What Is Cat5 Cable FTP?
Category 5 (Cat5) and newer Cat5e cables carry data through twisted pairs of wires which can be either FTP or UTP. FTP stands for "foil twisted pair." UTP stands for "unshielded twisted pair." FTP cables provide better data protection than UTP cables in certain high-interference environments.
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Basics About Twisted-pair Cables
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Cat5 and Cat5e cabling features multiple pairs of wires within each cable. Each pair of wires is tightly twisted together. This twisting reduces interference from other pairs of wires within the cable and from outside sources of electromagnetic interference, such as fluorescent lights or other electrical devices.
Advantages of FTP
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Some environments generate more external electromagnetic interference than unshielded twisted pairs of wires can handle. An FTP cable features foil shields covering the twisted pairs of wires inside the cable to shield against electromagnetic interference. As an added benefit, the foil strengthens the cables against physical damage.
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Disadvantages of FTP
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FTP cabling tends to cost more than unshielded UTP cabling due to FTP cables' labor-intensive manufacturing process. This expense might make FTP cables a better choice for permanent structural wiring rather than temporary wiring.
Ideal Environments for FTP
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High-interference environments that can benefit from FTP include: industrial facilities which use high-voltage equipment, broadcast facilities and buildings near high-voltage lines. Additionally, for any business where data reliability is absolutely critical, FTP cables deliver greater overall protection for data integrity than unshielded cables.
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References
- Photo Credit twisted pair cable image by Aussiebloke from Fotolia.com
