A thin-diameter wire (22 to 26 gauge) commonly used for telephone and network cabling. The wires are twisted around each other to minimize interference from other twisted pairs in the cable (Alexander Graham Bell invented this and was awarded a patent for it in 1881). Twisted pairs have less bandwidth than coaxial cable or optical fiber.
UTP, STP, ScTP, FTP
Twisted pair cables are available unshielded (UTP) or shielded (STP), with UTP being the most common. STP is used in noisy environments where the shield around each of the wire pairs, plus an overall shield, protects against excessive electromagnetic interference. A variation of STP, known as ScTP for "screened twisted pair" or FTP for "foil twisted pair," uses only the overall shield and provides more protection than UTP, but not as much as STP.
Standed and Solid
Both UTP and STP come in stranded and solid wire varieties. The stranded wire is the most common and is also very flexible for bending around corners. Solid wire cable has less attenuation and can span longer distances, but is less flexible than stranded wire and cannot be repeatedly bent. Following are the twisted pair categories.
Shielded and Unshielded Twisted Pairs
The metal shrouds on shielded cable add protection against external interference.
The Twisted Pair
UTP, STP, ScTP, FTP
Twisted pair cables are available unshielded (UTP) or shielded (STP), with UTP being the most common. STP is used in noisy environments where the shield around each of the wire pairs, plus an overall shield, protects against excessive electromagnetic interference. A variation of STP, known as ScTP for "screened twisted pair" or FTP for "foil twisted pair," uses only the overall shield and provides more protection than UTP, but not as much as STP.
Standed and Solid
Both UTP and STP come in stranded and solid wire varieties. The stranded wire is the most common and is also very flexible for bending around corners. Solid wire cable has less attenuation and can span longer distances, but is less flexible than stranded wire and cannot be repeatedly bent. Following are the twisted pair categories.
Application
MHz=bandwidth
Cat Cable type Mbps/Gbps=maximum data rate
1 UTP Analog voice
2 UTP Digital voice up to 1 Mbps
3 UTP, ScTP, STP 16 MHz, 4 Mbps
4 UTP, ScTP, STP 20 MHz, 16 Mbps
5 UTP, ScTP, STP 100 MHz, 100 Mbps
5e UTP, ScTP, STP 100 MHz, 1 Gbps
6 UTP, ScTP, STP 200 MHz, 10 Gbps
7 STP, ScTP 600 MHz
Shielded and Unshielded Twisted Pairs
The metal shrouds on shielded cable add protection against external interference.
The Twisted Pair
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Samsung Sway SCH-U650 (Verizon Wireless)
- It's clear that Samsung loves two things: slim slider phones and midrange camera phones with a flip design. Indeed, we've seen a deluge of such models over the last few years, with the latest in the slider camp being the Samsung SCH-U650 for Verizon Wireless. Also called the Sway, (why,...
- Product reviews 2008-10-07
- DVDO unleashes Edge high-definition video processor/input hub
- Home theater fans who aren't satisfied with their HDTVs' built-in video processing and/or just can't get enough HDMI ports into their setups may want to take a gander at DVDO's new Edge, which combines technology from Anchor Bay to improve video quality while also doubling as...
- Blog posts 2008-10-07
- Samsung SCH-U430 (Verizon Wireless)
- Photo gallery:Samsung SCH-U430If you're looking for a basic flip phone with a VGA camera, you can always count on Samsung to deliver. Indeed, the company pumps them out by the dozen and the Samsung SCH-U430 is the latest of the batch. Sporting a simple, compact design and minimal features, the...
- Product reviews 2008-10-06
- Samsung HT-X710T
- We recently looked at the HT-TZ512T from Samsung, a solid home theater-in-a-box that focuses on DVD playback and offers wireless rear surround sound. The TZ512 also offers a few additional audio inputs as well as compatibility with various digital file formats. The HT-X710T, reviewed here, keeps most of...
- Product reviews 2008-10-06
- Polk Audio RM95
- Polk Audio engineers and designers are hip to the fact that everybody wants the smallest possible speakers. Big displays and small speakers are where it's at, and Polk's RM95 home theater five pack comes with four tiny satellites and a very compact center speaker for $600. You add your choice...
- Product reviews 2008-10-03
- Velocity 103
- We've seen plenty of Windows Mobile devices in our day, and at times they all start to blur together--same story, just different packaging. However, back at CTIA Spring 2008, a new company called Velocity Mobile caught our eye, impressing us with a fresh approach to the user interface. Recognizing that...
- Product reviews 2008-10-03
- Tales Runner (PC)
- Tales Runner PCTales Runner is a unique and magnificent new MMO Racing Game!Welcome Runners===============================================================Gameplay:===============================================================Tales Runner is not an MMORPG. It is an MMO Racing game. There aren’t a lot of quality games in this genre and I feel that Tales Runner will do extremely well because of its unique gameplay...
- Discussion threads 2008-10-03
- Nintendo takes a shot at Apple and Sony with the DSi
- Nintendo takes a shot at Apple and Sony with the DSiSomething to think about.Had gaming by some strange chance always been performed by touch screen and games had always been developed in this paradigm, would the same things be said about the interface if suddenly buttons were added to the...
- Discussion threads 2008-10-02
- Denon AH-NC732
- Bose has managed to persuade thousands of people to spend large sums of money on the company's QuietComfort 3 and QuietComfort 2 noise-canceling headphones. That has emboldened companies such as Denon--which can leverage its own highly respected brand--to come up with its own pair of $300 noise-canceling headphones. Alas, Denon...
- Product reviews 2008-10-01
- Netgear unveils new energy-efficient Draft N routers
- The networking world has finally caught on to the whole green movement, with Netgear following in the footsteps of D-Link in releasing new routers that claim to be more eco-friendly. The Wireless-N Router (WNR2000, pictured) and Wireless-N Modem Router (DGN2000) both come packaged in material that's at...
- Blog posts 2008-09-29
- Will notebooks ever replace the desktop PC?
- Will notebooks ever replace the desktop PC?one word noSurely people will say ha i wanna have portability, mobility but when you have to work and mostly repair those toy because they are not computer they are toys ...replace a screen on a laptop if its out of warranty...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-29
- Can IT spending shift from reactive to proactive?
- Can IT spending shift from reactive to proactive?Reactive to ProactiveWell it is like this:I have been in the IT field for roughly 25 years and most companies treat the IT Infrastructure worse than the mailroom. As an experienced IT Professional, the IT is one of or the very last to...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-29
- Startup essentials: Dr. Pepper, coffee and accessories
- One of my Irregular chums started a GoogleGroup thread about what you need in a job that requires you work from a home office. The same can be said for the 1-3 person startup. The conversation immediately became a discussion of the merits or otherwise of different coffee making facilities...
- Blog posts 2008-09-26
- Samsung develops NaBee Wireless USB solution for digital cameras
- Cameras with built-in Wi-Fi haven't been as plentiful as you might expect, considering the extra step it eliminates of either plugging the camera into a USB port or inserting the memory card into a slot in order to upload photos. But this week Samsung along with chipmaker Alereon announced a...
- Blog posts 2008-09-26
- Motorola i365 - black (Nextel)
- If there ever was a Nextel phone, the Motorola i365 would be it. Big, burly, and bulky, the i365 looks as if it could withstand just about anything. Make no mistake: this is a serious phone for making voice and push-to-talk PTT calls. There's no camera or music player, and...
- Product reviews 2008-09-25
- Kyocera Tempo E2000
- We don't review many U.S. Cellular phones because the carrier is regional and not nationwide. However, there are several phones for U.S. Cellular that aren't available for other carriers, and the Kyocera Tempo is one of them. The Tempo is one of Kyocera's few music-focused phones released in the U.S....
- Product reviews 2008-09-25
- IBM expands cloud computing footprint
- IBM expands cloud computing footprintsecurity is a matter of trust==>which cloud will [I] trust?If you want me to trust you, then you must present a certificate with a digital signature, either a person to person, or b your certificate must be signed by a Certificate Authority [i]that I have signed...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-24
- CODi Phantom CT3 laptop bag
- The CODi Phantom CT3 is one of a handful of laptop bags we've seen recently that comply with recently released official guidelines from the TSA for creating laptop cases that can go through an X-ray machine with a laptop still inside. It's a potential win for any harried traveler who...
- Product reviews 2008-09-23
- Parrot Minikit Slim Bluetooth Speakerphone
- With its simple interface and slim profile, the Parrot Minikit Slim is a very attractive looking Bluetooth speakerphone. Dig a little deeper and you'll find an intuitive feature set that makes placing calls from the device simple. However, use the Minikit Slim for an extended period of time and you'll...
- Product reviews 2008-09-23
- Is Comcast plan suspect or 'reasonable'?
- Is Comcast plan suspect or 'reasonable'?UPGRADE YOUR NETWORK!You are certainly paid enough money to provide the services you are SUPPOSED to provide.If you can't, leave the business and let someone else step in. Please...RE: Is Comcast plan suspect or 'reasonable'?Nope. Its still unreasonable. They are still taking an antiquated...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-23
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- Printers
- 'Green' Font Cuts Costs and Saves Trees (BNET)
- Three Ways to Save Paper (BNET)
- CNET Reviews printer buying guide (CNET)
- View all printers-tagged content on ZDNet
- Plan B from Brother
- It's the smarter way to work in color Our professional color ink-jet all-in-ones give you more choices, more features, and more value. Make the Smarter Choice. Learn More »
