Term of the Day: NEXT
 

Short for near-end crosstalk (the "X" standing for "cross"), the measurement of crosstalk between two twisted-pair wires. Current flowing through wires creates electromagnetic fields that can interfere with signals on adjacent wires. NEXT occurs when a strong signal from one pair of wires is picked up by an adjacent pair. NEXT is the measurement of the portion of the signal that is electromagnetically coupled back into the received signal.