What physical characteristic typically indicates a "short" in UTP wiring?

A characteristic that typically indicates a "short" in Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) wiring is a continuous electrical connection between two wires. When a short occurs, it means that two conductors are inadvertently connected, which can lead to signals traveling in unintended pathways. This condition often results in specific electrical characteristics such as improper signal transmission, erroneous readings in network devices, and even complete communication failure in the affected circuit.

In contrast, excessive signal strength does not indicate a short; it may imply problems elsewhere, such as interference or signal amplification issues. Bending or twisting of the wires could potentially lead to signal degradation or attenuation but does not directly indicate a short condition. Finally, partial connectivity in certain conditions may suggest other issues, like intermittent connections or weak signals but again would not indicate a continuous short between pairs of wires. Thus, the identification of a continuous connection between wires is the key indicator of a short in UTP wiring.