Utp Crossover
There are two kinds of crossover cables: UTP and STP. Both acronyms describe the shielding of the wires within the cable. An unshielded twisted pair cable is more common, simply because it is easier to work with and is less expensive than the shielded version. It is typically used in ethernet connections as well as for wiring telephones. A UTP crossover cable is made to be used as a two-way street for information, as data can flow both ways without interference. There is a difference between the UTP cable used in telephone networking and the one used for ethernet networking. Other differences are present between the categories of cables as well.
An unshielded twisted pair crossover cable is much cheaper and easier to work with than a shielded one. The twisted pair in the name refers to the fact that a pair of wires within the cable are twisted to help minimize interference. This allows the cable is be used as a crossover cable.
The reason why a crossover UTP cable is so useful is because it allows data to be transmitted between two of the same types of devices, such as PC-to-PC or router-to-router. Crossing over of the wires, the twist, will help reduce the interference of data as it is being transmitted both ways.
Two major kinds of UTP cables exist: those for telephone connections and those for ethernet connections. A UTP telephone cable has four wires within the cable and ends with an RJ-11 type connector. The ethernet cable, on the other hand, has eight wires and has an RJ-45 type connector at the end.
The different categories of cables also present their own differences. The oldest type, CAT 3, has the slowest data transmission, only going up to 10 megabits per second. The next type, CAT 5, is more standard and has a transmission rate of up to 100 megabits per second, while the enhanced version, CAT 5e, goes up to 1000 megabits per second. The differences in categories is quite profound, but a person should always go for the most recent version to get the best bandwidth.
By using a crossover UTP cable, a person can connect his or her computers together via ethernet. He or she can also use the same type of cable to connect telephones together. The differences between cables are major, but with the proper research, a person can find the right one for him or her to use.