Cat 5 Wiring
Cat5e Wiring
Cat5 Wiring
Twisted Pair Cabling
Unshielded Twisted Pair Ethernet Cable (UTP) has been designed for use in voice applications and local
area networks. Because of the comparatively low cost, this cable is widely used and is
available in several different performance categories (CAT3, CAT5, CAT5e and CAT6). Over
90% of our copper installations are UTP versus shielded twisted pair Ethernet Cable (STP), which is
normally used in undusstrial applications.
Electromagnetic interference is present in all types of cabling to some degree. There are
two basic types of electromagnetic interference (EMI) that cable engineers worry
about-electromagnetic emissions and electromagnetic immunity. Emissions refer to energy
that is radiated by the cable, and immunity is the ability of the cable to reject outside
signals. In local area networks (LANs), failure to properly manage EMI can have an adverse
effect on the integrity of the signal being transmitted.
In an unshielded cable, careful design of the cable and the associated electronic equipment
results in a "balance" of the currents in the two conductors of a pair. That is, the currents
in the two conductors are equal in magnitude but flowing in opposite directions. Proper
installation and termination of the cable is also critical to maintaining this balance. In a
balanced system, there is very little radiation of EMI since the external field from one
conductor is effectively canceled by the external field from the other conductor of the pair.
Generally, the more twists per foot of cable, the better the cable is electrically balanced.
CAT 6 cable has more twists per foot than CAT 5 or CAT 5e cables and, therefore, offers
better protection from EMI problems.
See our Wiring Guide page for 568A and 568B cable terminations.