Cheap and cheerful unmanaged switch for home

[strath44]

Hi folks,

was just about to buy this switch but though I should consent the greater good before pulling the trigger, FTK etc.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NETGEAR-Gigabit-Ethernet-...

I have run (so far) 5x cat 6 cables, can't see me needing many more to various parts of the house for the purposes of file sharing, hard internet into devices etc due to our 2ft thick walls and terrible wifi etc.

I need a switch to run this and at this second don't want to spend a fortune, so the Netgear GS108Ev3 looked like an economical option.

Any thoughts, really don't want to spend a lot of money for now but any input appreciated!

Also smart v unmanaged??!

Edited by strath44 on Thursday 10th September 21:40

[xeny]

What do you want smart for? Is there a feature you can put your finger on and say I want that.

I'd get https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PWHGQSS

or the slightly cheaper tp-link equivalent - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RQHL6BY

[HantsRat]

The link you've posted will do just fine!

Those Netgear switches are bomb proof!

[megaphone]

I usually go for TP_Link, because they are cheaper and do the same job.

[dhutch]

Do you have any need for PoE for wireless access points?

[Gary C]

I have had three GS108's running for about 5 years at home and they have been fine. Ran the earlier ones but they caused problems with sonos (as they blocked the STP protocol packets, but the newer ones are fine out of the box)

They have a web interface to monitor and reset ports etc

Good choice.

One thing, are you likely to ever need to connect POE fed devices to it ? (such as outdoor wifi, or cameras). There are switches that provide power and makes a neater install rather than using those untidy POE injectors.

[strath44]

Thanks for all the input maybe a gs308 would be easier!?
To be truthful i didn’t realise it had poe capacity which would be handy as I could plug my office phone in if I’m working from home.

[dhutch]

I don't think the GS308 has PoE from the links above?

Would be hand for me as we have a collection of Unifi AC Lites

[Magnum 475]

strath44 said:

Hi folks,

I have run (so far) 5x cat 6 cables, can't see me needing many more to various parts of the house for the purposes of file sharing, hard internet into devices etc due to our 2ft thick walls and terrible wifi etc.

Edited by strath44 on Thursday 10th September 21:40

That's what you think! No matter how many cables you have installed, sooner or later you'll realise that it wasn't enough and end up running more, or using a Cat 5 splitter solution. It's guaranteed. I now work out how many cables I think I need in a room, an multiply by 3.

[megaphone]

dhutch said:

I don't think the GS308 has PoE from the links above?

Would be hand for me as we have a collection of Unifi AC Lites

IIRC some of the earlier AC Lites only accepted 24v, so check.

[Gary C]

neither will power anything over ethernet.

My GS108'S can be powered over ethernet but not source power to any attached device.

a real POE switch is a lot more expensive.

ie

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NETGEAR-Gigabit-Ethernet-...

[Murph7355]

I think I may have a 5-port unifi PoE switch in a cupboard somewhere...

Netgear switches are pretty robust. Power supplies can be temperamental IME, but the switches themselves run forever.

How many rooms are you servicing? And what are you allowing for in each. A small switch like that is very easily outgrown, especially when you consider you'll need one port for your router.

Very easy to have small switches littered about and things getting very messy (ask me why I have the unifi PoE switch spare! And a very old netgear unmanaged!).

[mikef]

If you can still find one for sale, NetGear's Prosafe GSS108e semi-managed is ideal for installation in a cabinet - you can remotely check status and reboot it if necessary. Very versatile mounting options. There was also a PoE version, GSS108EPP

[strath44]

mikef said:

If you can still find one for sale, NetGear's Prosafe GSS108e semi-managed is ideal for installation in a cabinet - you can remotely check status and reboot it if necessary. Very versatile mounting options. There was also a PoE version, GSS108EPP

Thanks ok, I'm not too worried about Poe to be honest, easy enough to plug in a mains adaptor to any device on the network that would be poe.

Did the aforementioned smart managed not supersede the GSS108e and my understanding is the smart version will operate 'unmanaged' unless you otherwise configure it?

[dhutch]

I am not a network expert, but as I understand it a managed switch will also work as an unmanaged switch if you just leave it do its thing. For a home user with small network I under know what benefit a managed switch would give?

Don't really know the detailed difference between managed, smart managed, semi-managed etc.

Also would be looking to avoid anything with a fan for a home setup.

[devnull]

After the apocalypse, all that will remain are cockroaches and those netgear switches.

[TX1]

Recently bought a NETGEAR GS105 5 port which is a bog standard model, have a Netgear Powerline connected to it as my wifi is crap and could not stream well to my tv.
Now have 3 items connected to the GS105 and now have perfect streaming.

[xeny]

devnull said:

After the apocalypse, all that will remain are cockroaches and those netgear switches.

Also early Sun SPARCstations. The chassis is so thick they're almost literally bullet proof.

[strath44]

Thanks for all the input, in the end I went for the GS308-300 which is an un-managed switch, decided just now I don't need the other features.
They are pretty cheap I got one new inc delivery on ebay for £18

https://www.netgear.com/support/product/GS308.aspx

[dhutch]

You won't got too far wrong with that. We've had a FS108 for maybe 15years in my parents, in the attic (large temperature fluctuations) and it's given no bother at all.

Daniel