Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat Cat Cables STP vs SSTP

What is the difference between STP and SSTP cable?

I'm running STP Cat6.

Ken

SSTP = screened and shielded twisted pair.

What a very interesting thread this is. Thanks everyone for a very informed and high level of discussion!

[My comment here referred to the Lan isolator thread from which this one has been split. Without knowing that it does not make sense]

Explain cable constructions
Wiki

That's a useful summary that Robert has linked to but it's worth pointing out that one of the tables showing different cable categories and construction is only showing 'common' /'typical' construction and that this list is not exhaustive in construction for the different categories.

It is quite easy to glance at this table and think that cat5 is only UTP and that you need cat6a for shielding and/or screening but this is not the case. For most categories of cable, screening and shielding is a separate specification to the category and for instance, cat5e STP cable is commonly available if you specify it.

Another unfortunate issue is that some cable naming is often used quite generically so for instance one persons STP will be screened (common screen for whole cable) where as to another STP may mean shielded pairs.

Thanks Ian to clear things out here in more details.

Wiki refers(8) to some specs some specs differences between 5 and 5e. So for example the construction for a CAT5e is still UTP but have better specs or it's a different construction.

In my understanding the letters are abbreviations of the construction (in the standard only - in reality it get mixed with common industry abbreviations) so (for example) the Cat5e has to be still a UTP?

Can you bring up more light here?

Robert

Can we all agree that assuming that it's implemented correctly (termination, certification), there is no downside going with cat6a SSTP, beyond the possible wasted investment and aggravation of termination? Is there a case where using this is a downside/negative from performance?

Here is a good graphical display of the different types of cat 6A cables.

3M 6a cabling

Thank you