Category Archives: Yard & Outdoors

Purchasing new phone equipment leads to greater company success

November 24, 2021   Matt

Purchasing new phone equipment leads to greater company success

Communication is key to a successful business. As a customer service representative, the quality of my business’s current phone system isn’t exactly the most technologically-advanced equipment. After twenty years of customer service experience at 3 different companies, I have discovered through the years that effective phone systems are essential for a business. They ensure the greatest availability and accessibility for employees to assist customers with their concerns.

Because of my forward-thinking work ethic, I researched new phone systems and decided to initiate a new phone system purchase from a website that sold a variety of top manufacturers at a low, more affordable price for growing businesses. The low prices made it easier to convince my boss to invest in them. This site helps companies to further extend their phone systems throughout their company, therefore allowing for a greater rate of success after installation occurs.

The convenience of online usage in literally anything, allowed for a quicker decision to be made. Both my supervisor and I viewed the systems online. We both decided these systems would help our future success and ultimately the customer’s. This played a large part in our decision-making process. Our customers are always the first people that we are concerned about.

After discovering that there are a variety of systems, key, PBX, digital or hybrid systems, we decided to implement a Complete Avaya Lucent Partner package. This system allows for the ability of 5 lines and 9 telephones to access it. Most importantly, it can be expanded to 17 lines and 41 phones. Our investment would include everything we needed to get started at a comparable lower rate than any other company I researched.

The easy-to-use service and affordability factor made it hard for my boss to say no. And now a month after installation, my colleagues and I enjoy a great phone system that allows us to effectively answer the questions and concerns of our customers. Our daily concerns of our old phone systems are gone. Now we can remain calm and assured that our new phone system purchase was the right choice to make!

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Discover The Pleasures Of An Outdoor Summer Camp

November 19, 2021   Matt

Discover The Pleasures Of An Outdoor Summer Camp

For many people, camping outdoors is an experience lacking much to be desired. We are used to having luxuries such as indoor plumbing, electricity and a comfortable bed. Also, many people just try to “wing it” when it comes to going on a camping trip. They have no agenda, no plans for what to do, and no knowledge of the outdoors. When it comes to the children, they are just as lost as the adults, having never been taught how to survive in the great outdoors.

Yet, for those looking for an outdoor experience with planned activities and people who have knowledge of the outdoors, look no farther than one of many types of the outdoor summer camp in operation across the country. These camps have a great deal to offer those who choose to come and visit.

What Does the Outdoor Summer Camp Have to Offer?

At first an outdoor summer camps may look and conduct themselves differently from camp to camp. Every camp is directed differently and may have a different focus for its campers. Yet, across the board, outdoor camps generally offer their visitors a variety of experiences including boating, hiking, biking, fishing, and camping. Often, when children participate in an outdoor summer camp they remember the experience for a lifetime.

They may learn how to row a boat the proper way, tips on hiking and what to bring along, how to start a fire, emergency tips, and other various skills. They usually have scheduled activities, depending on the size of the facility. Some have cabins and lodges to offer their guests, and others provide tents. There is an outdoor summer camp suitable to the needs of most people.

The length of stay may vary from a couple of days to a few weeks, depending on the camp. Most offer overnight accommodation, yet some camps are called “day camps” meaning the participants go home in the evening to sleep. These camps are usually for young children who are not yet staying away from home alone. Chaperones at a camp may be staff or possibly volunteers. Both young and old are hired at camps to do a variety of jobs, such as camp counselor, activities coordinator, and director.

Add the Outdoor Summer Camp to Your Destination List

Attending an outdoor summer camp can bring the rest and relaxation that a busy soul needs. Just “getting away from it all” for a week or two may give a person the rejuvenation they need to carry on with their busy schedules. Children can experience new and exciting friendships with others, as well as glean new life skills along the way. All around, the outdoor summer camp is an experience to be had by all.

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Fiber Optically Smooth – The OTDR

November 14, 2021   Matt

Fiber Optically Smooth – The OTDR

The use of modern fiber optic test equipment can be used to help phone companies keep their networks operating without interference. When a long distance telephone line goes down, it’s not the type of publicity phone companies revel in. Fiber optical technology continues to grow to ensure the dependability of phone companies to all their customers. In addition to the underlying stability and dependability of these networks, fiber optical measurement tools play a large role in keeping these networks operating smoothly.

During installation, commissioning and maintenance, fiber optic cables, connectors and splices are routinely tested for flaws. These tests are done by using specialized test equipment such as fiber optic power meters, optical time domain reflectometers (OTDR), optical sources and optical attenuator’s. These same instruments can be used to determine the basic system operating parameters such as signal levels, signal attenuation and bit error rate (BER) measurements.

During installation and maintenance, it is important to view the continuity of the fiber optic link. This procedure can only be done by using the OTDR. An OTDR consists of a pulsed optical transmitter, an optical coupler and a photo diode-based receiver, signal-processing circuitry and display screen. By using the connectors and the adapters, the OTDR is connected to one end of an fiber optic cable. Its transmitter sends short-duration pulses along the cable that are back scattered by imperfections of the fiber optic itself (Raleigh scattering), or reflected from splices, connectors, breaks and fiber end (Fresnel reflections).

The returned pulses are oriented through the fiber optic coupler to the receiver, where it measures the levels and the traveling time of the returned pulses. Loss and reflection values are shown on a display versus the location of these events, calculated with the traveling time and speed of light inside the fiber core. Locations of the loss and reflection value’s can be given with a 1-meter resolution. For the exact fault location, the values must be corrected, since they show the physical location along the fiber, while the fiber optic is actually twisted within the cable.

Depending on the power level of the transmitter and the pulse width, OTDR’s can reach distances of 50 km to 200km. Longer pulses, due to their higher energy level, are used to cover long-haul applications. Higher resolution, as necessary in short-haul applications, can only be achieved by shorter pulse widths. The measurement resolution describes how far apart two faults can occur and still be accurately measured.

An OTDR is often used by phone companies to isolate breaks or faults within their operation, such as in areas of extreme signal loss within a cable. Resolving a break to within a meter or less narrows down the section of cable that must be replaced, saving expense and time for the service crew. As the OTDR also enables the measurement of the overall length of the fiber optic link, it’s results are often used as a base for the expense calculation of the installation company.

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Swimming Pool Landscaping

November 09, 2021   Matt

Swimming Pool Landscaping

Landscaping around your pool can be a lot of fun. Picking out just the right plants that you love and that will complement your pool really can be very exciting. But when choosing your pool landscaping, it’s important not to just be thinking about how the landscaping will look but also to think about what will ensure the safety of the swimmers and not be too hard for pool maintenance. Below are some simple steps to help you decide on some great pool landscaping.

A pool with plants and flowers planted all along its side can be very attractive. But remember that container plants or potted plants are easier to maintain, replace and rearrange. Another advantage is for plants that are sensitive to frost. These plants can be brought in for the winter and be moved outdoors again the next spring. And container plants really are beautiful as well.

To help with pool maintenance and safety, don’t plant flowers, plants, or shrubs that will hang over the pool. These are bound to drop something into the water whether it be pollen, stems, or petals. Also move the plants that tend to have a lot of droppings at least eight feet from the pool. Along these same lines, it’s wise to choose plants and shrubs that drop their leaves in a short period so you only have to do one cleanup.

Plants that have shorter leaves tend to be less likely to have their droppings blown away by the wind and blown right into the pool. Also avoid evergreens such as live oaks and pines. They may seem like a good choice but they drop needles, pine cones, flowers, and acorns for months.

Also make sure to take your privacy into consideration and set up a fence or a large trellis to block the view of passer-bys or your neighbor’s window.

And lastly, while you are deciding on your pool landscaping, talk to your local nursery about plants that tend to do well in your climate and soil. Be sure to tell that you are landscaping around a pool and ask how far away the plants should be. They are the professionals and should be able to offer some very good advice. Landscaping your pool doesn’t have to be a chore. In actuality, it should add to the beauty of your pool and make it that much more enjoyable!

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Why is Landscaping Important

November 04, 2021   Matt

Why is Landscaping Important?

If you haven’t thought of landscaping your lawn yet, you
probably might not grasp the reason why others do it to
their own homes.

Well, there are a number of reasons why some homeowners
have their lawns landscaped and we have listed some of them
in this article.

1. Aesthetics

– there are some homeowners who want to improve their
house’s appearance by having their lawns landscaped. After
all, who wants to have a dull-looking yard, much less an
unkempt one?

2. To make the property look unique

– a well-landscaped lawn is one that attracts the
neighbors’ attention. In this aspect, landscaping one’s
lawn is important in giving a particular household an
identity, something that will set them apart from their
neighbors.

3. To increase the property’s value

– while landscaping can have aesthetic benefits on the
lawn, it can also help in increasing the value of the
property. This is especially important for those who wish
to just improve the house and sell it later on.

4. Landscaping can cut energy costs

– it is a well-known fact that shade from trees can
dramatically lower the temperature in a particular area.
This spells a lot of savings in air-conditioning expenses
in households who have trees on their yards.

As you see, there are a lot of reasons why people choose to
landscape their lawns. While those mentioned above are only
a few of them, there are others more that make landscaping
such a good idea in any household.

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How and Why You Should Buy Pool Safety Equipment

October 30, 2021   Matt

How and Why You Should Buy Pool Safety Equipment

Are you interested in installing an aboveground or inground pool in your yard? If so, now is the time to familiarize yourself with pool safety. Certain pool safety steps, such as the installation of a pool fence, are not only recommended, but often required by law.

As previously stated, law may require some pool safety steps. The most common being the installation of a pool fence. This fence typically needs to be at least four feet high, fully surrounding the pool, and have a lock or latch. In recent years, some states have started mandating the use of a pool alarm.

Another one of the many reasons why you and all other homeowner should look into pools safety equipment is because it can reduce your liability. In the event of a pool accident, you may be held liable if neglect is found. Neglect may involve not taking steps to make sure that your pool is safe for young children. Liability can be risky and costly.

Perhaps, the greatest reason why you should take pool safety steps is because those steps can help to keep others safe. If you are a parent or if you have small children in your home, such as grandchildren, it is important to keep your pool safe. This involves making it difficult to access. The good news is that there are a number of tools and equipment pieces on the market today that can help you do so.

As previously stated, pool fences are often required by law. You can easily determine so by contacting your town, village, city, or county government officials. Although many fences must have a lock and be at least four feet high, you should have the freedom to choose your own style and design. Pool owners, like yourself, often opt for aluminum, chain-linked, wrought iron, and mesh fences.

In terms of pool alarms, they are usually optional, but many states are now starting to require them in pools with depths of two feet of water or more. Pool alarms are considered a must have, especially for inground pools. This is because the alarm will sound when a disturbance occurs in the water, such as when someone falls in. Since most drowning accidents occur when no one is in the pool, all parents should outfit their pools with an alarm.

Pool safety covers are another piece of equipment that comes highly rated and recommended. Most safety covers are designed for inground swimming pools, as they tend to pose the most danger. In terms of safety and ease, automatic vinyl pool covers are recommended. A simple turn of the key and your swimming pool can be protected each and everyday, not just during the winter months.

Now that you know what type of pool safety steps can be taken, you may be curious as to how you find and buy these items. You should have a number of different buying options. All swimming pool accessories, including safety equipment, can be found available for sale online. As for local shopping, specialty pool stores, home improvement stores, and department stores should be visited.

As an important, lifesaving reminder, the above mentioned items are designed to assist you in keeping your pool safe. With that in mind, nothing replaces the watchful eye and close supervision of an adult.

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