Why are the wires within an Ethernet cable twisted?
“Why is Ethernet wire twisted inside?” is a subject that IT professionals and cabling experts are frequently asked. This riddle is around the operation of Ethernet cable and why it is referred to as balanced twisted pair. Let us unravel this riddle and discover the truth!
How do the twisted wires work?
The twists’ principal function is to reduce internal electrical interference. In effect, Ethernet cable has its own “shielding” built in. You may believe that unshielded Ethernet cable has no shielding and that protected Ethernet cable has shielding. This is just partly true. While shielded Ethernet cable, such as F/UTP has an overall foil shield, the cable cannot function without the “built-in” shielding of twisted pairs.
The purpose of the external, general foil shield is to keep outside electricity (magnetic fields or radio waves) from getting into your cable.
Every wire conductor produces an uneven electromagnetic field. As a result, one conductor may interfere with another. Given that gigabit Ethernet uses all eight conductors, this would be a terrible disaster if all the conductors began “talking” to each other. Cross-talk occurs when electrons are passed back and forth between conductors.
There will be a magnetic field encompassing every extension cable or anything that passes electrons through it to some degree. The magnetic field becomes smaller as the voltage decreases. The voltage in the Ethernet cable is relatively low, but it is still present, and the twists in the conductor pairs protect the cable from itself.
Each twist reverses the polarity of the conductors, canceling out disparities in their unique electromagnetic fields. As a result, electromagnetic equilibrium is achieved, which is why Ethernet cable is referred to as balanced twisted pair. We have achieved harmony. The couple is “quieter,” similar to a library. We can now converse with each other and genuinely understand each other.
What are the Reasons for Twisted Wires?
The Reduction of Noise
No engineer would tamper with equipment unless there was a benefit to doing so. The colorful wires are not twisted to make the conductor look odd; they are twisted to reduce unwanted noise signals.
Previously, telephone wires were not as elaborately or widely twisted as they are now. The pair of wires carrying or receiving telephonic signals would be twisted or their places on each pole would be switched. These poles were spaced at equal intervals and piled for several kilometers. The pole, now a relic from a brilliant era of scientific discoveries and advancements that saw the birth of what is now called “premodern” or even “modern” technology, can still be seen in rural areas.
The impulses sent over the two cables were of similar magnitude but polarity. As a result, if one wire carries a voltage +A signal, the wire parallel to it will carry a voltage -A signal. These are known as differential signals because the output of a receiver when they are received is the arithmetic difference of these signals. To generate 2A, the receiver subtracts A and -A. But why is this so clever?
Only in an ideal world would the receiver receive both signals A and -A without any noise. The environment will inevitably introduce noise into the cables, causing the signals to be corrupted. Noise signals, on the other hand, are injected without any polarity reversal: the source of noise induces a voltage component in both lines, say, +N, rather than +N and -N. As a result, the distorted signals received by the receiver are (A+N) and (N-A). However, because it subtracts both inputs, the resulting output is completely noise-free, as (A+N) – (N-A) = 2A.
However, it is based on a fallacy. It is based on the assumption that the amplitude of the noise created in the two parallel lines is equal. This is undoubtedly false, because the source may not be equidistant from the two cables. As a result, one wire would be subjected to more noise than the other.
One solution is to expose the other wire to additional noise, so making the two components equal. The magnitude of noise created in the two wires would be the same if they were regularly exposed to the source of noise turn after turn. This may be accomplished by twisting or swapping the wires!
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
Wires are no longer thick and taut between tall poles; instead, they are incredibly thin and commonly found taut or spreading between small, weirdly shaped boxes a century later. And, yeah, boxes and wires are connecting them all over the place.
The issue presented by so many closely spaced wires is that noise in a wire is now created not only by the environment but also by other wires in its vicinity. Electrons in motion, like those that make up a current in a conductor, emit electromagnetic waves. Electrons in the wire next to it can be disturbed by electromagnetic waves produced by one wire. Because EM waves are made up of oscillating or changing magnetic fields, an EM wave passing through a wire can generate a current in it. This is known as cross-talk, and the noise is known as electromagnetic interference (EMI).
Extensive braiding eliminates noise in two ways: first, as previously stated, equal exposure to the source ensures that most of the noise is canceled when the signals are subtracted by the receiver; and second, at each twist, the magnetic field produced by the wire changes its polarity, such that the currents induced are opposite in polarity, which eventually negate each other to produce effectively noise-free signals. Effectively, but not entirely!
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Cat5 vs. Cat6 Ethernet Cables: What’s Best for You?
Network LAN or Ethernet cables connect devices such as modems, routers, computers, servers, and switches to the web. These cables are something that organizations take for granted. They randomly pick a cable and use it to connect the devices, expecting quality connection and smooth operations. The fact is that the network won’t exist without a proper connection of the networking devices. So, it becomes significant to choose the right Ethernet cable.
When we discuss Ethernet cables, the two varieties that commonly come into the picture are Cat5 and Cat6, plus their common sub-varieties, Cat5e and Cat6a. Both the cable categories are good in their ways, helping different organizations to set up a strong connection. The only problem is finding out which cable is the right option for a particular organization.
The decision is very difficult because it’s about networking on which the operations of the entire company depend. To make your choice, we will discuss the differences between Cat5 and Cat6 cables. We will also give a brief of their sub-varieties.
About Cat5 Ethernet cables
Introduced in 1995, the Cat5 is the fifth generation of unshielded, twisted-pair Ethernet cable technology, which is also known as Unshielded Twisted Pair or UTP. Since its introduction, it has been the most popular twisted-pair cable.
This Ethernet cable contains four pairs of twisted copper wire that end with an RJ-45 connector, which plugs into a standard Ethernet jack.
The Cat5 Ethernet cables ensure high-speed internet with the ability to transfer data at 100 Mbps and 100 MHz bandwidth. In shorter distances, the cables run up to 2.5 GBASE-T.
Talking about Cat5’s sub-variety, the Cat5e offers Gigabit Ethernet speeds up to 1000 Mbps, and a bandwidth of 350 MHz Introduced in 2001, the Cat5e is compatible with standard Cat5 cables. Here, “e” stands for enhanced.
Physically, both the standard Cat5 and sub-variety Cat5e Ethernet cables look identical. The only difference is the Cat5e cables contain four pairs of copper wires instead of two. But, they are different in speed. The Cat5e cables are 10 times faster than Cat5 cables. A significant difference is experienced between standard and sub-variety cables in IT companies or companies dealing with a large amount of information.
The Cat5e cables are more rigorously tested than Cat5 to eliminate crosstalk or signal interference and are twisted more tightly.
Why should you use Cat5 Ethernet cables?
- Offer high-transfer speeds at a low cost
- Ability to transfer up to four signals in one-time
- Support Gigabit Ethernet
- Preferred for applications like networking, telephone wiring, etc.
- Come in both stranded form for flexibility and solid conductor form
- Easy installation without using any special tools
Why shouldn’t you use Cat5 Ethernet cables?
- Limitations in data transfer, only up to 100 Mbps of transfer speed
- Susceptible to signal noise from wireless devices, further reducing data transfer speeds
- Not recommended for network installations
About Cat6 Ethernet cables
Like Cat5e, the Cat6 Ethernet cables have four twisted pairs of copper wire with 250 MHz of bandwidth that support data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps (10GBASE-T). The distance is approximately 180 feet. The best thing about Cat6 Ethernet cables is that they are compatible with Cat5/5e and Cat3 cables.
The Cat6 Ethernet cables are also used for 328 feet but the maximum data transfer speed drops to approximately 1 Gbps. As the global standard for Ethernet cables, the Cat6 Ethernet cables are perfect for applications with substantial data transfer needs, including Internet of Things (IoT) setups.
Regarding Cat6a Ethernet cables, they have thicker, heavier construction than Cat6 cables. Here, “a” means augmented. The individual pairs of the wire have metal shielding to reduce interference further. They support 10 Gbps internet up to 328 feet at a maximum bandwidth of 500 MHz, which is double the bandwidth of Cat6. Most importantly, the Cat6a cables are compatible with Cat6 and Cat6e cables because of their shared RJ-45 jack.
Read About The 7 Best Ethernet Cables of 2022
Cat6a cables are used for applications outside data and telephony, such as automation and physical security systems like access control and CCTV. Also, these cables are preferred in networks with heavy data use but don’t need expensive fiber optic cables.
Why should you use Cat6 Ethernet cables?
- Have stricter performance specifications
- Speed of data transfer is significantly high at greater distances
- More tightly twisted than Cat5 cables
- Cable conductors and cable sheath are thicker
- Interior and exterior signal/ EMI interference is reduced to a greater extent
Why shouldn’t you use Cat6 Ethernet cables?
- More expensive than Cat5 cables
- Tend to be more than what an organization needs today
- Not possible to use in limited space
Cat5 vs. Cat6 Ethernet Cables: What’s Best for You?
Additional thickness/stiffness makes the cable less flexible and harder to work with
Cat6a are around 40-50% thicker and heavier than Cat6
As already stated, both Cat5 and Cat6 Ethernet cables are perfect in their ways. So, you should determine the needs of your organization before deciding on the best option. For example, if you have money and want higher data transfer, you should choose Cat6 Ethernet cables. On the other hand, if 100 Mbps speed transfer is enough, you should opt for Cat5 Ethernet cables. They will fulfill your requirements at a low cost.
Try to determine the requirements based on different factors such as industry, operations, flexibility, and others. To know more about Ethernet cables, connect with us via WhatsApp at 971585811786.