OFF THE TOP

As I hope many of you know, 2019 marks the 25^th anniversary of Comstar Supply. It’s quite the journey to think back to the single-wide trailer my dad first occupied and called himself Comstar Supply. With 3 product lines and a pocketful of contacts my dad started a business that has grown into 2 locations and nearly 50 full-time employees.

You’ll be able to read the full story about the inception of Comstar shortly, but in the meantime, we’ll celebrate not only 25 years, but the life and memory of my father, with the second Quinquennial Earl S. Punchard Golf in late September. While the golf tournament honors his name, all profits generated by the tournament are donated directly to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

Our first tournament in 2014 raised more than $100,000 making it the largest, non-affiliated CHOP fundraising event in its history. With the support of vendors, suppliers, and customers, the goal is to raise $250,000 this year. So, if you would like to contribute and help us reach our goal, simply visit http://espchop.org/sponsorships to make a donation.

Raleigh, NC warehouse

In addition to these two milestones in 2019, there have been a number of other exciting things happening at Comstar this year. We’ve expanded our operations in North Carolina, adding headcount to our Raleigh location to support new customer demand in that area. We’ve added new sales and technical resources in Philadelphia dedicated to find the best solutions for our customers network construction challenges. And we’ve completed an expansion project at our headquarters location to nearly double our office space.

Beyond that we feel the telecom industry has rebounded slightly this year as we move towards 5G and beyond. What’s looming is the last-mile fight between pole owners and incumbents on one side vs. network operations and upstart carriers looking to build network. With regulation and labor shortages continuing to be an issue, we remain committed to introducing new technologies and tools that can help overcome new challenges our customers are facing. So, an exciting couple of months ahead for sure as we celebrate Comstar's 25th anniversary.

As always, a sincere thank you to our customers, suppliers, manufacturers and partners - and of course the employees of Comstar. I look forward to a strong finish to the year together!

Chad Punchard
President, Comstar Supply

August 2019 Product Updates

There are three products we’re highlighting in our most recent email newsletter. 

EXFO Optical Xplorer

The world’s first Optical Multimeter is here, and it’s going to solve many of today’s problems with network deployment.

Putting greater visibility in the hands of techs on the front lines without breaking the bank is the goal of the Xplorer. Not only is it a device that can troubleshoot recently deployed networks and give a “go-no-go” diagnosis, it also serves as an excellent tool for qualifying reels of fiber in your inventory. The Optical Xplorer is not an OTDR, yet it is so much more than a power meter.

EasySplicer MK2

The EasySplicer MK2 offers the most robust and affordable solution for your service drop technicians in the field. Its compact size will easily fit in tool bags and backpacks with all the essential tools for fiber installation. Pair the EasySplicer MK2 with the new OX-1 Optical Multimeter from EXFO for a complete, simple splice and test solution for under $6000. Empower your technicians to do the work you always wanted them to do, at the price you always wanted to pay.

Commscope OFDC

Densification and building fiber rich networks to enhance mobility is placing high demand on connectivity at the edge of the network. The OFDC enclosure from Commscope addresses some key issues with adding multiple devices at the edge.

Discreet egress ports for drop fibers are sealed using Commscope’s patented gel seal technology, allowing technicians to easily install and test new connections to the network without disturbing the main distribution cable.

And instead of landing a heavy NEMA rated aluminum or steel enclosure on a pole, the OFDC can provide fast deployments with a fraction of the cost. Standard connector types are utilized inside the enclosure, making it easy to obtain drop cables at any custom lengths in short order.

To learn more or see a sample of any product in the Comstar Supply portfolio, please contact your Comstar Sales Representative today.