STP
An old, but still-used designation for a twisted-pair cable with braided shield. However, the designation does not specify whether the shield type refers to individual pairs or the cable as a whole.
New and more precise designations are set forth in the ISO/IEC 11801 (2002) E standard and take the form of XX/YZZ, as follows:
XX indicates the overall shield
- U = unshielded
- F = foil shielding (coated plastic foil)
- S = braided shielding (braided wire)
- SF = braided and foil shielding
Y indicates the shielding of the individual pairs
- U = unshielded
- F = foil shielding (coated plastic foil)
- S = braided shielding (braided wire)
ZZ is the twisting type
- TP = twisted pair (usually)
- QP = quad pair
Example: An S/FTP is a Screened Foiled Twisted Pair (braided shield for the cable and foil shield for the twisted pairs).