UTP

UTP stands for Unshielded Twisted Pair and is a type of network cable made from several twisted wire pairs without additional shielding. The twists reduce electromagnetic interference and enable differential signaling, which is crucial for reliable data transmission across networks, audio-over-IP systems, and maker projects that use Ethernet. For Audio/Video, Maker and Web contexts the same network fundamentals apply: the cable category (e.g., Cat5e, Cat6) determines bandwidth and throughput, the typical Ethernet maximum run is 100 meters, and poor installation or excessive length can cause signal loss, crosstalk and increased latency.

Example: you build a small AV setup with Dante audio, a local web server and a Raspberry Pi sensor hub. You use Cat5e UTP to connect the switch, Dante interfaces and Raspberry Pis so audio streams, web API traffic and sensor data travel over the same network. As a maker you might use a PoE switch to power IP cameras or microcontrollers; pay attention to correct pairing and the ~100 m maximum run length. When troubleshooting, a cable tester can reveal miswiring, opens or shorts—issues in UTP cause packet loss or audible glitches in AV streams.