What factor increases crosstalk interference in cabling?

The factor that increases crosstalk interference in cabling is the length of the cable. As the length of the cable increases, the likelihood of crosstalk also rises due to the longer distances that the signals must travel. Longer cables can experience more electromagnetic interference and signal degradation, which can cause the signals in adjacent pairs or cables to interfere with each other. This is particularly relevant in high-frequency transmission, where longer cables can act more like antennas, picking up unwanted noise and interference that contributes to crosstalk.

In contrast, proper pair twisting, physical separation of pairs, and certain environmental conditions can actually help mitigate crosstalk. Twisted pairs are designed to cancel out electromagnetic interference from external sources, and keeping pairs physically separated reduces the potential for crosstalk significantly. Environmental conditions can also influence crosstalk, but generally, they would not increase it to the same degree as simply increasing cable length. Therefore, recognizing that longer cable runs can exacerbate crosstalk is essential for effective cabling practices.