Monoprice 106985 3FT Cat5e STP Ethernet Cable - Gray

The Monoprice 106985 Cat5e STP Ethernet cable is a 3-foot patch cable built to deliver dependable network connectivity in environments where electromagnetic interference is a concern. Its shielded twisted pair construction wraps the four twisted conductor pairs in an additional shielding layer, reducing crosstalk and blocking external noise from power cables, motors, or other electronics that can degrade signal quality on unshielded runs. Inside the shield, 24AWG stranded pure bare copper wires carry the signal — an important distinction from cheaper copper-clad aluminum (CCA) alternatives that can introduce higher resistance and are not compliant with TIA/EIA Cat5e standards.

Practical build details round out the design. The molded snagless boot protects the RJ45 clip from breaking or catching on adjacent cables when routed through dense patch panels or bundled runs, and 50-micron gold plating on the connector contacts resists oxidation for a long-lasting, low-resistance connection. With 350 MHz bandwidth the cable comfortably supports Gigabit Ethernet as well as Fast Ethernet and 100BASE-TX applications. Available in gray and backed by Monoprice's lifetime warranty, it is a cost-effective choice for short patch runs between switches, routers, computers, and other network devices where signal integrity matters.