation about the best in communication tech for small(ish) businesses in small(ish) places. Let us know what’s on your mind by commenting on this post, subscribe to our blog feed, or Like us on Facebook  to receive regular notices of new posts.