For the ultimate in shielded cabling, however, you should consider the latest and greatest Ethernet cable technology: Cat8 cables. These offer the highest network performance, managing up to 40 Gbps over 100ft, or up to 10Gbps over 300ft. Unlike other categories of cables, however, they are mandated to come with foil wrappings on the individual twisted pairs, so you’re guaranteed to get a high-quality shielded cable with a Cat8 cable from Cable Matters. Alongside that foil wrapping, they also include braided shielding. That does raise costs slightly, but not significantly so. Cat6a shielded twisted pair cable has a shield in cables to prevent electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio-frequency interference (RFI) from affecting the performance of the cable. It also prevents cable signals from interfering with surrounding cables and equipment. Properly installed Cat6a shielded cables automatically curb EMI and crosstalk, helping to ensure data integrity and high-speed performance. The Cat6a shielded cables must be grounded to work.

Unshielded cables, on the other hand, don’t have any of that. They’re more affordable, are easier to install, and are much lighter to work with. That makes them easier to carry around, and in extreme bulk, makes them cheaper to ship between locations, too. But which type of Cat6 do you require? Essentially, the choice of whether to use unshielded twisted pairs (UTP) or shielded (or screened) twisted pairs (STP or ScTP) largely depends on where you're installing the cable. Shielded cables can have shielding for each of the twisted pairs individually, shielding for all of the cables together, or both. Typically this comes in the form of foil or braided shielding, and there are lettered designations for each type. S/UTP: A shielded cable that uses a braid, or screen, around the entire cable. This doesn’t provide as much protection as foil shielding, but it is more durable. It’s also more traditional, and quite commonly found in older shielding cables. It can add considerable extra weight to the cable, though, which can make managing it a little more complicated.Whatever the source of the EMI, though, STP cables are designed to protect against it far better than unshielded cables. They achieve that through various methods of construction which provide better levels of protection. At the core of the cabling, all unshielded and shielded cables are built with twisted pairs of copper wiring. Those pairs are twinned deliberately to reduce crosstalk between them and the other pairs, but shielded cables go much further than that. The cost problem is compounded by requiring additional shielded hardware at the ends of the cables to fully protect against EMI, and some networks will require additional grounding wires to provide full protection. Plenum cable is used in spaces generally reserved for HVAC areas, usually under raised floors or above suspended ceilings within buildings. It has special insulation giving it smokeless and low flame characteristics. F/FTP: A shielded cable with a foil shield around the entire cable, and foil shielding around each twisted pair. This provides effectively 100% shielding against EMI, but the foil is vulnerable to physical damage over time. We recommend to use faceplates with full copper cables as oppose to crimping them for our plates see the QS numbers below:

The choice of shielded vs. unshielded cables is at least relatively straightforward: if you are concerned about the sanctity of your data on your network, get shielded cables. If your network is in a busy location with lots of other electronic devices, particularly heavy machinery and air conditioning units, then get shielded cables. If aren’t sure whether you need shielded cables or not, just play it safe and get shielded cables.

A Cat6 patch lead or cable, also known as a straight-through cable, is used for connecting devices of different types, like a computer to a switch or hub. Unshielded cables are a lot more straightforward than their shielded counterparts. Often called UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) these cables offer the same bandwidth, cable lengths, and outputs as shielded cables, but don’t feature the EMI protections of their shielded cousins.

Cat 6 cable consists of four twisted pairs of copper wires that are tightly wound together to minimize signal interference. Each pair of wires is color-coded and insulated, and the pairs are also individually twisted to further reduce crosstalk. The cable typically has an RJ-45 connector at each end, which is the standard connector used for Ethernet connections. Advantages of Cat 6 Cable For everything else, unshielded should be perfectly fine. Just be sure that even if you’re buying unshielded cables, you buy ones that are built to a high standard. That is cables with a solid copper core, not copper-clad aluminum, and if you want some additional rigidity in the cable (and some protection against crosstalk) get one with a spline too. As a rule, you will only need shielding when your cable is running through an area of high electro-magnetic interference or radio frequency interference (called EMI/RFI). This might be output by power line structures, large magnets or sometimes radio antennas. If you are not encountering a situation like this, then shielding won't necessarily give you any advantage in terms of a faster or clearer signal. In fact, it may make matters worse. You may already have decided that you need Category 6 Cable. Buying Cat6 cable means you will be able to receive up to 1 Gbps Ethernet transmission. Plus, Cat6 is essential for 1000 Base-T style networks. So far, so good.Ethernet crossover cable on the other hand is used for connecting two types of the same device together e.g. two computers. When Do I Need Cat6 Plenum Cable?

S/FTP: A shielded cable with a braided shield around the entire cable, and foil shielding around each twisted pair. This is the most common form of shielded cable because it provides nearly 100% protection while remaining strong and flexible. The main advantage of Cat 6 cable over previous generations is its capability to support Gigabit Ethernet (up to 1000 Mbps) and higher network speeds. It has more stringent specifications for crosstalk and system noise compared to Cat 5e cable, which allows for better performance and less signal degradation over longer distances. Applications SF/UTP: A shielded cable that has a braided shield around a foil shield, both of which protect the cable as a whole, while the individual twisted pairs are still unshielded. This is an effective combination of shielding for external EMI, which does less to protect against crosstalk between the internal wires. Our kenable Cat6 FTP outdoor cable is designed with FULL COPPER 23AWG twisted pairs and is Foil Shielded to ensure any interference is kept under control it also has a drain wire so can be earthed! Our cat 6 FTP cables also have a divider to separate the twisted pairs reducing cross talk. SF/FTP: A shielded cable with both a braided shield and foil shield around the cable, with foil shielding around the individual twisted pairs. This is the highest level of Ethernet shielding available, with strong external EMI protections, warding against crosstalk, and a durable braided shield to help prevent future damage to the shielding.Do I need STP Cat6a cable? If one or more of the following common scenarios applies, then the shielded cable is suggested: In addition, shielded cable, while not excessively heavy, can become weighty if you are running a lot of cables in one area. Heavy cabling run above a ceiling or behind a wall has been known to cause structural damage. Its inner film enhances the already weatherproof UV Resistant PE sheath and keeps away any condensation that may build up. Suitable for burying underground mounting to buildings or installing indoors the 7mm copper cable is durable and easy to install delivering gigabit speeds (subject to your network). Shielded twisted pair cables (STP) are Ethernet cables that feature additional protection against electromagnetic interference. That can be anything from heaps of unshielded wires bunched together, to the air conditioning unit running next to your cabling, to the leaky microwave in the office kitchen near your network. That presents a problem when it comes to transmitting important data, as EMI has the potential to disrupt it.