Unshielded Twisted Pair

Unshielded twisted pair is the most common kind of copper telephone wiring. Twisted pair is the ordinary copper wire that connects home and many business computers to the telephone company. To reduce crosstalk or electromagnetic induction between pairs of wires, two insulated copper wires are twisted around each other. Each signal on twisted pair requires both wires. Since some telephone sets or desktop locations require multiple connections, twisted pair is sometimes installed in two or more pairs, all within a single cable. For some business locations, twisted pair is enclosed in a shield that functions as a ground. This is known as shielded twisted pair (STP).

Twisted pair is now frequently installed with two pairs to the home, with the extra pair making it possible for you to add another line (perhaps for modem use) when you need it.

Twisted pair comes with each pair uniquely color coded when it is packaged in multiple pairs. Different uses such as analog, digital, and Ethernet require different pair multiples.

Although twisted pair is often associated with home use, a higher grade of twisted pair is often used for horizontal wiring in LAN installations because it is less expensive than coaxial cable.

The wire you buy at a local hardware store for extensions from your phone or computer modem to a wall jack is not twisted pair. It is a side-by-side wire known as silver satin. The wall jack can have as many five kinds of hole arrangements or pinouts, depending on the kinds of wire the installation expects will be plugged in (for example, digital, analog, or LAN) . (That's why you may sometimes find when you carry your notebook computer to another location that the wall jack connections won't match your plug.)

Learn more about Network Administration

Do you have something to add to this definition? Let us know. Send your comments to techterms@whatis.com

More resources from around the web: - Visit SearchNetworking.com for more information on Unshielded Twisted Pair.

FILE EXTENSION AND FILE FORMAT LIST File Extension and File Format List: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

RELATED CONTENT 2010 predictions: What IT trends will affect network administrators? In what way will network administrators be affected by IT trends? This 2010 prediction podcast from our networking administration expert explains how... How do I set the Web page default on a network of computers without setting them all individually? Learn how to set a default for a network of computers if a group policy isn't working. Instead of setting each machine manually, learn what else you... What IP enables file sharing among multiple computers on different Internet connections? Learn how to enable file sharing among a group of computers, as well as computers within separate workgroups, that are using four different Internet...

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary availability  (SearchNetworking.com) 1) In a telephone circuit, availability is the ratio between the time during which the circuit is operational and elapsed time. 2) In a network... carrier detect  (SearchNetworking.com)