What is Twisted Pair Cable

A twisted pair cable is a type of cable made by putting two separate insulated wires together in a twisted pattern and running them parallel to each other for the purpose of improving electromagnetic compatibility. By twisting the wires, some part of the noise signals goes in one direction (sending) while the other part goes in the opposite direction (receiving). This twisting helps dampen the magnetic effect on the wires, and the external waves cancel out due to the different twists. In simple words, compared to a single conductor or an untwisted balanced pair, a twisted pair reduces electromagnetic radiation from the pair and crosstalk between neighboring pairs and improves rejection of external electromagnetic interference. According to EIA/TIA-568 standard, twisted pair cables are classified into different categories such as Cat5e, Cat6, Cat7, Cat8 cables based on their electrical characteristics.