Which statement about UTP cables usage is true?

Which statement about UTP cables usage is true?

• A. They have 100 Ohms impedance per pair
• B. They require metal shielding around each pair
• C. They use coaxial conductors
• D. They are fiber-based

Answer: (A)

The key idea is the characteristic impedance of twisted-pair cabling used for Ethernet. UTP is designed as a balanced transmission line with a nominal impedance of 100 ohms per pair. This impedance matching helps minimize signal reflections and maintains data integrity as signals travel along the copper pairs. Because it is unshielded, UTP does not have metal shielding around each pair—that shielding belongs to shielded twisted pair types. UTP also uses copper conductors, not coaxial cables and not fiber strands, so statements about coaxial conductors or fiber-based media don’t apply to UTP.

The key idea is the characteristic impedance of twisted-pair cabling used for Ethernet. UTP is designed as a balanced transmission line with a nominal impedance of 100 ohms per pair. This impedance matching helps minimize signal reflections and maintains data integrity as signals travel along the copper pairs.

Because it is unshielded, UTP does not have metal shielding around each pair—that shielding belongs to shielded twisted pair types. UTP also uses copper conductors, not coaxial cables and not fiber strands, so statements about coaxial conductors or fiber-based media don’t apply to UTP.