Ethernet cable - shielded or not?

[2xcess]

I play 99% of my music from a NAS source (16bit, 44.1khz to 24bit, 96khz flac). I am using a Billion 7800N gigabit router, to Netgear av500 powerline set-up, then via a gigabit switch to my Hi-Fi/AV etc. I am going to swap out my Cat5 ethernet cables for Cat6 (I know OTT, but Belkin Cat6 cables are cheap enough on Amazon). My question relates to which type to buy; UTP, FTP or STP. I favour the STP shielded but these will only be worth having if the shield is grounded. Is it safe to assume that the devices in my network are grounded? Seems sensible that would be the case for the networking products at a minimum?

I don't want an ungrounded shield that will act like a long aerial and make matters worse.

Steve.

 

[The_Lhc]

Make what matters worse? What do you think STP is going to do for you?

 

[2xcess]

There is nothing wrong with the set-up currently - however I'm changing every part of the network hardware to gigabit, so I'm planning to change my interconnect ethernet cables to Cat6 at the same time, compared to the overall cost the cables are cheap, very cheap, so why not?

Do for me? The same as it does in my car, shield wires carrying the information from electrical noise (my other hobby is engine building and electronic engine management). Is this an issue for running ethernet cables running near to mains wiring, power amps etc? I don't know, probably not, that's why I am asking those who may have actual experience. If the shield is not grounded then it is a waste of time and could potentially introduce problems such as I suggested above.

I really don't want to open up a long heated debate, life's too short, I just want to know if network devices will have grounding for the shield built in. If not then I'll stick with unshielded (UTP) cable, which will no doubt be fine and save me a few quid.

 

[amcluesent]

IMHO you're solving a non-existant problem to create others. Cat5 sockets are transformer coupled so avoid the problems of differencial grounds.

 

[amcluesent]

IMHO you're solving a non-existant problem to create others. Cat5 sockets are transformer coupled so avoid the problems of differencial grounds.

 

[2xcess]

You're almost certainly correct - I'm famous for it. Just seemed sensible to go for Cat6 when I'm upgrading the network hardware. Cat5e can carry gigabit IIRC? So unshiedled Cat5e could be better be the way to go, most of my current cables are Cat5e anyway.

 

[The_Lhc]

Cat6 will be fine, unshielded will be perfectly ok, we run thousands of metres of it in out data centres, in close proximity to power cables, supplies, etc, with no issues.

 

[2xcess]

Thanks - I'll go with Cat6 - some of what I have already is Cat6 UTP, and some is STP. I'll leave it as the mix of UTP and STP rather than replace one type of Cat6 with another.