RFUTP vs STP Cables: Shielded and Unshielded Twisted Pair
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Twisted pair cables consist of two insulated wires twisted together. This twisting reduces electromagnetic interference and crosstalk between the cables. There are two main types: unshielded (UTP) and shielded (STP). Let’s compare them.
UTP | Unshielded Twisted Pair
- It is one of the type of twisted pair cable, the other type is STP (Shielded Twisted Pair).
- It is most commonly used as copper telephone wiring.
- It is a medium which is composed of pairs of wires.
- Each of the 8 individual copper wires in UTP cable is covered by insulating material. In addition, wires in each pair are twisted around each other.
- UTP cables are available in category-1 to category-6.
- UTP cable relies on cancellation effect produced by twisted pairs to limit signal degradation caused by EMI and RFI. Moreover, number of twists in wire pairs are used appropriately to reduce the crosstalk.
- It offers speed or throughput of about 10 to 1000 Mbps.
- It offers maximum cable length of about 100 meters.
EIA/TIA classifies UTP cables into the following 7 categories:
| UTP category | Description |
|---|---|
| Category-1 | Consists of cables which carry voice and not the data. |
| Category-2 | Consists of 4 twisted pair UTP cables which can transmit data upto 4 Mbps |
| Category-3 | Consists of 4 twisted pair UTP cables with three twists per foot which can transmit data upto 10 Mbps |
| Category-4 | Consists of 4 twisted pair UTP cables which can transmit data upto 16 Mbps |
| Category-5 | Consists of 4 twisted pair UTP cables which can transmit data upto 100 Mbps |
| Category-5e | Enhanced version of category-5 for larger networks |
| Category-6 | Used for gigabit ethernet |
STP | Shielded Twisted Pair
- It is one of the type of twisted pair cable, the other type is UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair).
- It is similar to UTP in which wire pairs are twisted around each other. In addition, it has shielding around the cable to protect it from external interference. Here shield functions as ground.
- It combines techniques of shielding, cancellation and wire twisting.
- Each pair of wires is wrapped in a metallic foil. The four pairs of wires are wrapped in an overall metallic foil usually 150 Ohm cable.
- STP cable reduces electrical noise within the cable and from outside of the cable (e.g. EMI, RFI).
- It supports maximum segment of length about 100 meters.
- It offers speed or throughput of about 10 to 100 Mbps.
- Media and connector size: Medium to large
- Average cost per node: moderately expensive
Difference between UTP and STP
The following table highlights the key differences between STP and UTP cables in terms of shielding, interference resistance, cost, flexibility, ease of installation, transmission distance, security, and availability/compatibility.
| Features | UTP | STP |
|---|---|---|
| Shielding | Lacks shielding | Utilizes shielding layer around twisted pairs |
| Interference resistance | More susceptible to EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interference) and RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) | Better resistance to external EMI and RFI |
| Cost | Cost effective | Generally more expensive due to shielding |
| Flexibility | Thin and flexible | Thicker and less flexible |
| Ease of Installation | Easier to handle and install | More challenging due to thickness and rigidity |
| Transmission Distance | Typically has shorter maximum transmission distances | Supports longer transmission distances, especially at higher frequencies |
| Security | Offers less inherent security due to lack of shielding | Provides some level of security against signal interception due to shielding |
| Availability and Compatibility | Widely accepted standard for Ethernet networking, highly compatible with networking equipment | Less commonly used, but still widely available and compatible |
Conclusion
From our comparison between UTP vs STP we can conclude that STP cables offer superior protection against interference but come at a higher cost and may be more challenging to install. UTP cables, on the other hand, are more cost-effective and easier to work with but are more susceptible to interference. The choice between STP and UTP depends on factors such as budget, environmental conditions, and performance requirements for the specific networking application.
