* UTP for Unshielded Twisted Pair * STP for Shielded Twisted Pair * FTP for Foiled Twisted Pair * S/UTP for Screened Unshielded Twisted Pair * S/STP for Screened Shielded Twisted Pair * S/FTP for Shielded Foiled Twisted Pair

* UTP cable has no shielding, only an insulation around the cables * STP cable has a metal shield around each twisted pair, all pairs together are in the cable covered by insulation * FTP cable has a metal shield around all pairs - "the cable"- together * S/UTP cable has a metal shield around all pairs - "the cable"- together

(or would be the same as FTP) * S/STP cable has a metal shield around each twisted pair, and a metal shieldaround all pairs - "the cable"- together

(or would be the same as S/FTP) * S/FTP cable has a metal shield around each twisted pair, and a metal shield around all pairs - "the cable"- together

(or would be the same as S/STP) * UTP is unshielded, that's simple. * FTP and STP are ofted intermixed, sometimes S/UTP is also thrown in. In general it means the cable is shielded in one place. * S/FTP ans S/STP are of course often intermixed, both should get you a double shielded cable. * Unshielded twisted pair cable will do just fine if there are not too much electromagnic interferences (EMI), that's what the twisting is for. * Shielded cable will protect your signal better from interference. Though there are no guarantees of course, if the interference source is too strong it'll still influence things.

Things like big electro motors (an elevator engine), powerfull speaker systems (festival rig), strong light installations (that same festival rig) or a nearby high-power cable are some examples of interference sources. * Evidently unshielded cable is typically more flexible then shielded cable. * I have no idea what the practical difference between FTP and STP cable would be, but it might have something to do with the flexibility rather then with the shielding effectiveness. (): Shield

[]: Insulation

O: Conductor

[O][O]: One twisted pair of cables UTP

[ [O][O] [O][O] .... [O][O] ] FTP

[ ( [O][O] [O][O] .... [O][O] ) ] STP

[ ([O][O]) ([O][O]) .... ([O][O]) ] S/FTP

[ ( ([O][O]) ([O][O]) .... ([O][O]) ) ]