What are the general properties of twisted pair cable?

Answer 1

The twisted pair cable is a cable media link that consists of two copper wires twined together to reduce external interference, traditionally used in telephone lines and in the internal wiring of networks in buildings.

The twisted pair cable is inexpensive and readily available, but the signals can be easily interrupted by noise or interference. Twisted pair cables with better quality were developed to reduce this problem, such as the Category 5 UTP (unshielded twisted pair) which can handle text, graphics, audio and video. Category 5 UYP is less expensive than other mediums, yet at a cost of transmitting data at a slower rate.

Answer 2

Maximum length: 100 m

Baseband: 10/100/1000 Mbps (CAT-3/5/5e/6)

EMI protection: shielded (STP)/unshielded (UTP)

Toxicity: Plenum/non-plenum

On run length.

The above maximum is for Ethernet signalling, and this is required to ensure that Ethernet's collision-detection function will work correctly.

For voice-grade telephone, the run length is only limited by line loss due to cable attenuation.

Remote locations and rural/country properties are commonly many kilometres from local telephone exchanges, and the cable runs will be straight connections with no intermediate "booster" amplifiers/repeaters.

ADSL provision complicates the matter. ADSL runs at maximum speed for cable lengths under about 2.5 kilometres, ADSL2 begins to drop off at about 1.3 m (under a mile).

After that, their speed drops off rapidly, with a maximum of some 6.5 km (about 4 miles) the absolute limit for ADSL2 service.

Answer 3

A twisted pair cable consists of two copper conductors, each one with its own plastic insulation and twisted together.

Answer 4

1. gauge

2. configuration

3. bandwidth

4. error performance

5. distance

6. security

7. cost

8. application