Gun safes have proven to be an essential item in any gun owner’s collection. Some of the newer models of gun safes now come with ethernet and USB ports inside them. Many gun owners bring their new gun safes home, open them up and scratch their heads, wondering why on earth they would need a USB port for their gun.
Why do gun safes have ethernet and USB ports? Essentially, gun safes have ethernet and USB ports so gun owners can charge their electronics, store hard drives and other devices, and connect equipment.
Companies who make gun safes found that it would be incredibly convenient for gun owners to use their safes for more than just gun storage. Now, they can use it as a home security base, a phone charger, and a way to keep a dehumidifier close by to keep ammunition dry.
Having a normal gun safe in itself is a big responsibility, especially if you are the owner. However, if you are a home or business owner on top of being a gun owner, obtaining a gun safe with Ethernet could be a vital investment for you. With this new innovation, you can have your own mobile security system all packed into a gun safe.
In addition to safety, having a USB port in your gun safe is extremely convenient. Electronics are great, but they tend to die quickly when they are exposed to extreme cold or heat. Having a USB port near your firearm is there simply for the sake of convenience.
Why Do Gun Safes Have Ethernet?
Before we talk about why gun safes have ethernet, I am going to explain what ethernet is. In a nutshell, ethernet exists to connect multiple computers to one internet network. Most home computers are connected to their network through an ethernet cable.
In an age of smart TVs, ethernet cables have become indispensable for avid video game players. Most video games today require some kind of connection to a network. If you look behind any video game console, tv or computer, you’re more than likely going to see an ethernet cable.
So, why do gun safes of all things have ethernet cables now? This cable that is typically used for fun things also has very functional and useful capabilities. These functions could range from security to protection from the elements, even just the simple sake of convenience.
Why Gun Safes Have Ethernet:
- To connect a computer or hard drive to a network
- To protect these devices from humidity, spills, trips, or pets
Essentially, having an ethernet cable port in a gun safe is convenient because you can connect a computer or hard drive to a network while simultaneously keeping it safe.
This is especially helpful for people who have mass home security systems, where you can monitor the safety of your home on a video feed. With an ethernet cable, the gun owner can connect a small computer into the gun safe, creating a small home security system.
Imagine if you are upstairs and you think someone is trying to break into your house. The computer you use to see the video feed of areas surrounding your house is downstairs. This isn’t a particularly ideal situation. You would have to prep your firearm upstairs before going downstairs to really see what is going on.
This is exactly what the ethernet cable is for. You can hook a small computer or tablet up to your home network and leave it in your gun safe. Now you can monitor the security of your home while being near your firearm, just in case you need to use it.
Connecting a hard drive to the gun safe is also helpful, just in case the system crashes. A hard drive works as a back-up, so it’s as if you have a replacement system ready to go in case of an emergency. An ethernet cable is an important tool if you have that purpose in mind.
Another helpful facet is the fact that the gun safe blocks out all harmful elements when closed. This is to avoid the wires being exposed to possible threats like children, food, liquids, pets, and even humid air in the spring and summer.
Humidity is detrimental to the function of guns and ammo. This is why some gun safes have power outlets. This is specifically for dehumidifiers. A dehumidifier can rid the air of extra moisture that can potentially corrode the weapon and its ammunition.
Although the outlet was intended for dehumidifiers, you can obviously use the outlet for anything else that needs to be plugged in. Think of the gun safe as a little generator or power outlet on-the-go.
Why Do Gun Safes Have USB Ports?
In some cases, it’s very possible that extreme cold or hot weather causes your cell phone or other electronic devices to crash. These devices can also die quicker depending on the climate. This is why gun safes now have USB ports.
Why Gun Safes Have USB Ports:
- To charge electronic devices like cell phones, GPS, or laptops
- To charge and store electronics that you would consider valuable
Having a gun safe with an added USB port is super convenient if you’re away from home, and you need a charge. Any number of things can happen like loss of power, the need for directions, or the need to use a laptop.
A specific situation I can think of is hunting. If you’re outside in an area that is particularly cold or hot, your devices could potentially crash or die unexplainably. Having a USB port in your gun safe gives you a way to charge your devices if you’re nowhere near an outlet.
Another valuable reason for having a USB port inside a case is so you can keep especially valuable items safe. If you’re traveling with valuable devices that are only intended for work, your gun safe is a great place to keep it hidden.
Some of these work devices could include a hard drive, a work phone, or even a private laptop. You can use your gun safe to charge and protect your work devices.
How To Use The Ethernet/USB Port On a Gun Safe
So, let’s say you’ve recently purchased your new gun safe, you took it home, opened it, and were utterly confused at what these ports were for. If you want to utilize the tools in your gun safe, but aren’t necessarily tech-savvy, all you need to remember are a few pointers.
How To Use The Ethernet/USB Port On a Gun Safe:
- Make sure you have the correct cables
- The dehumidifier works for both the weapon and electronics
- Don’t charge any foreign device you aren’t familiar with
- Don’t be afraid to contact a tech
First and foremost, make sure you have the correct cables. An ethernet cable is different than an internet cable. Any employee at a tech store can help you distinguish between the two.
Plug the ethernet cable into the ethernet port in the gun safe. On the other end, there should be either a computer or a laptop. You see, the purpose of an ethernet cable in the first place is to connect multiple computers to one network.
Obviously, your gun safe is just a gun safe without any kind of screen or computer in it. You’d only be using this feature if you have a home security system like ADT. A good device to place in your gun safe is something like a tablet, an iPad, or a small laptop that can fold.
This way, when you go to open your gun safe, you can be looking at the video feed you have around your house. You can be searching for possible intruders while getting your weapon ready.
For charging electronics, you would plug in your device just like you would anywhere else. Just be sure that you don’t accidentally lock yourself out of the gun safe, and don’t forget that you left your device inside it.
Since these new cable ports are for security purposes, it’s best if you don’t connect any device you are unfamiliar with. For example, don’t let your kid charge his Nintendo in your gun safe. He may go to get it by himself and be alone with the gun. That’s never a good idea.
Another example would be letting a stranger connect a hard drive to your gun safe. He could potentially plant malware or something even worse that you take home with you. Only let people you trust plug their devices into your gun safe.
Finally, don’t be afraid to go back to the weapon store you purchased your safe from and ask for help. All the wires and cables can get confusing, so there’s no shame in asking.
These new gun safes with ethernet and USB ports can prove to be very helpful. In addition to storing your firearm, it’s convenient to have ports inside it to charge your electronics or connect it to a network.
To summarize, gun safes have ethernet and USB ports for reasons involving functionality and convenience. The gun safe can now operate as a convenient charging station, connection to a network, and storage for devices.
If you have a home or business security network, consider investing an ethernet and USB-enabled gun safe.