What Internet Cables to Use? Types of Network Cables. 

Internet Cables

Basic network cables forming the foundation of structured cabling systems are twisted pair copper cables and fiber optic cables. These are the most common transmission media, enabling the physical propagation of electrical and light waves for digital data transmission.  

Twisted Pair Copper Cables A twisted pair copper cable consists of four pairs of copper wires twisted together. Both the individual pairs and the cable core can be shielded – either separately, collectively, or both – with aluminum/polyester (Al./PET) foil, tinned copper braid, or a combination of these. The varying twist pitches help reduce crosstalk between pairs and protect the transmission from external electromagnetic fields. 

Which Internet Cable Should You Choose?

Internet cables come in various types tailored to different applications. Their construction determines the specific usage, while the cable category defines the essential telecommunication performance requirements for structured cabling. A key differentiator is the type of shielding used – whether individual, common, or dual-layer (using Al./PET foil and/or tinned copper braid) – which is particularly important in computer networks exposed to external electromagnetic interference.

Basic Variants of Network Cables by Construction 

• U/UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair): Features symmetrically twisted pairs of copper wires without any protective shielding. Suitable for standard networking applications with low electromagnetic interference. 
• U/FTP (Unshielded Foiled Twisted Pair): Consists of individually shielded twisted pairs using aluminum/polyester (Al./PET) foil, along with a tinned copper (CuSn) grounding conductor for improved protection against crosstalk and external interference. 
• F/FTP (Foiled Twisted Pair): Each pair is individually shielded with Al./PET foil, and an additional external foil shield encloses all pairs. A tinned copper (CuSn) grounding conductor further enhances EMI protection. 
• S/FTP: Comprises twisted pairs that are both individually and collectively shielded—with individual pairs protected by Al./PET foil and the entire cable shielded by a tinned copper braid.

According to ISO/IEC standards, cable markings are divided into two parts separated by a slash: the segment before the slash indicates external shielding, while the segment after refers to internal shielding.

Wiring Types

• Type A: The wires in the connector are arranged in pairs in the following color sequence: white-green, green, white-orange, blue, white-blue, orange, white-brown, brown.
• Type B: The wires are arranged in pairs in this order: white-orange, orange, white-green, blue, white-blue, green, white-brown, brown. 

Cable Connections:

• Straight-through Cable: Both ends follow the same wiring standard (either Type A or Type B).
• Crossover Cable: One end uses Type A while the other uses Type B, enabling direct device-to-device communication without the need for a switch or router.

Basic Network Cable Categories by Classification: 

• Class D – Category 5e: Designed for transmission frequencies up to 100 MHz. 
• Class E – Category 6: Designed for transmission frequencies up to 250 MHz. 
• Class Ea – Category 6A: Designed for transmission frequencies up to 500 MHz. 
• Class F – Category 7: Designed for transmission frequencies up to 600 MHz. 
• Class Fa – Category 7A: Designed for transmission frequencies up to 1000 MHz. 

The essential parameters include: IL (Insertion Loss): Indicates signal loss in the transmission path. Z (Impedance): The characteristic impedance, reflecting the uniformity of the transmission line.RL (Return Loss): Measures impedance mismatch. NEXT (Near-End Crosstalk), EL/FEXT (Equal Level Far-End Crosstalk), and ACR (Attenuation-to-Crosstalk Ratio): These metrics assess the level of interference between adjacent wire pairs. 

Different threshold requirements for these parameters determine the appropriate cable category and affect data transmission speeds. 

Recommended Telecommunication Cables by Polish Manufacturers

Below are examples of telecommunication cables recommended for various applications: 

• BiTLAN U/UTP Cat. 5e 200MHz: Suitable for indoor installations in computer networks operating at frequencies up to 200 MHz.
• BiTLAN F/UTP Cat. 6 350MHz: Designed for permanent indoor installations in computer networks, offering data rates up to 1 Gb/s and operating at frequencies up to 350 MHz; also ideal for industrial networks exposed to external electromagnetic interference.
• BiTLAN F/FTP Cat. 6A 500MHz: Ideal for networks requiring up to 500 MHz frequency and data rates up to 10 Gb/s. The combination of individual and common shielding with Al./PET foil enhances performance by protecting against both external interference and crosstalk.
• BiTLAN S/FTP Cat. 7A 1200MHz: Engineered for data, audio, and video transmission in networks with speeds exceeding 10 Gb/s, supporting frequencies up to 12,000 MHz.