The hype about CEDIA 2017 continues to get stronger, and like a building groundswell, CEDIA is guaranteed to deliver a totally tubular wave of technical innovation to San Diego! To get you ready for the show, here are some networking trends to pay attention to at this year’s conference.
1. More Gbs
At the WWDC presentation in June, Apple announced that the iMac Pro has Nbase-T Ethernet supporting 1Gb, 2.5Gb, 5Gb, and 10Gb Ethernet using a RJ45 connector! What does this mean for your network? Think about the wiring requirements: Cat-5e doesn’t deliver greater than 1Gbps. Cat-6 only delivers 10Gbps over 50m. There is a newer 2.5G/5GBASE-T standard that offers 2.5Gbps over 100 meters on Cat-5e or 5Gbps over 100 meters on Cat-6, but the switch has to have explicit support for that standard. We’ll also see a renewed focus on fiber as it is continues to become more cost-effective and easy to terminate. It’s a great solution to connect core switches!
Watch for manufacturers to promote throughput capacity of their routers as a differentiator. Even though a router has gigabit ports, it doesn’t mean that the router can deliver 1Gbps throughput, especially when the firewall or Intrusion Prevention System is enabled.
2. More 802.11ac Wireless
Did you know 802.11ac is not 802.11ac is not 802.11ac? AC wireless comes in a variety of flavors, which provide for faster support. The handy chart below explains the broad array of performance offered by 802.11ac. The good news is you’ll see plenty of new wireless options by all of your favorite networking brands. With the density requirements of 802.11ac to deliver maximum throughput, you’ll also find controller-less, cloud-controller and new managed Wi-Fi solutions. Finally, check out EST323 “Advanced Wireless” – Joel Crane, Wi-Fi expert from Metageek, has invested a ton of time and energy refreshing the advanced CEDIA course and you’re guaranteed to learn something new!
3. Mesh Wireless
With the growing demand for Wi-Fi coverage and bandwidth, Mesh will continue to get attention at CEDIA. Mesh is a great solution for expanding your wireless coverage but it does come with tradeoffs. Manufacturers like Eero, Luma, and Ubiquiti will be showing their Mesh Wi-Fi solutions and explaining how these solutions can help you overcome installation and sales challenges. Just remember, as good as technology is getting, good old fashion Ethernet cabling still trumps wireless.
4. Recurring Revenue vs. Cost Savings
The debate continues, can the industry find success with recurring monthly revenue (RMR) or does remote systems management mainly deliver cost savings, reliability and higher customer satisfaction? At Ihiji, we have a strong commitment to RMR and moving the industry toward managed services. The benefits of improved cash value and business value combined with benefits to the customer are undeniable. Look for new value-added services such as security and parental controls (check out router limits) to make your managed services more attractive to end-users and find more success with marketing your service plans. Additionally, you’ll see more manufacturers willing to help you further market and sell managed services to your customers. Turnkey RMR…it has a nice ring to it but is it that easy?
5. Network Security and Advanced Networking
If you believe increasing the value of your managed service offering will help you achieve RMR success, then it’s hard to deny that network security isn’t a great addition to your solution. Companies like Access Networks, Cujo, FireFX, Ihiji, SonicWall (sponsor of CEDIA Learning Labs), Ubiquti, and WhyReboot will all be at the show helping dealers explore opportunities in advanced networking and network security.
Want to learn more? Check out the Networking Trends course and all of the other CEDIA Education in San Diego. CEDIA continues to invest in training, and it is an invaluable asset for the industry. Catch you at the break in San Diego, dudes!
Type 2.4 GHz band (Mbit/s) 5 GHz band (Mbit/s)AC600150433AC750300433AC1200300867AC1300400867AC1300-1,300AC1450450975AC16003001,300AC17504501,300AC19006001,300AC22004501,733AC23506001,733AC26008001,733
AC30004501,300 + 1,300AC310010002,167AC315010002,167
AC32006001,300 + 1,300
AC53001000 2,166 + 2,166
