Ethernet Cables

We like to color code our cables by length rather than purpose, because the length of a cable does not change over time, but the same cable can be used for many types of traffic. The thin cables are great for patch panels because they improve visibility and include less packaging, and the thick cables work well for stations because they are more durable.

Length	Color	Thin	Thick
1'	Orange	Buy on Monoprice	Buy on Monoprice
2'	Pink (Red)	Buy on Monoprice	Buy on Monoprice
3'	Green	Buy on Monoprice	Buy on Monoprice
5'	Purple	Buy on Monoprice	Buy on Monoprice
7'	White	Buy on Monoprice	Buy on Monoprice
10'	Yellow	Buy on Monoprice	Buy on Monoprice
14'	Gray	Buy on Monoprice	Buy on Monoprice
25'	Black	N/A	Buy on Monoprice
50'	Blue	N/A	Buy on Monoprice

Computer Specs

We can get specific with models and builds, but in general, here is what we recommend for a general use computer.

Component	Spec
Processor	i5 or better Intel or M3 ARM
RAM	16 GB or more
Storage	500 GB or larger SSD
Display	High PPI (Retina)
Graphics	Dedicated
OS	macOS or Windows Pro (not Home)

Internet Connectivity

Like most things, there are various grades of service for internet connectivity. This is a brief chart comparing different types of service and different performance metrics. Bandwidth, like the horsepower of a car, is an easy-to-market metric. Also like the horsepower of a car, it should not be the only consideration when choosing an internet connectivity solution. If horsepower was the only important factor, we would see more Dodge Charger Hellcats on the road and fewer BMWs.

Type	Bandwidth	Guaranteed	Symmetrical	SLA	Latency	Jitter	Install Time	Typical Contract
DIA Fiber	10Mb - 10Gb	Y	Y	Y	Low	Low	90 Days	1-3 years
Fixed Wireless	10Mb - 1Gb	Y	Y	Y	Low	Low	14 Days	1-3 years
Metro Fiber	10Mb - 1Gb	N	Y	N	Low	Medium	30 Days	Month to Month
EOC	5Mb - 50Mb	Y	Y	Y	Medium	Low	30 Days	1-3 Years
Coax	50Mb - 300Mb	N	N	N	High	High	14 Days	Month to Month