Twisted Pair

Is the simplest type of cable compared to the others and is currently the most widely used as a medium of cable in building a computer network.

Physical Description

Twisted pair consists of two copper-sheathed wires are arranged in such a way as to form a spiral pattern. One pair of wire serves as a communication link. In the far distance, a single twisted pair cable bundles will be composed of hundreds of couples, the torsion of the cable will reduce the interference that occurs between the wires.

Application

            At this time the most common transmission medium used is twisted pair, for both analog and digital communications. For analog communications, twisted pair used for voice communications or telephone. Media that connect telephone terminal with LE (Local Exchange) is a twisted pair. For digital communications, media type is generally also used for digital signaling, connection to the digital data to the digital switch or PBX to the building.

Twisted pair is also often used for data communication within a local network (LAN). The data rate that can be handled by a twisted pair in data communications is about 10 Mbps, but in development, currently twisted pair has been able to handle the data rate of 100 Mbps. In terms of price, twisted pair is cheaper than two other guided transmission media and easier terms of use. But in terms of distance and data rate that can be handled, twisted pair is more limited than others.

Type Twisted Pair

As well as coaxial cable, twisted pair is also divided into two types, namely Unshielded Twisted Pair or better known by the acronym and Shielded Twisted Pair UTP or STP. As the name implies clearly that the difference between the two lies in the shield or wrapper. At STP cable in which there is a protective layer that protects the internal wiring of data transmitted from interference or disruption.

UTP cable is much more popular than the STP and the most widely used as a wired network. UTP organization specified by EIA / TIA or the Electronic Industries Association and Telecommunications Industries Association UTP categorize it in 8 categories. You may have heard of UTP CAT 5 and so on. It is one of the categories of UTP. The UTP category on the market today is the category 1,2,3,4,5,5 +, 6.7. As for the difference in this category, especially in transmission speed issues. In the first category or 1 can only transmit sound / voice does not include data. In category 2, the maximum transmission speed of up to 4 Mbps, to 10 Mbps category 3, category 4 to 16 Mbps, category 5 to 100 Mbps and paint 5 +, 6 and 7 was able to reach 1 Gbps or 1000 Mbps.

As an example of using UTP cable for everyday is telephone cable. One of the main reasons why this type of UTP cable is very popular compared to other cable types is due to the use of a telephone cable UTP cable. Many buildings use this cable to the phone system and no extra cables are usually installed to meet future development. Because this cable can also be used to transmit data and voice, hence the choice to build a computer network. What distinguishes anatara phone to a computer with the use of UTP cable is located on the jack or plug.

On computers that use RJ-45 cable connection can accommodate 8 sedangakan on phone use RJ-11, can accommodate 4 cable connections and smaller. More details can be seen a connection from your phone using the RJ-11.

Transmission Characteristics

For analog signal amplifier required for each distance of 5 to 6 km. For digital signal repeaters required every 2 to 3 km.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The advantage of using twisted pair media in a computer network is the ease of installation and build a relatively cheap price. However, within range and speed of data transmission on twisted pair is relatively limited. Addition, the media is easily influenced noise.