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Monoprice 102166 Cat5e 100ft Red Ethernet Patch Cable — main product image
Monoprice 102166 Cat5e 100ft Red Ethernet Patch Cable
Monoprice 102166 Cat5e 100ft Red Ethernet Patch Cable
Monoprice 102166 Cat5e 100ft Red Ethernet Patch Cable
Monoprice 102166 Cat5e 100ft Red Ethernet Patch Cable
Monoprice

Monoprice 102166 Cat5e 100ft Red Ethernet Patch Cable

★★★★★4.7 (1386 reviews)

Pure copper Cat5e patch cable delivering reliable 350MHz bandwidth over 100 feet for extended network runs

$26.53*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 15, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Monoprice 102166 is a 100-foot Cat5e Ethernet patch cable built with pure bare copper stranded conductors and rated for 350MHz bandwidth. In practical terms, this means it comfortably supports Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T) across its full length with signal integrity to spare — the 350MHz rating provides meaningful headroom above the 100MHz minimum required by the Cat5e specification. The 24AWG stranded copper construction ensures both conductivity and flexibility: unlike copper-clad aluminum cables that can degrade signal quality and fail at crimped connections, pure copper delivers consistent impedance matching across the full run.

This cable fits the use case of connecting network equipment across rooms, closets, or rack positions where a pre-terminated, flexible patch cable is more practical than running solid-core cable through conduit. The snagless strain relief boots protect the RJ45 locking tabs during cable pulls through bundles, and the 50-micron gold-plated contacts provide corrosion-resistant connections that maintain performance over time. The red jacket makes it easy to visually identify specific network segments — useful in racks where color-coding VLANs, management networks, or WAN uplinks saves troubleshooting time. For home networks, small offices, and lab environments that need reliable Gigabit connectivity over a longer run, this cable delivers without complexity or premium pricing.

Key Features

Unshielded Twisted Pairs (UTP)

350MHz bandwidth

50µm gold plated contacts

Color matched, snagless strain relief boots

Specifications

Cable Type
Cat5e
Length
100 Feet
Color
Red
Connector
RJ45
Wire Type
Stranded, Pure Bare Copper
AWG
24AWG
Bandwidth
350MHz
Shielding
UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)
Contact Plating
50µm Gold
Strain Relief
Snagless, color-matched boots

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Pure bare copper conductors ensure full rated throughput without the signal attenuation issues of copper-clad aluminum (CCA) cables
  • 350MHz bandwidth supports Gigabit Ethernet with headroom, maintaining reliable performance across the full 100-foot length
  • Stranded 24AWG wire construction provides flexibility for routing through tight spaces and around corners without conductor breakage
  • 50-micron gold-plated RJ45 contacts resist corrosion and maintain consistent connectivity over thousands of insertion cycles
  • Snagless strain relief boots prevent the locking tab from snagging during cable pulls and protect the connector from mechanical stress

👎 Cons

  • Cat5e specification does not support 10 Gigabit Ethernet — environments planning for 10GbE need Cat6a or higher
  • Unshielded (UTP) construction offers no protection in high-EMI environments near industrial equipment or dense power cabling
  • 100-foot length creates excess cable management overhead for shorter runs, and cutting to length sacrifices the molded RJ45 connectors
  • Red color is useful for visual network segmentation but limits aesthetic blending in visible residential installations
  • Stranded conductor design is not rated for permanent in-wall installation — building codes require solid conductor cable for structured wiring

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — Cat5e is rated for runs up to 100 meters (328 feet) per the TIA/EIA-568 standard. At 100 feet (30.5 meters), this cable operates well within spec, with no signal degradation concerns for Gigabit Ethernet or any slower standard.
Cat5e is certified for 1000BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet) at distances up to 100 meters. This 100-foot cable will deliver full Gigabit throughput without issue. However, it does not support 10GBASE-T — that requires Cat6a or higher.
This cable uses stranded conductors, meaning each wire is made of multiple thin copper strands twisted together. Stranded cable is more flexible and resistant to breakage from repeated bending, making it ideal for patch cables that get moved or rerouted. Solid conductor cable is stiffer but better for permanent in-wall runs.
For the vast majority of office and home environments, UTP Cat5e performs without interference problems. Shielded cable (STP) is only necessary in environments with heavy electromagnetic interference — near industrial motors, fluorescent lighting banks, or dense cable bundles running parallel to power lines. Standard office routing is well within UTP tolerances.
The 50-micron gold plating on the RJ45 contacts resists oxidation and corrosion, maintaining consistent electrical contact over time. This matters most in humid environments or when cables are frequently plugged and unplugged — gold won't tarnish the way bare copper or nickel contacts can.

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