Cat 5 UTP Cable
UTP is one of the oldest technologies used in making cables. It has been in
used since the late 1880s when the telephones gained their early prominence,
and have remained as the first choice for cable connections since then. The
introduction of the Ethernet network technology decades later only put more
impetus on the need of the UTP cables. Today, almost the whole of America uses
UTP cables as a standard, and the other variations, such as FTP and STP have
simply remained as chance occurrences. All Cat 5 cables use the UTP technology.
What is UTP actually?
UTP stands for Unshielded Twisted Pair. In the Cat 5 UTP cable, there are eight
wires that are twisted around each other, two at a time, to make four pairs
of wires. These form the basic twisted pairs of wires in the Cat 5 UTP cable.
Unlike its other forms, FTP (Foiled Twisted Pair) and STP (Shielded Twisted
Pair), the twisted pairs in the UTP cable are not themselves surrounded to separate
them from each other. That, in fact, gives them their name.
What are the advantages of the Cat 5 UTP Cables?
To understand this, we will need to elaborate a little on the principles of
electromagnetism. Each wire produces a magnetic field around it when electric
current is passed through it. Now, in a cable, there are several wires. Hence,
each wire will produce a magnetic interference with the other. The result will
be that the final transmitted data could be seriously distorted.
Twisted pair technology helps to mitigate this distortion. When the wires are
twisted, the effective magnetic area is reduced as it is within the loop. Also,
since the wires are twisted over each other in a complementary fashion, they
will almost cancel out the magnetic interference that each other produce. Twisted
pairs are used with differential twisting, so that they can be more effective
at reducing interference from distorting the transmitted data.
The following are some of the main benefits that we get with Cat 5 UTP cables:-
- They are designed in such a manner that the data transmitted is absolutely
clear and free from any crosstalk disturbance.
- The twisting makes the cables smaller in size. As a result, it becomes easier
to pass them through wiring ducts, such as those used in concealed home wiring.
- They are also light in weight, and compacted. This makes it easier to pass
through ceilings and along walls.
- The Cat 5 UTP cables are much cheaper than other cables. So they become
economical for home wiring.
What are the uses of Cat 5 UTP Cables?
The Cat 5 UTP cables are used in a major way in the telecommunication industry.
Most of the telephonic lines use these cables. Today, most Ethernet connections
in offices and homes also use Cat 5 UTP cables.
What are the precautions to take in Cat 5 UTP cabling?
The most important precaution to take is that the twisting should remain intact.
The twisting is the basis for canceling out the crosstalk interference. Hence,
even when laying out the cables, it is important that they should be arranged
with minimum bending and stretching. Care must be exercised when pulling the
Cat 5 UTP cables out of wiring ducts.
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