UTP Patch Cable
What is a UTP Patch Cable?
UTP stands for Unshielded Twisted Pair. These cables typically contain eight
copper wires inside them which are twisted in pairs. So, after the twisting,
you get four twisted pairs. The wires are individually insulated, but there
is no outer shield. In some cables, there is a copper braid that runs along
the inside of the cable jacket, enclosing the inside conductor part. However,
in UTP cables, you will not find this copper braid. Hence, they are termed as
unshielded cables.
The four twisted pairs of wires are mounted on a central plastic core. This
core is not only used for a central support for the cable, but a great deal
of the conductivity and flexibility of the cable depends on the nature of the
central core. There are two types of cables according to the type of the central
core used:-
- Stranded UTP cables - These contain a stranded core in the center. It is
made up of several strands of cores, bunched together to make a single central
core. The benefit of this is to provide better flexibility to the cable. Since
there are many thin strands, it is easier (and safer) to bend these cables.
- Solid core UTP cables - The solid core UTP cables consist of a single central
core. It is much rigid, and so, solid core UTP cables do not have much flexibility.
These are used mainly for the cables that run along the walls.
Patch cables are those that are used to make connections from the interface
of one device to the interface of another device. For example, if you were to
connect a monitor to the CPU, or if you were to connect two different laptops
to each other, you would need a patch cable. It is understandable that patch
cables will require greater flexibility, but length is not important. That is
why, stranded cables are the preferred choice in making UTP patch cables.
What are the different categories of UTP Patch Cables?
The main categories of UTP patch cables currently available are the Cat 5,
Cat 5e and the Cat 6. All three are equally popular, but the Cat 6 are the latest.
The Cat 5 UTP patch cables have been around since a long time, but even then
they are very popular in making 100BASE-T connections, while the Cat 6 UTP patch
cables provide excellent speeds for Gigabit Ethernet solutions. That is the
reason why most workplace environments use either Cat 5e cables (an enhancement
of the Cat 5 UTP patch cables) or the Cat 6. Cat 6 UTP patch cables are also
a good choice for future-proofing networks, since many platforms are poised
to go the Gigabit way in the near future. For home purposes, Cat 5 UTP patch
cables are the best.
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