The core difference between shielded and unshielded cables lies in their interference
resistance and applicable scenarios. Simply put, shielded cables (STP) are suitable for
environments with strong electromagnetic interference or high security requirements,
while unshielded cables (UTP) are lighter,cheaper, and suitable for general office and
home use.
I. Structural Differences
Shielded cables: Have a metal foil or braided mesh shielding layer, enclosing four pairs
of twisted wires, effectively preventing electromagnetic interference.
Unshielded cables: Lack a shielding layer, relying only on twisted wires to reduce
interference, resulting in lower cost.
II. Performance Comparison
Interference resistance: The shielding layer of shielded cables can block more than 90%
of electromagnetic interference, resulting in a cleaner signal.
Transmission speed: Unshielded cables are faster in low-interference environments, but
shielded cables are more stable under strong interference.
Cost: Shielded cables are 30%-50% more expensive, while unshielded cables are more
economical.
III. Applicable Scenarios
Shielded cables: Industrial environments, high-security networks (such as finance and
government), and long-distance transmission.
Unshielded cables: Offices, homes, and short-distance local area networks.
IV. Installation Difficulty
Shielded cables: Require special connectors and grounding techniques, making installation
more complex.
Unshielded cables: Simply plug into the port, making installation easy.
Selection Recommendation: Choose shielded cables for environments with strong
interference or high security requirements; for ordinary environments, unshielded cables
are more cost-effective.
