Overview
Twisted pair is the most common type of cabling used in modern LANs. The twisting of the wires reduces 'crosstalk' between pairs and interference from external sources.
Categories
- Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP): Most common, used for standard Ethernet.
- Shielded Twisted Pair (STP): Includes extra shielding for high-interference environments.
- Cat5e/Cat6/Cat6a: Standards defining performance and speed capabilities.
Connectors
Almost all twisted pair networking uses RJ45 connectors.