The difference between shielded and unshielded Ethernet cables comes down to how well they resist electrical interference.

Shielded vs. Unshielded

• Unshielded (UTP - Unshielded Twisted Pair)
  • The most common type. It relies on twisted wire pairs to reduce interference but has no extra protective layer. Works well in normal home or office environments.
• Shielded (STP - Shielded Twisted Pair)
  These cables include a metallic shield (foil or braided layer) around the wires, which:
  • Blocks electromagnetic interference
  • Reduces crosstalk
  • Keeps the signal stable in noisy environments.

Why This Matters

Trackman uses radar and camera for tracking which depends on accurate, real-time data transfer between the unit and computer.

Indoor simulator setups often include projectors, PCs, lighting, and power cables, all of which create electrical noise. Without proper shielding, this interference can affect the connection and lead to:

• Misreads
• Lag or dropouts
• Reduced accuracy

Using a shielded Ethernet cable helps ensure a stable and reliable connection, which is essential for consistent performance.

How to Detect and Confirm the Difference

You can usually tell if a cable is shielded in a few ways:

• Check the printing on the cable jacket
• Look for markings like:
  • UTP → unshielded
  • STP, FTP, S/FTP → shielded
• Look at the ethernet plug (RJ45 connector)
  • Shielded cables typically have a metal outer casing around the connector
  • Unshielded cables usually have all-plastic connectors
• Feel and thickness
  • Shielded cables are often slightly thicker and stiffer due to the extra shielding layer

Our Recommendation

We recommend using a shielded Cat6 Ethernet cable.
Cat6 provides excellent performance and reliability, while the shielding protects against interference commonly found in simulator environments.