Why Use Shielded Cable and Keystone Jacks?
Keystone jacks are keystone module connectors used in data communication and LAN wiring. It is the female connector that is usually mounted in a wall plate or patch panel and it is connected to the matching male connector, called the keystone plug.
A keystone module is a snap-in package that is used for mounting various types of low-voltage electrical jacks. It can also be used for mounting optical connectors into the wall plate or patch panel.
Shielded cables, also known as screened cables, are electrical cables of one or more insulated conductors enclosed by a common conductive layer.
The shield may be composed of braided strands of copper (or other metal, such as aluminium), a non-braided spiral winding of copper tape, or a layer of conducting polymer. Usually this shield is covered with a jacket.
For those working with audio equipment or sensitive data, shielded cables and keystone jacks can reduce static, outside noise, and other interference that could disrupt sound quality or overall functioning. If you are using shielded cable, you will also want to employ the use of shielded connectors and keystone jacks to ensure maximum protection.
In professional applications, shielded cables can greatly improve network function and results. Using these cables helps to protect against electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference. This is usually only necessary where cables will be run very close to other cables or electronic devices.
While even UTP (unshielded twisted pair) cables reduce some electromagnetic interference, STP (shielded twisted pair) cables are more effective in blocking interference. Shielded cables are ideal for high-speed networks such as data centers where 10GBase-T networks are used, because 10G Ethernet is significantly more sensitive to EMI.
In security systems, shielded cables can help prevent false alarms generated by interference. For audio applications, shielding can help reduce noise and static in the projected sound. In most home applications, shielded cables are not necessary as electromagnetic interference is minimal.