Computer network cables come in two types: unshielded twisted pairs (UTP) and shielded twisted pairs (STP). UTP is the most common type, with six categories based on data rate. STP is older and less popular, used mainly in servers and mainframes. Different cables are optimized for different uses and can vary in size and thickness. They connect different components and serve as entry ports for data packets. Fiber optic cabling is also used but is specialized.
In general, there are two main types of computer network cables, namely unshielded twisted pairs (UTP) and shielded twisted pairs (STP). UTP cables are by far the most popular for individual use; most of the time, STPs are used inside servers and computer mainframes. The technology behind STP is older, and as networks advance, many experts expect these variations to be eliminated. They can’t handle Ethernet and cable connections, as they’re usually optimized for slower speeds. Most of the cables on sale today are of the UTP type, even if even here the choice is not always simple; there tend to be many different options and at least six different categories, each with their own specifications and ideal uses. People interested in buying network cables for home or office use are often wise to start by researching their options and understanding their differences.
Main goal and purpose
Computer networking is a means for machines to talk to each other, and usually a central server as well. While much of this can happen wirelessly, network cables and hardwired cabling are usually needed at least somewhere. Computer network cables connect different components and commonly serve as an entry port and carrier for packets of data and digital information. Desktop computers and laptops use them to connect to modems and other hardware like network printers, for example, and they are also used at the server level to connect various routers and hubs. Different cables are generally optimized for different uses and as a result can come in a variety of sizes, lengths and thicknesses.
Unshielded Twisted Pairs
Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) is the most common type of computer network cable in use today. It consists of four pairs of eight wires and is connected via an RJ-45 plug that looks like a large telephone jack. UTP is used by the Ethernet networking protocol and is what most people think of when they picture cables connecting computers to the online space.
Differentiate Categories
The Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronics Industry Association (TIA/EIA), a US-based standards-setting organization, divides UTP cables into six categories, depending primarily on the data rate each is rated to carry. TIA/EIA standards aren’t usually enforceable, but the group has a lot of traction when it comes to promoting uniformity in telecommunications both in the United States and around the world. As such, the six categories are generally recognized internationally. These range from Category 6, which includes cables rated capable of sending data at speeds of 1 gigabit per second, to Category 2, which only sends data at speeds of 4 megabits per second. Category 1 is reserved for base phone use.
Categories 5, 5e and 6 are the most common varieties found in ordinary use, i.e. in homes and for personal network uses. Category 6 cable is the fastest standard for UTP. It differs from Category 5e in that it has better resistance to electrical noise and external interference, also known as crosstalk. Category 5, which is not limited to just four pairs but could have up to 100 pairs in a so-called “backbone application,” has been replaced by Category 5e. Category 4 is used in Token Ring networks and, as such, is no longer in general use. Category 3 is still used in some telephone installations and in Power over Ethernet (PoE) applications.
Category 7 cable has been proposed as a standard to enable data transmission at 10 Gbps. However, it is technically shielded twisted-pair (STP) cable and needs a different connector than older UTP connectors. In November 2010, equipment manufacturers decided to continue using the RJ-45 plug for their 10 Gigabit Ethernet products. Category 7 is not recognized by the TIA/EIA.
Scenarios for shielded twisted-pair cables
STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) cables are used by the Token Ring network protocol. This type of wiring is basically two pairs of four wires, with a copper braid or metal shield around the wires. While still used in some installations, it is being phased out by the growth of Ethernet and UTP computer network cable. There are other types of network cabling in use, such as fiber optic cabling; these cables are quite specialized, however, and are no longer in general use in most places.
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