Twisted Pair Cables
#Summary - In this blog we will learn about What is Twisted Pair Cables, Types of twisted pair cable and advantages and disadvantages of Twisted Pair Cables.
#Twisted Pair Cable - Twisted Pair Cables are pairs of wires twisted around each other forms a twisted pair cable to reduce crosstalk. A number of twisted pair wires are placed inside a protective sheath to form a cable.
Whenever signal passes through a wire, an electromagnetic field is generated around it called as Loop. When other wires comes into the loop, the signals pass onto them,. Thus the signals of both the wires get jumbled with each other. this Phenomenon is known as Crosstalk.
To avoid this, two wires are wounded across each other where one wire acts as a ground and absorbs the electromagnetic field of the other wire. This reduces the problem of Crosstalk which is an internal noise.
#There are two types of Twisted Pair cables -
1. Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
2. Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)
1. Unshielded Twisted Pair -
*A pair of unshielded wires wound around each other is known as UTP.
*An UTP is a pair of copper wires wound by plastic insulators.
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| UTP Cable |
*UTP is a cheapest form of cables available of networking purpose.
*It is mostly used in LAN environments.
*The installation cost of the cable is very cheap as it is easy to install.
*UTP cables are divided into different categories namely :-
a) Cat 5 - defines a cable that can carry data upto 100 Mbps. The Signalling frequency of this cable is up to 100 MHz. this type of cable is primarily used in today's networking environments.
b) Cat 5e - Defines a cable that can carry data up tom 1000 Mbps with a signalling frequency of 100 MHz. It is used to connect computers, hubs, Switches and print server's.
c) Cat 6 - Defines a 4-pair cables that provides an improved performance as compared to cat 5e. Data is transferred at the rate of 1000 Mbps with a signalling frequency of 250 MHz.
d) Cat 6a - Support 10 Gbps applications with a signalling frequency of 500 MHz.
e) Cat 7 - Defines a fully shielded twisted pair cable that operates at the signal frequency of 600 MHz. Fully shielded means all the four pairs of a cable have additional shield over them.
#Advantages of UTP Cable -
- Cheapest form of cable available for networking purpose
- Easy to handle and Install
- Highly prone to crosstalk
- Unable to provide secure transmission of data
- Highly prone to external interference like EMI and RFI
*A pair of wires around each other and each pair is placed inside a protective foil wrap to protect is from crosstalk. These wires are placed in an outer copper braid to protect it from external interference.
*STP is less susceptible to external interference as the shielding absorbs all the EMI and RFI signals.
*STP can be used in environments that the near electrical units and radio towers.
*STP is cheaper than fiber optic cables but more expensive than UTP.
*These cables are also siutable for places that are sensitive to electrical current, Example - Laboratories.
*High Security buildings with varioes types of equipments will also benefit by using an STP cable.
*STP provide better protection from crosstalk and other interference as compared to UTP.
*The STP Cable types are Cat 5, Cat 5e and Cat 6.
#Advantages of STP Cable -
- Better protection from external interference
- Better protection from crosstalk
- Costlier that UTP
- Difficult to install as compared to UTP
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