What technique is used with UTP cable to help protect against interference?

The technique of twisting the wires together into pairs is fundamental in minimizing electromagnetic interference (EMI) and crosstalk in unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cables. When pairs of wires are twisted together, they create a balanced transmission line that helps cancel out electromagnetic interference picked up from external sources. This is because the interference affects each wire in the pair equally, and when the signals are combined at the destination, the interference is effectively canceled.

Additionally, the twisting helps in maintaining the characteristic impedance of the cable, which reduces signal degradation over longer distances. The degree of twisting, the number of twists per inch, and the pairing of wires are carefully designed to optimize the performance of the cable in various networking environments.

Other methods, such as using shielding or thicker insulation, can also help with interference but are not the defining characteristic of UTP cable, which primarily relies on the twisting of the wire pairs to achieve its performance standards.