Using Shielded Cable

[kurtismonger]

I need to replace some network cable for one of my clients because a contractor cut the existing runs by accident, which happened to be ScTP cat5e. The cable will run from the offices out onto the plant floor and across a wall that is covered with electrical conduit. They have all kinds of compressors and air handlers as well as power running to other industrial machines along the route I will use. However, it is all in metal conduit. The existing cable was shielded, but because it was just terminated with regular cat 5e connectors I don't think the shielding was doing anything anyway. My understanding is in order for the shielding to work you have to have everything shielded from the patch panel to the wall jack.
Since everything is in conduit, and I will be able to stay 2-3 inches away from most of it should cat 5e work or is there some benefit to using ScTP even if it's not terminated with shielded connectors?

[johnwill]

Well, there's clearly a benefit to shielding, even though the connectors aren't shielded. If it's a lot of work to run the cable, the difference in cost is probably worth it, since you won't know if unshielded is an issue until it's installed.