Which type of network communication medium combines features of twisted pair and coaxial cable?

Which type of network communication medium combines features of twisted pair and coaxial cable?

• A. Unshielded twisted pair (UTP).
• B. Shielded twisted pair (STP).
• C. Plenum cable.
• D. Fiber optic.

Answer: (B)

The correct choice is the shielded twisted pair (STP) cable. STP combines aspects of both twisted pair and coaxial cable. Specifically, it consists of pairs of wires that are twisted together, similar to unshielded twisted pair (UTP) and provides additional shielding around the wire pairs to reduce electromagnetic interference, much like coaxial cable does with its inner conductive layer and external shielding. This makes STP particularly effective in environments where electromagnetic interference is a concern, offering better performance in terms of data transmission reliability and integrity compared to UTP. Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) does not include this extra insulation and is more susceptible to interference, while plenum cable is primarily designed for safe installation in air-handling spaces and does not share the characteristics of coaxial cables. Fiber optic cables utilize light instead of electrical signals for data transmission and do not feature the same physical construction attributes. Thus, STP effectively combines advantages from twisted pair and coaxial designs, making it the best fit for this question.

The correct choice is the shielded twisted pair (STP) cable. STP combines aspects of both twisted pair and coaxial cable. Specifically, it consists of pairs of wires that are twisted together, similar to unshielded twisted pair (UTP) and provides additional shielding around the wire pairs to reduce electromagnetic interference, much like coaxial cable does with its inner conductive layer and external shielding. This makes STP particularly effective in environments where electromagnetic interference is a concern, offering better performance in terms of data transmission reliability and integrity compared to UTP.

Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) does not include this extra insulation and is more susceptible to interference, while plenum cable is primarily designed for safe installation in air-handling spaces and does not share the characteristics of coaxial cables. Fiber optic cables utilize light instead of electrical signals for data transmission and do not feature the same physical construction attributes. Thus, STP effectively combines advantages from twisted pair and coaxial designs, making it the best fit for this question.