The local area network (LAN) cable is one of the most important components of the network because it does the work of transmitting information. Network cables or LAN cables consist of a set of copper alloy wires that connect devices and network equipment and carry out data transmission. The internal wires of the network cable are designed as twisted pairs and are covered with a coating of different materials. There are different types of network cables and different names for them. In this article, we will discuss the difference between FTP and SFTP network cables and UTP from an overview of the types of twisted pair cables based on the type of shielding, so stay with us.
The difference between FTP and SFTP network cables using UTP
The difference between FTP and SFTP network cables and UTP lies in their structure and application, so it’s better to know the reason for their names first to make it easier to understand the difference: network cables are made up of a series of wires. They are twisted, which is why they are called Twisted Pair (TP), and because the structure of the copper wires is the same in all types of cable, this term is repeated in the name of all cables. FTP network cable or Foiled Twisted Pair: In this type of network cable, the pairs of wires are often covered with a layer of thin aluminum sheet or foil, and the main jacket of the cable is placed on top of this foil. The aluminum foil used in this network cable prevents electrical noise, especially in crowded places. FTP network cable or twisted pair network cable with aluminum foil coating is very high quality and is used to transfer important information. SFTP network cable or Shielded Foiled Twisted Pair: SFTP cables are more protective than other network cables because, in addition to the foil that is stretched over the pair of wires, the shield is also used. In fact, it is placed on top of the foil and the shield. Shielded twisted pair cables are often used in industrial environments so that the protective layers do not introduce noise into the network. The difference between FTP and SFTP network cables is the presence of the same shield in the SFTP network cable and the high level of protection that this type of network cable can provide for data transmission. UTP network cable or Unshielded Twisted Pair: The letter U in the name of the UTP cable stands for Unshielded, which means without a shield. These cables are made up of 8 wires twisted together in pairs. This type of network cable is the simplest and, of course, the cheapest in the network, and as the name suggests, there is no protective layer on the pair of wires, and for this reason there is usually a lot of noise in these cables; for this reason, this type of cable is only used when the data is not very important.
The Difference Between SFTP and UTP Network Cables
- Difference between SFTP Network Cables and UTP Network Cables
- UTP network cable is more economical than SFTP network cable.
- The noise in UTP network cables is higher than in SFTP cables.
- In SFTP network cable, foil is considered for each pair of wires, but there is no foil in UTP cable.
- In SFTP cables, all pairs are protected, but in UTP there is no general protection.
- The weight of UTP cables is less than that of SFTP network cables due to the absence of shielding and foil.
- The meter of SFTP cable on the reel is more than the meter of UTP cable.
- The 45RJ jack of the UTP network cable is made of plastic and the jack of the SFTP cable is made of metal.
- UTP network cable is easy to install and does not require a ground wire.
The difference between UTP network cable and SFTP in use
UTP network cables are more commonly used than other types of network cable. Instead, SFTP network cables are often used in networks where the nature of the data is important and noise-free data transmission is required. The spool of UTP cable is usually 305 meters and the spool of SFTP cable is often 500 meters. If your network is close to power cables, satellites, noise and frequency, it is better to use SFTP network cable, otherwise UTP network cable is more suitable in terms of weight and price.
Network cable groups and types
Regardless of their construction, network cables are divided into several groups based on their bandwidth. These groups are called categories or CATs and the number associated with them indicates the version of the cable. The grouping of cables ranges from Cat 3 to Cat 8. Today, most cables in the Cat5 group are in use, and Cat6 cable is the most widely used network cable. Cat6 UTP network cable is mostly used for indoor (indoor) collections and Cat6 SFTP network cable is mostly used for outdoor (outdoor) collections.
What type of network cable should we use?
When it comes to choosing a network cable, the aforementioned differences between network cable types become doubly important. The first factor is the importance of the information to be transmitted over the network cable, obviously the more important the data, the more protection and security you need, so if your data is not that important, UTP network cables are suitable, and if data security is important to you, use FUTP or SFUTP cables. The second factor is where you are going to use the network cable, if there are electrical cables or devices that make noise near your network, use SFUTP network cable to reduce the amount of network noise. The next important factor is price. Naturally, the UTP network cable is more economical in terms of price due to its construction, so if you have a limited budget and data protection is not a priority, it is better to use UTP cables.
Final word
In this article, we have mentioned the differences between FTP and SFTP network cables and compared these two cables with each other and with UTP network cables. FTP network cables and SFTP network cables are considered to be the most expensive network cables on the market, and that is why they are used in places that are particularly sensitive and where the security of network information is important. UTP network cables are other types of network cables that have a lower price and of course provide less protection and security for the network, therefore UTP network cables are used in local networks and places where information security is not very important. .
