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UTP characteristics and performance

Short answer

UTP is the cheapest, lightest, and easiest to install, but has higher attenuation, lower bandwidth, and greater susceptibility to EMI than coaxial or fiber. It is limited to 100 m and used for short-distance LANs.

Describe the characteristics and performance of UTP cables over other guided transmission media.

UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) consists of pairs of twisted copper wires with a plastic jacket and no metal shield (Cat 3, Cat 5e, Cat 6, Cat 6A).

Characteristics

  • Typically 4 pairs with an RJ-45 connector; impedance 100 ohm; length up to 100 m per segment.
  • Frequency range up to 100 MHz (Cat 5e), 250 MHz (Cat 6) and 500 MHz (Cat 6A).
  • Data rates: 100 Mbps (Cat 5), 1 Gbps (Cat 5e/6), 10 Gbps (Cat 6A).
  • Twisting cancels part of the noise and crosstalk.

Performance compared with other guided media

  • Advantages: cheapest cable; lightest, thinnest and most flexible; easy to install, terminate and expand; widely available and standardised; suited to LAN use.
  • Disadvantages: higher attenuation and lower bandwidth than coaxial and fibre; more sensitive to EMI and crosstalk than STP, coax and fibre; limited distance (100 m); easily tapped, so low security.

UTP is therefore the first choice for short-distance LAN and telephone wiring, while fibre is used where distance, bandwidth or noise immunity are required.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Sonnet 5.5

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