Midland Networks provide Cat5 cabling & Cat6 cabling for business telecom & networking requirements across Birmingham, West Midlands & UK
Twisted Pair Cables: Shielded or Unshielded?
Without being an expert, it’s difficult to know which cables will be best for your network. Copper twisted-pair cables are the most popular cables in use today, and you can either choose a shielded or unshielded version. The best option for your business will largely depend on your usage requirements and the location of your premises.
Despite being inherently different in design and manufacture, the purpose of shielded and unshielded twisted-pair cables should, fundamentally, be the same: to provide reliable connectivity of your electronic equipment.
Electrical and electronic devices emit electromagnetic energy, which is sometimes referred to as radio frequency emission. These emissions are a by-product of electrical or magnetic activity. The emissions from one device can interfere with other devices, potentially leading to such problems as equipment malfunction, data loss and picture quality degradation. This is called electromagnetic interference.
Electromagnetic compatibility refers to the ability of electrical equipment to function adequately, without disturbing other equipment in the same environment. As well as emissions, levels of immunity need to be considered when determining how products should be installed in a given environment. Immunity is a measure of the systems adequacy at rejecting interference from other devices.
Due to the twisted pair design of the conductors, both shielded and unshielded cables provide a degree of protection against interference. However, the additional shielding on the shielded cables is specifically designed to reduce external interference and emissions at any point in the cable’s path. They, therefore, provide much greater protection against interference than unshielded cables.
Due to the additional materials used for the shielding, shielded cables are typically more expensive than unshielded cables. They can also be more costly on installation, since the shielding makes them more difficult to handle.
Unshielded cables will not necessarily lead to signal degradation and poor network performance, it really depends on the environment in which they are installed. When making the decision, you should think about the equipment that will be used in the surrounding environment. Shielded cables are a better option if your cabling will be installed in a demanding industrial environment, where the surrounding equipment gives off heightened amounts of electromagnetic interference. This includes settings where other types of cables are in close vicinity, such as mains supply cables etc. Also, if the cable network is located outside then shielded cables will be the best option, as they are more robust and resilient to harsh weather conditions.
Unshielded cables should be adequate for office Local Area Networks, or other similar network cabling systems.
The latest cabling solutions come in a variety of shielded and unshielded options. It’s worth consulting a reliable network cabling provider, for advice on the best cabling solutions for your business.
At Midland Networks, we offer a wide range of cabling solutions. We can conduct a free onsite survey to determine all the important infrastructure considerations, and advise you on the best cables for your network. Contact us on 0800 849 8585 for more information.