Shielded Vs Unshielded Ethernet Cables: Demystifying EMI and RFI Protection
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The digital world is running with an upgraded Tech world and the bulk ethernet cables are silently providing the bridge to transfer trillions of data worldwide. One type of ethernet cable is famous for securing 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps over different lengths — Cat6 Plenum Ethernet Cable.
Cat6 Ethernet Cable has two variants — UTP Cat6 Ethernet Cable and Cat6 Plenum Shielded Cable. However, there is a major difference between shielded Vs unshielded ethernet cables, which are used in different types of environments to fight against various odds.
So, quickly let’s learn what EMI or RFI is and how they affect the harmony of data cables. The upcoming information combines technical and in-depth knowledge for a better understanding.
Troublemakers — EMI and RFI
Consider the Cat6 Ethernet Cable’s conductors source of highway that is used to transfer the bulk traffic to and fro. EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) and RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) are the noisy trucks that create traffic jams or cause delays in transferring the Data Packets. The source of EMI is caused due to the electrical noise generated by heavy machines, generators, lighting, etc. The RFI as the name implies is generated from radio waves and Bluetooth devices and can compromise the speed, frequent errors may affect the major applications to limit its functionality.
Using a UTP Cat6 Ethernet Cable in the highly active EMI field is a slip-up as the cable won’t be able to hold the intensity of the EMI or RFI. There is another type of cable that can be the cure to highly active EMI fields. Guess Who?
Shielded Ethernet Cable — Fort Knox of Data Transmission
There are often spaces that are not enough to install the cables but still, you are bound to do so. Tight air handling spaces with electrical wires, power cables, or high voltage cables are the main reasons for generating an EMI active field to shake the signals.
Here is what a Cat 6 shielded plenum cable jumps in to secure the cable’s data transmission and to use this cable in the narrow spaces with other installed cables. The structure of the Cat6 plenum shielded cable is the same except for the extra insulation layer made of Aluminum Foil or Braided Mess. The general term for such cables is STP (Shielded Twisted Pairs) but to your knowledge, there are different acronyms to identify the Shielded Cable Type like U/FTP, F/UTP, S/UTP, S/FTP, SF/FTP, F/FTP, etc.
Where U stands for Unshielded, S stands for Braided Mess, F is used for Aluminum Foil, and TP is Twisted Pairs. The small description for the shielded cables is as follows.
- U/FTP — the whole length of cable is unshielded but twisted pairs are foil-shielded
- F/UTP — there is a foil shield to the entire length of the cable whereas twisted pairs are unshielded.
- S/UTP — Braided mess shield within the whole length of the cable where twisted pairs are uncapped (Without Shielding).
- S/FTP — highly secure cable the whole length is braided shielded and the twisted pairs are foil shielded eliminating entry of stray signals.
- SF/FTP — Another type of shielded cable that is highly secure due to the presence of Braid and Foil shielded and also with Aluminum Foil. The twisted pairs are also foil-shielded.
- F/FTP — the whole length of the cable and twisted pairs are foil-shielded preventing the outside signals from causing misery.
Besides this, the Cat6 Plenum Shielded cable has a Drain wire used for grounding to surpass the extra current and PE tape inside the insulation layer, a plastic transparent sheath. The twisted pair shows 6-7 twisted and the size of the conductor is 23 AWG for excellent transmission.
Benefits of Shielded Cables
There are various benefits of Cat 6 Shielded Plenum Cable which indicates that this cable is worth buying for the environments having active EMI ratings. The following are the benefits that make these cables a perfect package for speed and performance.
- High-Speed Data Transmission — get full-speed access to the Bulk Cat6 Plenum Cable and enjoy the top-notch transmission speed (Data Packets) to run operations smoothly. This is also countable for the highest bandwidth of 550 MHz.
- Longer Cable Length — The installation length is the same (328ft) but you can easily install Cat6 Ethernet Cable within narrow spaces.
- Durability — Get maximum durability with the FEP-rated plenum cable which protects the cable jacket from catching fire and the inner shield will protect against EMI or RFI.
- Superior Noise Reduction — With Shielded Bulk Ethernet Cables, you can forget about the Crosstalk (Signal Attenuation) which allows you to maximize the speed and potential of the Cat6 shielded plenum cable.
- Commercial and Industrial Use — Most suitable for factory areas, education sectors, and hospitals where EMI is common.
Unshielded Ethernet Cables — The Streamlined Contender
UTP Cat6 Plenum Ethernet Cable is a general type of network cable without any metal shielding and has the largest bending radius for installation in complex building designs. The source to reduce crosstalk in UTP cables are tight twisted pairs and spline (Twisted Pair Separator) to reduce pair-to-pair crosstalk.
When you buy a UTP Cat6 Plenum 1000ft cable for installation you can install the cable using the DIY method and it’s not challenging to install the UTP Bulk Cat6 Plenum Cable. Just terminate the cable using T568A or T568B wiring standards on both sides and just connect the cable to enjoy a fast internet connection. Make sure to manage the cable to avoid cable mess.
Tip For You: While termination, make sure to use the same wiring standards on both ends of the Ethernet Cable to streamline signal transmission.
Benefits of Unshielded Ethernet Cables
There are the main three most prominent benefits of Cat6 Plenum 1000ft unshielded cable and they are explained below.
- Cost-effective — Cat6 UTP Plenum Cable is available at a market-competitive price and is less expensive than F/UTP Cat 6 Shielded Plenum Cable.
- Maximum Availability — You can buy as many boxes of cable according to the length of the installation within the building. Available in multiple colors for cable management.
- More Flexible — You are challenged to install cable in narrow spaces but UTP Bulk Cat6 plenum cable can easily bend to avoid kinks within the conductor.
- Speed and Performance — They are best in spaces where there is a minimum amount of EMI or RFI presence.
Choosing The Right Cable For Your Needs
Shielded vs. unshielded Ethernet Cables both have different sets of usage under different circumstances to install cable in offices or houses UTP Cat6 Plenum Cable is more than enough. The installation with UTP cable will not burden your wallet but for your information, Smartech Cables is providing cost-effective cabling solutions.
There are two possible installing needs for highly active EMI or RFI spaces: you can choose the Shielded Cable like F/UTP Cat6 Plenum Shielded Cable or other STP cables like SF/FTP, S/UTP, etc according to your budget.
Final Thought
Shielded vs Unshielded Ethernet Cables are both different variants of the same cable having slight differences except in speed, conductor size, bandwidth, and performance. Cat 6 Shielded Plenum Cable is a demanding cable for residential needs to get the gigabit speed.
I hope this guide will resolve your confusion about both Shielded and Unshielded cables and now there is no confusion when buying the Cat6 Ethernet Cable.
