What is UTP Cable?

The Internet plays a key role in our daily lives, from work to entertainment, from shopping to paying utility bills. Ever wondered how the world is truly connected to the Internet in both a mental and physical sense. The physical connection is achieved through UTP cables (Unshielded Twisted Pair). This twisted pair wiring provides a stable network for data transmission and phone calls.

Standard UTP cables consist of 100 ohm copper cables made of 2–1800 unshielded twisted pairs of wires that are shielded by an outer jacket. Since they do not have a metallic shield, the cable diameter is reduced, but electrical interference is not avoided. The twisting of these cables enhances immunity to electromagnetic interference and electrical noise. Within the jacket of the unshielded twisted pair cable, there are 8 individual wires twisted into 4 pairs. Connectors are placed at the end of these cables, commonly known as RJ45 plugs.

How UTP Cable Works

The shielded twisted pair cable consists of 4 pairs of copper wires wrapped in a plastic protective sheath. The greater the number of pairs, the greater the bandwidth. The two individual copper cables in a single pair are twisted around each other, and the other pairs are twisted together. This is done to minimize crosstalk and electromagnetic interference, which can degrade network performance in the long run.

Each twisted pair of wires in a UTP cable is color coded for easy identification. In North America, each wire in a twisted pair is identified by one of 5 colors: blue, orange, green, brown, or slate (grey). This copper wire is then paired with another different set of wires consisting of white, red, black, yellow, or purple. Typically, one copper wire in a twisted pair is solid color and the second copper wire is striped with its paired color. For example: a solid blue copper cable is paired with a white and blue striped copper cable. This will make it easy to identify and match them. Alexander Graham Bell invented this twisted pair cable in 1881.

Functions of UTP Cable

The main functions of UTP cables are as follows:

• Shielded twisted pair cables are used for network LAN connections, connecting computers with target devices like printers, modems, etc. It is not recommended to use them in places with high electrical interference as they do not have any metal shielding.
• UTP cables are mainly used for audio signal transmission of NVR (network video recorder), DVR (digital video recorder) and HVR (hybrid video recorder) components in surveillance security systems.
• Unshielded twisted pair cables are widely used in horizontal and backbone cabling subsystems.
• UTP cables are used as Ethernet cables and telephone cables for transmitting data and audio signals over short to medium distances.
• Unshielded twisted pair cables are also well suited for low-speed data transmission and do not require grounding.
• They are used for signal transmission in automation and control systems.
• They are used for dumb terminal connections to mainframe computers.
• They are cheap so they can be used as jumper wires.
• UTP cables are used in Gigabit media converters, fiber optic media converters, and fiber optic switches.

Different categories of UTP cables

• CAT1 cable is commonly used for telephone lines and it transmits data up to 1MBPS.
• CAT2 cable is the next lowest grade of UTP cable used to support digital voice and data communications, it transmits data up to 4 mbps.
• CAT3 cable is a three-level unshielded twisted pair cable used for Token Ring and 10BASE-T Ethernet applications, which transmits data at speeds up to 10MBPS.
• CAT4 cable has four pairs of UTP copper cables and is used in Token Ring networks. It transmits data at speeds up to 16MBPS.
• CAT5 cable is used for structured cabling for Ethernet, Token Ring, and Fast Ethernet connections, and it transmits data at up to 100MBPS.
• CAT5e cable is very popular and is used for Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, and Fast Ethernet connections, and it transmits data at up to 1GBPS.
• CAT6 cable is a premium UTP cable for Gigabit Ethernet and 10G Ethernet (55m) connections, it transmits data up to 10GBPS.
• CAT6a cable is also used for Gigabit Ethernet and 10G Ethernet (55m), which transmits data up to 10GBPS.
• CAT7 cable is the highest grade UTP cable used for Gigabit Ethernet and 10G Ethernet (100m), which transmits nearly 10GBPS of data.

UTP Cable Specifications and Performance

As the name implies, solid conductor unshielded twisted pair cables use a single solid conductive copper cable as the conductor. Due to its larger diameter, it has lower sensitivity to high frequency effects and DC resistance. These characteristics enable these UTP cables to support longer distance transmission and higher data rates than unshielded twisted pair cables.

Unshielded twisted pair cables are often preferred for use as patch cords in work areas and telecommunication rooms. Moreover, they are prevalent in most network connections using twisted pair wiring. When you look at the cross section of an unshielded twisted pair cable, you will find that each individual copper conductor is made up of a bunch of smaller sized strands. They are arranged in such a way that multiple wires (usually in the range of 6-18) surround a single wire in the center of the bundle. The outer conductors are arranged around the single wire through a twisting process. Together, they form a single copper conductor with a diameter similar to that of a solid conductor UTP cable.

Applications of UTP Cable

The different applications of UTP cables are:

• For LAN and telephone connections
• Ethernet connections for low-speed to high-speed data transfer
• Used to connect printers and modems to your computer
• For use in Token Ring and twisted pair Ethernet applications
• For OC-3ATM network and SONET applications
• IBM dumb terminal used to connect to mainframe computers

FAQ

1.Why is UTP cable unshielded?

Due to the absence of shielding, the diameter of UTP cables becomes smaller, thus easier to install and takes up less space than STP cables. UTP cables become cheaper as they do not require a metal cover similar to STP cables. These twisted pairs do not require any grounding to work effectively.

Designed to combat crosstalk, RFI, and EMI, UTP cables are used in almost all network architectures. They are ideal for use as patch cables. For home and office use, UTP is better than STP because they have less electrical interference.

2. How to connect UTP cable?

• Strip or remove approximately 2 inches of the Ethernet cable jacket.
• Untwist the UTP cable pairs, but do not untwist beyond the exposed area.
• Align the wires.
• Insert the copper wires into the RJ45 plug, making sure each wire is fully inserted into the front of the RJ45 plug in the correct order.
• Verify that the copper wires are in the correct order and make sure the cable extends to the front of the RJ45 plug and makes good contact with the metal connection in the RJ45 plug.
• Repeat for the second RJ45 plug.

3.What is the difference between UTP and STP cables?

4.Which UTP cable is most commonly used?

Twisted UTP cable is the most commonly used unshielded twisted pair cable in most network connections. The advantages it provides are:

• Much better flexibility than UTP solid conductor cable
• They have a longer shelf life than solid types and have good resistance to wear and vibration
• They can be used as jumpers
• Scratching and scoring effects cause less damage to stranded UTP cables.
• For more flexibility we can add more copper wire which is not possible in solid type.

5.What is UTP cable usually used for?

UTP cables are commonly used as telephone lines and Ethernet cables in telephone connections and LANs (Local Area Networks). It is used to transmit audio signals and electronic data. These are also used in horizontal and backbone wiring subsystems.

6.Why is UTP popular in LAN technology?

The main reasons why UTP cables are popular in LAN technology are:

• Compared to STP cables, it is cheaper
• Quick and easy installation
• A lot of space is saved due to the small size of twisted pair wiring
• Not affected by grounding problems
• It protects against RFI, crosstalk and EMI
• It works well even at lower data speeds

7.How does UTP cable transmit data?

Data sent over an unshielded twisted pair cable is converted into a binary code consisting of 0s and 1s. The device transmitting the data will send an electric current along the cable at two different voltages (0 volts and 5 volts). On the other hand, the device receiving the data will interpret these voltages as binary codes and then convert them back to their original format.

8. The difference between shielded twisted pair cable and unshielded twisted pair cable:

9.What connectors are used for twisted pair cables?

The standard connector configuration for unshielded twisted pair cables is the RJ-45 connector. RJ is the abbreviation of Registered Jack, which means that the connector follows the standards set by the telephone industry.