FTP cable is computer network cable where TP stands for twisted pair. This cabling consists of four wire, pairs of two wires each. Each pair of wires is twisted, which drastically reduces the chance of interference.
To achieve higher data rates, cabling needs to be increasingly shielded, the first step in this is FTP cable or Shielded Foiled Twisted Pair. The second step is the S/FTP cable, Shielded Foiled Twisted Pair. In addition to a shield per pair of wires, it also has a second shield around all pairs of wires.
Best FTP Cables:
What is an FTP cable?
An FTP cable or Foiled Twisted Pair cabling consists of four wire pairs which are wrapped with aluminium foil per pair. The wire pairs, like the unshielded UTP cabling, have been twisted. Each wire pair is used for one data signal. The twisting already prevents a lot of interference between the wire pairs. In order to guarantee an even better shielding between the signals, the wire pairs of an FTP cable are wrapped with aluminum foil. This allows this cabling to be used for higher data rate.
With an S/FTP cable or Shielded Foiled Twisted pair. the cabling shall be fitted with a second shield. This second shield is located around all core pairs and consists of aluminum foil or a braided shield. This shielding will provide enhanced protection against external interference. FTP and S/FTP cables are mainly used at high data rates and in an environment where many cables are side by side. When you start building new network cables at home, you can choose either FTP or the even more robust S/FTP cable. This also provides you with a guaranteed high data rate over long lengths.
Which FTP cable to buy?
Every computer network, including your wired home network, is based on the Ethernet standard. Within the Ethernet standard, twisted pair cables are used to connect computers to routers and Internet modems. A network cable connects two ports. The router or the internet modem ensures the correct distribution of data traffic. Over the years, computer equipment has become faster and faster. Until recently 100 megabits per second (Mb/s) was still the norm, nowadays every modern computer and internet modem has network ports of 1 gigabit per second (1 Gb/s) as standard. It will not be long before 10 Gb/s will become the norm. See also the overview below:
- Cat5e UTP 100 Mb/s (1GB/s with four wire pairs) up to 100 meters;
- Cat 6 FTP 10 Gb/s up to 55 meters;
- Cat 6a FTP 10 Gb/s up to 100 meters;
- Cat 7 FTP 40 Gb/s up to 50 meters 100 Gb/s up to 15 meters.
Currently, a Cat5e is sufficient for a 1GB/s connection, but this cabling leaves no room for the future. If you want to be prepared for the future, choose a Cat6 or Cat6a cable.
What to look for while buying a FTP Network Cable
When choosing an FTP cable, it is important to also look for a number of other features. Because a cable has damping, a data signal that propagates over the cable is getting weaker. Therefore, limit the length of the cable to the length you really need. Never make an FTP cable unnecessarily long. This will minimize signal attenuation.
FTP cables are available in many different colors. The colors of network cables are not normalized. You can choose the color you want. You can choose a neutral color for cables running through a room. Patch panels often choose different colors for different data applications so that cables are easy to identify. A network cable plug has a clip that locks the plug into the network port. When laying an FTP cable, this clip sometimes hangs behind the cable and sometimes the clip can be damaged, making the plug and cable unusable. To overcome this problem, Snagless FTP cables are available. The end of the clip is shielded with these cables.
Things You Should Know Before Buying FTP Cable:
There are some materials that the sheath of an FTP cable can be made of. The best known material is PVC. This is a smooth material. Another and less environmentally harmful material is LSZH, Low Smoke Zero Halogen. With an LSZH cable, the sheath is made of a thermoplastic with a special filling material. In the event of overheating or fire, this filling material causes a chemical reaction whereby a thin layer of carbon forms around the cable. This layer makes it difficult to escape the smoke and harmful substances. An LSZH FTP cable also does not contain fire retarding halogens, which can produce flammable gases.
To make the production of a network cable cheaper, CCA conductors, Copper Clad Aluminum, are used. The core of the wire is made of the much cheaper material aluminium and coated on the outside with the more expensive copper. High-frequency signals such as data signals propagate on the outside of a conductor, mainly using the outermost layer of copper
