StarTech.com Brocade XBR-000190 Compatible SFP Module - 1000BASE-T - SFP to RJ45 Cat6/Cat5e - 1GE Gigabit Ethernet SFP - RJ-45 100m

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

For £15.89 ex-VAT, this is exactly the kind of cheap, practical SFP-to-RJ45 “just get it working” part you buy for small office swaps, spares, or when you need a single copper uplink without messing around with longer-term cabling redesign. The 1GbE over Cat5e/Cat6 at 100m is a normal, boring requirement—meaning it suits typical site runs, patch panels, and “we’ve got one port down” scenarios. If you’re a UK reseller or IT team stocking spares, this is the sort of low-cost module that earns its keep because it’s straightforward and doesn’t force you into more expensive fibre logistics.

That said, I wouldn’t recommend it as a first-choice “deploy everywhere” option unless you’ve validated compatibility with the exact Brocade switch/model and firmware you’re using. With SFP optics, the biggest real-world pain isn’t raw capability—it’s vendor compatibility quirks, link negotiation oddities, or needing a reboot/port reset to settle. Also, because it’s in the “SFP module” category but priced like a commodity, it’s best treated as a stopgap or single-site solution rather than a premium, long-term standard replacement across critical core gear. If you tell me the switch model (and whether you’ve used StarTech SFPs before), I can give you a clearer “buy with confidence” or “avoid this one” call.