Cat6 and Cat6A cables are serving today’s most demanding high-speed applications. But Cat8 is on the horizon. The early iconic yellow Ethernet cable has a much diminished presence in consumer and business settings, as wireless technologies have become dominant. More than ever, however, the infrastructure underpinning high-speed wireless network activity depends on Ethernet technologies. DataRead More

High-reliability applications demand robust, reliable, and long-lasting cable assemblies. These nine key considerations will help guide engineers as they select and secure cables for these designs. Designing a robust cable assembly or wire harness that can support high-reliability connector performance, withstand the rigors of rugged operating environments, and streamline wiring designs to fit the needsRead More

Today’s high-performance composite materials make it easy to dispel the misconception that composite cable clamps are inferior to metal clamps in high-reliability, harsh environment applications. Consider these five factors to select the appropriate composite clamps for your most demanding applications. By Matthew Noce, Military & Aerospace Market Manager; Mathieu Desjardins, Senior Design Engineer; Lauren Toye-O’Donnell,Read More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights hybrid cable assemblies with copper and fiber conductors, as well as hybrid cable-mount connectors with both copper and fiber optic contacts. Hybrid Cable Assemblies With Copper and Fiber Conductors Neutrik’s opticalCON HYBRID MED Connectors are designed to deliver rugged, reliable, and user-friendly connectivity solutions optimized for medical applications including operatingRead More

Optimistic technologists have been predicting fiber optics would replace many copper links since the late 1990s, but designers were able to find ways to extend the bandwidth and reach of copper. Now we may be reaching the point where fiber may finally become the most practical solution in an increasing number of applications. Electrical interconnectsRead More

Inventive humans have always sought better, faster methods of communications. Today’s high-speed communications are enabled by high-speed cabling and connectors that are rapidly evolving to give us connectivity on a level we couldn’t imagine only a few years ago — and that will inevitably be left in the dust by future iterations. For centuries, innovatorsRead More

Summary coverage of upcoming industry events, as well as recent award, partnership, promotion, personnel, facility, distribution, standards, association, and certification news from across the connector industry. December 2020 Connector Industry News December 2020 Connector Industry News > Event News  TE Connectivity is presenting a new Tech Talk, “Meeting Multiple Design Challenges with a Single Connection”Read More

Legacy connectors have served automotive connector systems through many design evolutions. Now, however, as new technologies make it possible to design safer, smarter, and greener cars, a new generation of connectors is needed to serve these systems. Vehicle designers and manufacturers rely on many connector systems that have been on the market for decades. EvenRead More

Electric drivetrains are moving into more off-road categories of recreational vehicles. Snowmobiles, personal watercraft, ATVs, and other powersport vehicles are actively adopting connectivity solutions used in motorcycle, e-bike, and automotive designs. Although the development of electric drivetrains for cars, trucks, and mass transit is well underway, two-stroke-engine powersport vehicles such as snowmobiles, off-road vehicles, andRead More

When new or custom connectivity products are the right solution for a design challenge, connector suppliers must meet complex design requirements and develop efficient manufacturing processes to produce high-quality products at a reasonable cost. Manufacturability is a critical consideration in the design of a new connector product. In addition to supply chain factors such asRead More

The latest generation of high-tech digital cameras has been sized down for small, lightweight military, medical, and surveillance equipment. High-speed miniature interconnect products make it possible to capture and send images in even the most rigorous operating conditions. High-speed cameras, machine learning, and robotics are changing the world for interconnects that support data services toRead More

The battle between AC and DC power may be fought all over again as rising demand for power and new technologies converge, bringing attention to direct current’s technical and economic advantages. After a nasty publicity battle between George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison, alternating current (AC) was selected as the electrical power transmission standard for theRead More