The Best Outdoor WiFi Range Extender of 2021 – MBReviews

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An outdoor WiFi range extender is a networking device which, as the name suggests, assumes the role of detecting an existing WiFi signal and extend it, so it can reach those difficult areas that your router is simply unable to cover. In 2021, you get a plethora of options to cover a larger area with WiFi for both the consumers and the SMBs, which means that the dedicated wireless extender (or repeater) has lost some of its value and it was either swallowed by the access points or by the router which can now run in this specific mode if the user desires so.

But, while typically, you could go with a WiFi mesh system to remove any WiFi dead zones, since we’re talking about outdoors, things get a bit more complicated and there aren’t that many options available. Sure enough, Netgear does offer a cool way to extend the signal from your house to your yard using the Orbi Outdoor Satellite, but this will keep you inside Netgear’s ecosystem (not that there’s anything bad about it, since the Orbi is a great WiFi system.. when it is stable).

UPDATE 03.27.2021: The Mikrotik NetMetal ac2 has been added to the best wifi extender list.

 

So, I had a look at some ‘more universal’ solutions that could qualify as the best outdoor WiFi range extenders and I found that you should expect a rugged look (no more elegant designs with glossy finishes and internal antennas – instead, you’re most likely going to get larger, industrial-looking hardware with multiple external antennas), a better built quality, which should ensure the device’s survival in harsh external conditions (and, naturally, to have some sort of rating to justify it – such as IP67) and, quite possibly a higher cost (once again, because of the rugged exterior).

Furthermore, I also noticed that some of these devices aren’t pure range extenders, but also function as access points or even as fully-fledged routers. One important element that you need to understand is that a range extender may halve your bandwidth if you use a single-band extender, but this problem can be alleviated to a certain degree having more bands available – you also have to take into account any walls in between these devices, as well as any outdoors-type interference (the access point connects to the router using a cable, but I doubt many would prefer to have cables running throughout the yard).

 

1. DrayTek VigorAP 920R

The DrayTek VigorAP 920R is one of the latest outdoor wireless access points from the Taiwanese manufacturer and it is part of a new series of devices which promises a high level of protection against the elements (it is IP67 certified), a point-to-point connectivity of up to 1.8 miles, a centralized management system which can monitor and configure multiple APs and routers and it offers multiple types of operating modes, including the Universal Repeater which makes it suitable for our current needs. Furthermore, while most devices that can work as universal repeaters are single-band only, the 920R is a dual-band AC1200-class product, so it will have an easier time dealing with the backhaul traffic (which really likes to halve the bandwidth).

The VigorAP 920R features a solidly-built case covered by a white matte finish and with two thick external antennas pointing upwards. The device was designed to have a neutral look (since you don’t need a flashy device outside your home to attract unwanted attention) and considering that it is neither too big, nor too heavy for an outdoor AP, it can easily be mounted on a pole (it measures 10.0 x 6.3 x 3.1 inches and weighs around 2.3 lbs – therefore, being in line with the traditional industrial-looking networking devices.

Furthermore, the device is IP67 certified, which means that the 920R is dust-resistant (the test was conducted using talcum powder and no dust deposit entered the enclosure) and water-resistant (the device can be completely submerged under water down to a meter for up to 30 minutes), which indicates that the VigorAP 920R can survive heavy storms and can be positioned in dustier environments (arid areas) without being compromised. Besides the IP67 rating, the device will remain operational when the outside temperature ranges between -40 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit and when the humidity is between 5 to 95 % (non-condensing). This makes it suitable for harsher winters and hotter summers. But what’s quite unique about the VigorAP 920R is that it has two built-in sensors (one for the temperature and the other for the humidity) which can send live feed-back via either email or alert message.

While the device will do just fine regardless of the weather, it still needs to have a solid lightning protection in place to ensure that it won’t fry at the first lightning storm. To do so, DrayTek has included a Ground cable inside the package which gets connected to the designated area on the rear side of the device and to the ground rod. On the bottom of the device, you can easily notice the three big screw caps, the one on the left covering the Factory Reset button (after you remove the cover, press and hold for about 10 seconds to return the access point to factory default settings), the middle covering the PoE In port and, in case you use the AP290RP version of the device, the third cap reveals a PoE Out port (a great addition for powering on any additional device, such as an outdoor IP camera which can be strapped to the same pole).

Next to the ports, on the frontal section of the case, but still pointing downwards, you’ll be able to see some unobtrusive LED indicators: the first LED light shows the status of the ACTivity (if it’s blinking, then the system is ready), while the 2.4G and the 5G LEDs will shine solid when the WiFi is ready and will start flashing as soon as data is either being received or sent.
The correct hardware installation requires that you first remove the top caps and connect the two thick antennas (6dbi gain on the 5GHz radio band and 3.5dbi on the 2.4GHz band) and afterwards, you need to remove the cover for the middle port to expose the Gigabit Ethernet port and disconnect all the components of the cable gasket.

Next, you need to insert the Ethernet cable through all the previously removed small components and make sure to properly tighten everything to ensure a good protection from outside conditions (for extra security and better isolation from interference, you could use a shielded CAT cable). After the cable is attached to the VigorAP 920R, take the mount plate from the package and remove it from the mounting kit: the former gets connected to the device, while the latter attaches to the pole; lastly, simply fasten the access point to the mount kit using the provided screws. But you’re not done yet, as you need to insert the Ethernet cable into the PoE adapter, so the device will receive power.

Of course, it may be wiser and a lot easier to first configure the VigorAP 920R before mounting it to a pole and, to do so, you have to connect the AP to the PoE injector which will get connected to a computer; next, open a web browser and go to 192.168.1.2 (the default address) to enter the username and password (admin for both) and gain access to the interface. To set up the VigorAP 920R as an Universal Repeater on either bands (which will then act as Station and AP at the same time), you need to start the Quick Start Wizard and, at the Operation Mode, choose Universal Repeater.

Here, you can click on AP Discovery and let it display a list of all the APs available in the area; after you choose your network, the SSID and MAC address fields should automatically fill themselves with the received info and, on the Channel settings, you can change it if there are too many interferences; the Security Mode, Encryption Type and Security Key are advisable to stay the same as on your main router/AP. This mode also allows you to Enable a Guest network for your outdoors visitors (you do get some QoS options and can create schedules).

To test the DrayTek VigorAP 920RP, I selected Universal Repeater mode on the 2.4GHz network (only one band can be set in this mode at a time) and I put the wireless router in the center of the house at about ten feet from the 920RP (which was mounted outdoors). Next, I used my laptop as a client and at about 5 feet from the repeater, I measured an average of 104 Mbps (-35dBm). Afterwards, I went further away from the device, at about 70 feet, where I measured an average 65.6 Mbps (-54dBm) and, at 310 feet, I measured an average of 22.7 Mbps (-61dBm). Lastly, at 460 feet, I measured around 9.37 Mbps (-72dBm) and that’s pretty much the maximum at which you would be able to browse the Internet from a laptop.

 

Read the full review

Before going any further, it’s important to understand that the Mikrotik devices are not that consumer-friendly and the RouterOS (which is a lot more than the software that you usually find on regular routers or access points) really doesn’t like holding your hand, so be aware that there is a significant learning curve before having some understanding of how things work (especially if you aren’t familiar with some of the tech terms). I have already added the NetMetal ac2 as a recommendation for being one of the best outdoor access points, but since it can also be configured to extend an existing wireless signal to some far away client devices, it does deserve a place on this list (and make no mistake, the NetMetal ac2 is one of the toughest rugged access point and more than capable of withstanding the outdoor conditions).

The Mikrotik NetMetal ac2 was designed to used as an outdoor wireless access point (we’re going to use it as an extender, so we need the same type of hardware) and, because it does not come with antennas in the package, you will need to purchase your own. Ideally, you should check the higher gain ones, otherwise, source signal may be too weak to re-transmitted. The enclosure is fairly long and it’s fully made of metal (it’s covered by a gray matte finish) and I know that it seems very big, rivaling the likes of DrayTek VigorAP 920RP. But, this is only true until you remove the top section to add the antennas – the device measures 5.63 x 9.72 x 1.88 inches. The bottom side is also detachable, well, semi-detachable since it always remains attached to the metallic body of the extender and this section is there to protect the ports from water or dust ingress.

Inside the package, Mikrotik has added a small mounting bracket which can be used to attach the device to a wall, but you can also rely on the provided ring to mount the NetMetal ac2 to a pole. And in terms of ruggedness, the Mikrotik NetMetal ac2 is built like a tank, so it will do great against mechanical shocks (depends on the mounting location, it’s a welcomed protection), but the manufacturer said that the wireless extender should also be able to operate under some extreme temperatures (between -40 and 158 F) and it has an IP66 rating (protection from water and dust ingress). It’s worth mentioning that on the front side, just above the ports’ protective cover, there is an LED area with five indicators that have the role of showing the signal strength (one bar equates 89dBm and five bars shows that the signal is 61dBm or less), as well as a PWR LED, a USR/SFP LED (for fiber cable connection) and an ETH LED (for LAN/PoE connection).

Remove the protective cover and you’ll be able to see the Power port, a Reset button, a SFP slot, a Gigabit Ethernet port (supports PoE), a USB 2.0 port and a microSD card slot. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this AP is one of the few devices to provide a PoE injector inside the box (so yes, the NetMetal ac2 is a PoE WiFi extender / access point).
Just like all Mikrotik devices, the NetMetal ac2 comes with RouterOS and for this model, the License level is 4 which is more than enough for the user to set it up as a wireless extender. Similarly to the AP configuration, you can either use the Mikrotik Winbox utility to access the GUI of the device or simply enter the IP address in the URL of any browser (check it in the list of the connected devices from your router interface) and then you should be greeted by a somewhat dated-looking GUI with a long vertical menu on the left.

I am not going to go very deep into the configuration process (you can find a dedicated guide here), but the general steps that you need to follow are to go to the Wireless section and then you need to start the Scanner – select the wlan that’s going to be extended, identify the SSID from the main router (copy it and Stop the scan) and, after returning to the WiFi interfaces section, click on the Setup Repeater tab. Now, a smaller window will appear where you will have to enter the previously copied SSID, as well as the passphrase (the WiFi network password) and then click on Start. A new virtual interface will now appear and you will be able to check its Security Profile, its signal (through the registration section) and more.

In case you want to check the IP address of the WiFi extender, you will need to click on IP > DHCP Client. And that was actually easier than expected – you now have a fully functional outdoor WiFi repeater. But, be aware that depending on the router you’re using, the signal strength and the distance, you may not be able to go very far from the router with the wireless extender, especially if the antennas aren’t that powerful – also, always remember that the bandwidth will be halved, at best.

 

3. TP-Link CPE510

At its core, the TP-Link CPE510 is a great outdoor wireless access point (which I have also briefly covered in the best outdoor WAPs), but, since it can function as a wireless extender / repeater as well, it makes it suitable for a WiFi-only type connection to the router. The CPE510 features a 2×2 dual-polarized directional MIMO antenna (13dbi), so it can cover an incredibly long distance, it uses the Passive PoE technology (up to 200 feet) to both power itself and to directly connect to the router (if you deploy it as an Access Point) and it relies on the Pharos Control CMS for monitoring and managing purposes (Pharos can include all the compatible TP-Link devices).

From the design point of view, the TP-Link CPE510 isn’t larger than your usual access point (measures 8.81 x 3.11 x 2.36 inches), but instead of having a circular shape, it went with a rectangular plastic case covered by a white matte finish and, while the front area is quite plain (with only the TP-Link logo), the rear side has a special attachment connected to the main body which allows the user to easily install the device on a pole. Inside the package, TP-Link does provide the necessary pole mounting straps to make the operation as painless as possible.

The plastic that was used to build the case was designed to survive outdoor conditions (ASA plastic material – which has a high resistance to weather conditions and is often used on automobiles) and the device is IPX5 rated, which means that the CPE510 should be protected against water jets, so it should survive unharmed when it is raining – be aware that it is not protected against complete submersions under water. What about during the winter? TP-Link claims that the device should remain operational when the temperature is between -22 and 158 degrees Fahrenheit, so, theoretically, it should survive both a harsh winter and a hot summer. But probably the number one enemy is the lightning which can easily fry the device.

To protect against it, TP-Link suggests using a shielded CAT5e Ethernet cable (or better) and, if the device has a a grounding terminal, such as the case of the CPE510, then you can connect a grounding cable to it in order to keep the AP/Extender protected (the CPE510 features a 6KV Lightning Protection and a 15KV ESD Protection).
On the left side of the device, you can find seven LED indicators which, depending on the configured mode, will light up in different patterns: the four upper LED indicators will remain solid green when the device is in access point / router mode and will light up depending on the signal strength when the CPE510 is set to Repeater mode (or any other mode except access point and router); the last three LED indicators show the status of the LAN ports and the Power.

On the bottom of the device, remove the cover to expose the ports area: from the left, there’s the Grounding Terminal, a shielded Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) port which supports a passive PoE connection (it will not work with 802.11af/at adapters) and a Reset button (keep it pressed for 8 seconds to return the device to the default settings).
To perform a proper hardware installation, you need to take an Ethernet cable and connect one end to the LAN port on the CPE510 and the other to the PoE injector (which comes into the box), then take another Ethernet cable and connect one end to the LAN port of the injector and the other to a computer; lastly, simply connect the PoE injector to a power source.

Afterwards, the TP-Link CPE510 can be monitored and configured using PharOS interface which can be accessed by opening a web browser and going to 192.168.0.254 (the default address). Here, you’ll be asked to insert the username and password (it’s admin for both – it can be changed immediately) and then start the Quick Setup process. Since we’re interested in the extender aspect of the CPE510, on the first step of the configuration process, we’re going to choose Repeater (Range Extender); afterwards, you’ll be asked to specify the LAN IP address and the Subnet Mask and next, you can configure the Wireless Client Settings: here, at the SSID or Remote AP area, click Survey which should display all the available upstream wireless networks.

Once you’ve identified your root network, you need to choose the same Mode, Channel Width and Security as on the router. And that’s pretty much it, from here on, the CPE510 should take the signal from your router and extend it further outside your home.

The TP-Link CPE510 is a single-band device (5GHz, 802.11a/n) and the maximum theoretical throughput is advertised at 300 Mbps. The 5GHz band may require for the repeater to be closer to the router, but after everything is configured, the signal should reach up to at least a couple of miles with minimum interference (in ideal conditions, TP-Link claims that it can go as far as 10 miles).

 

4. Hawking Technology Hi-Gain Outdoor Access Point / Bridge / Repeater HOD45B

Hawking Technology is a Canadian-based manufacturer of networking devices, their most popular products being the Hi-Gain Wireless access points, from which I chose the HOD45B especially because of its ability to act as an Universal Repeater (the device is also dual-band, but, unlike the DrayTek VigorAP 920R, it only supports the 802.11a/b/g/n wireless network standards). The Hawking Technology is not as popular as other brands that focus on the same audience, but it has slowly gained some traction both in the US and the European market and considering that the home user and the SMBs require newer and better technologies with each passing year, it could be only a matter of time until the Hawking networking devices become more widespread.

The Hawking HOD45B is perhaps the most industrial-looking device from this list, featuring a rectangular body covered by a white matte finish and with two detachable antennas which are designed to point downwards (it makes sense since you most likely will position the device elevated on a pole). In terms of size, the device is within the acceptable limits, measuring 6.25 x 6.87 x 3.5 inches, but its thickness is a factor that needs taken into consideration before choosing the right spot where it’s going to be mounted; in terms of weight, the HOD45B weighs 1.58lb, which means that it’s going to be easy to maneuvre.

The body of the HOD45B was designed to be outdoor-suitable, so the AP is IP67 certified, which means that it can withstand submerges under water down to 3 feet for half an hour (heavy rains won’t affect the device) and its integrity won’t be compromised in dusty areas (the case when you mount the HOD45B in a barn or in a more arid outdoor environment). Furthermore, the device should remain operational when the temperature is between 32 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit and if the humidity stays within 10 and 90% (non-condensing). This means it is not really that suitable for areas where the winter temperature goes under 32 F (as well as where the summer is too hot).

But the number one enemy of any outdoor networking device is the lightning and, while the other manufacturers have added an easy way to ground their devices, Hawking seems to have decided against it, which means that the best way to keep the HOD45B relatively safe is by using antennas surge protectors and connect them to a grounding point.
On the bottom of the device, there are a couple of connectors for the two 5dBi Hi-Gain dual-band dipole antennas (one on the left and the other on the right), a Reset button covered by a protective screw (use a long and thin object to press and hold the button for about 15 seconds to return the device to factory default settings) and in the middle, there’s an RJ45 PoE Ethernet Gigabit port – use an Ethernet cable to connect it to the 48V 0.5A switching PoE Power Adapter (provided in the package).

The hardware installation requires that you connect the two antennas (one straight and the other should use the provided L-shaped connector), remove the gasket from the Ethernet port and run a cable through all the components of the gasket and afterwards make sure to secure it in place. Next, take the Ethernet PoE adapter and connect the other end of the cable to the Power + Data Out port – if you want to configure the HOD45B before mounting it on a pole (which you should), connect an Ethernet cable to the remaining port on the adapter and to a computer. After you have finished the configuration, take the device outside, attach the mount bracket to the AP and then use the provided pole clamp to securely tighten the grip (the device can also be mounted on a wall using the same mounting bracket).

To configure the Hawking HOD45B as an Universal Repeater, you need to connect it to a computer, open a web browser and go to 192.168.1.230 (the default address) and, when requested, enter admin/1234 for the username and password. Next, at the Quick Setup section, select ‘Universal Repeater’ as the Mode, choose an SSID (should be the same as the root WiFi network), select the network to which the repeater will connect from the list, insert the wireless password if required (also make sure that the security is identical on both the extender and on the router) and wait a few seconds until the process is done.

Mark is a graduate in Computer Science, having gathered valuable experience over the years working in IT as a programmer. Mark is also the main tech writer for MBReviews.com, covering not only his passion, the networking devices, but also other cool electronic gadgets that you may find useful for your every day life.

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Best Ethernet Switches of 2021 – Managed and Unmanaged – MBReviews

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It’s difficult to choose the best Ethernet switches suitable for your network from the abundance of available Ethernet switches on the market (some may prefer a managed Ethernet switch, while others won’t need anything above an unmanaged or smart Ethernet switch), so, in order to make the process easier, I have divided the article into three main sections: the first addresses the best unmanaged Ethernet switches, which are more suitable for home use or for small business networks, the second section covers the best web-managed Ethernet switches which are also suitable for home use (tech enthusiasts) and for small to medium business networks and the third section addresses the best managed Ethernet switches which, as expected, are going to be used in an enterprise environment (medium to large businesses).

UPDATE 02.12.2021: The Zyxel XS1930-12HP Multi-Gigabit Managed Switch has been added to the best Ethernet switches list.

 
QUICK NAVIGATION: UNMANAGED VS WEB-SMART VS MANAGED SWITCHES

QUICK NAVIGATION: FEATURES TO LOOK FOR BEFORE CHOOSING THE BEST NETWORK SWITCHES

An Ethernet switch is a networking device that connects a large variety of devices (like IP cameras, computers and even other switches) into a common network and it uses the packet switching technology to receive, process and eventually forward the data to the destination client.
Network switches are commonly used to create a business network (especially devices with lots of ports), but there is also an increasing tendency to include switches into a home network, especially since PoE surveillance cameras have gotten so much more popular.

On the market, you can find switches that use physical addresses for data processing and forwarding at the layer 2 of the OSI model, but there are also layer 3 switches that besides all the features of a L2 switch, have routing functionality (so, similarly to some traditional routers, they’re capable of hardware-based packet switching).

 

Best Unmanaged PoE Ethernet Switches

Best Non-PoE Unmanaged Ethernet Switches

1. Linksys LGS116P 16-Port Ethernet Switch

The Linksys LGS116P is an unmanaged 16-port network switch that is part of the Linksys’ Business Desktop Gigabit PoE switch series along with the LGS108P and LGS124P, an 8-port device and, respectively, a 24-port switch. The LGS116P is a great solution for your office network, but it can also be used in your home (since this is an unmanaged device, which means that you can’t really configure it, it just allows the connected clients to communicate with each other).
The LGS116P features a fairly large rectangular metallic case (but comparing it with other 16-port switches, it’s surprisingly compact), with two pairs of airflow vents on the left and on the right, and no internal fan (it relies solely on passive cooling). The top of the LGS116P is quite plain, with only the blue Linksys logo breaking the continuity of the black matte finish.

In terms of positioning, the The LGS116P can be positioned flat on the surface (its dimensions are 4.2 x 11.0 x 0.9 inches and it weighs 1.8 lb) and it can also be wall-mounted, but it’s not rack mountable (only the larger LGS124P has this feature). If you turn the device upside down, you’ll see that there are no airflow vents here, there are only three screws, four round feet, two holes for wall mounting and a label containing the information about the device (model number, serial number).

The front of the switch is home to all 16 Gigabit 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports, from which only the first eight come with PoE+ support. The PoE+ technology allows you to transfer data and receive power over the Ethernet cable, so you can connect compatible devices without the need to have a power outlet in the vicinity (some of these devices can be access points, IP cameras, network hubs, intercoms, VoIP phones and so on). The entire dedicated PoE power budget is 80 W.

All of the ports have one green amber LED for Link/Activity/GB and the first eight ports have an additional green LED for PoE. On the left of the ports there are also two LED lights for Power (a blue LED) and for PoE Max (the LED will be amber and if it’s on, it means that the total power budget is over 67 Watts, otherwise, if it’s off, it means that the power budget is under 67 Watts).

In terms of hardware, the LGS116P is equipped with a Marvel 88E1685LKJ2 chipset and, since we get a total of 16 Gigabit Ethernet ports, there is a total bandwidth of 32 Gbps available.
Setting up the Linksys LGS116P is simple, all you have to do is connect the power adapter to your switch and into a power outlet and then connect your network devices to the switch by using Ethernet cables (you can also cascade your switch to another switch).

Since this is an unmanaged unit, you don’t get to configure the switch, but there are some interesting features that are worth mentioning. There is the Quality of Service Traffic Prioritization (QoS) which ensures that regardless of network congestion, certain data throughput is still maintained for some connected devices (useful especially for video streaming or VOIP). There’s also support for Jumbo Frames (up to 9K bytes of payload frames, which means less CPU cycles and reduced overheads).

Another cool feature is the PoE prioritization. What it does is it assigns the highest priority to the port 1 and as you connect devices, the higher the port ID, the priority will be lower. So, if only seven ports out of the eight are connected, but the maximum power budget is already maxed out, the eight device will be declined, since it will have exceed the power budget.
The Linksys LGS116P switch is compliant with the following standards: IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3x, 802.3ab, and 802.3az. Additionally, for PoE devices, it supports IEEE 802.3at and 802.3af standards. If a devices does not support any of these standards, it will not be powered ON.
Note: Inside the box, you can find the Linksys LGS116P unit, a Power Adaptor, a Wall Mount Kit, a Quick Start Manual and a CD with the documentation.

2. TRENDnet TPE-LG80 8-Port PoE+ Ethernet Switch

Read the full review

Most unmanaged Ethernet switches allow you to connect multiple devices in a plug and play manner and, since these devices lack any utility software, some do come with hardware means of offering some type of QoS. The new TRENDnet TPE-LG80 is built in a similar way, but it went a few steps further so, besides featuring the same plug and play approach, the switch supports PoE+ on all of its eight ports, it offers QoS and VLAN port isolation, but, most importantly, the PoE+ signal can be extended up to 656 feet (at 10 Mbps full duplex), instead of the default 328 feet (this way, it’s the first device from TRENDnet to make it to the best Ethernet switches list).

This ensures a more flexible outdoors deployment (or indoors, if you have a large area to cover) of PoE devices, such as wireless access points (for a better WiFi coverage), IP cameras and more. Besides the 8-port TPE-LG80, TRENDnet has also released the 5-port TPE-LG50 which is also part of the new Long Range series.
Similarly to other switches on the market, the TPE-LG80 features a rectangular metallic case, covered by a black matte finish all around and the only relevant touch of colour is the green band on the front of the device (surrounding the ports), along with the red DIP switch area on the front. Sure, the TPE-LG80 may not be as good looking as the Netgear Nighthawk S8000, but it has adopted the most practical design which allows you to place the router on a flat surface or mount it on the wall – for mounting it on a rack, you will need to use a tray since the manufacturer did not add any lateral holes for attaching rack mounting ears.

Usually, PoE switches aren’t as compact as the non-PoE counterparts, but, TRENDnet has done some magic and managed to include all the necessary hardware in a very small case. So, the TPE-LG80 measures 9.45 x 4.13 x 1.1 inches and it weighs 20.88 ounces (it has a smaller footprint than the TPE-TG81g which measures 10.5 x 6.3 x 1.7 inches and the OM S8 is about five times bigger). Furthermore, PoE switches have a tendency of running at a higher temperature, so TRENDnet has added a set of ventilation cut-outs on the right side, as well as on the left side and on the rear, but it decided against including a fan, therefore purely relying on passive cooling. This ensures that the Ethernet switch will always run silently and, if you worry that it may overheat, rest assure that it won’t – it does get slightly warm on the top when put under some stress, but the TPE-LG80 never showed any signs of overheating.

On the front of the device, there’s a DC-In port, an On/Off switch, a DIP switch (with eight switches, each performing a different task on various ports), a PoE Alert LED (lights up when the PoE budget goes beyond the maximum 65 Watts), a PWR LED and two LEDs for each Ethernet LAN ports (the bottom LED will becomes green when a PoE device is connected and, the top LED becomes amber when the connection is established at 10/100 Mbps and it will shine green when the connection is at 1000 Mbps). Lastly, farther to the left, rest the eight PoE+ Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports.

As expected from an unmanaged Plug-and-Play switch, the installation process is incredibly simple and all you have to do is connect the TPE-LG80 to a power source, use an Ethernet cable to connect it to a modem / router and add any other devices using the front panel ports (besides the usual access points or computers, you can also connect 802.3af PoE cameras and 802.3af PoE+ surveillance cameras). The TRENDnet TPE-LG80 lacks any type of utility for managing or configuring the device and the network, but, there are some interesting built-in features that will make a difference and, of course, I’m talking about using the DIP switch.

If you push the first DIP switch to the On position, the first and the second ports will extend the PoE+ distance up to 656 feet (limited at 10 Mbps) and, to put this to test, I connected two devices to the switch (using a 560-foot cable in between them) and saw an average throughput of 9.52 Mbps from the client to the server and 9.45 Mbps from the server to the client. This indicates that TRENDnet has done a great job and the advertised throughput is close to what you’ll get in real life. The second DIP switch activates the long range ability to the third and fourth ports and the third DIP switch activates VLAN port isolation for the first to the fourth ports.

The fourth DIP switch activates QOS, while the fifth DIP switch activates the LR function on the fifth Ethernet port. The sixth and seventh DIP switch will enable the LR ability to the sixth and seventh port, respectively and, lastly, the eighth DIP switch activates the VLAN port isolation to the port 5, 6 and 7. It is important to not switch on the DIP switch three and eight at the same time.
Note: Inside the package, there is the TRENDnet TPE-LG80 Long Range switch, the Power cord and a Quick Installation Guide.

3. TP-LINK TL-SG1008PE 8-Port Ethernet Switch

TP-Link has gone a long way from its early days when it was only influential in the country of origin (China) and managed to achieve a top place among the best networking products manufacturers in the world. TP-Link’s interest spans over many type of products, including thepowerline adapters, wireless routers, ADSL modems, IP cameras and, of course Ethernet switches.
The product I’m going to focus on is the TP-LINK TL-SG1008PE, a 8-port PoE+ rackmount switch which is part of the unmanaged type of devices.

The TL-SG1008PE features a rectangular metallic case, covered by a dark blue finish and with a slab of plastic where the LEDs and ports reside. The top of the TL-SG1008PE is quite uneventful, the only thing that caught my attention is the carved-in TP-Link logo. On the left, you can find a series of air vents that help deliver a better ventilation, but it doesn’t stop here, because TP-Link decided to go the noisy way and equipped the TL-SG1008PE with a fan (hidden under a hexagonal shaped vent hole pattern on the right side of the switch).

While other 8 and 16-port switches from this list were quite compact and could be easily placed anywhere, the footprint of the TL-SG1008PE is a bit large (it measures 11.6 x 7.1 x 1.7 inches and it weighs 5.5 lbs). So, you can definitely place the switch on a flat surface (like a desk or a shelf), but if you don’t have the space for it, you can’t mount the device on the wall. Fortunately, it can be mounted on a rack.

The front side of the switch is home to the eight 10/100/1000M RJ45 Ethernet Gigabit ports (all eight come with PoE+ support). On the left side of the ports, there are two main LEDs for PoE MAX (solid red means that the power of all connected devices is between 120 and 126W, otherwise, if the LED is flashing red, it means that the power of all the connected PoE ports is either equal or exceeds 126W; lastly, if the LED is off, then the power of all connected PoE ports is under 120W) and Power (if it’s flashing green, then the power supply acts abnormal).

Besides these two LEDs, there are three arrays of LED lights for every port, each showing the PoE Status (flashing green means that there may be a short circuit or that the power current may be overloaded), the Link/Activity and the 1000Mbps (if the LED is on, it means that the port connection runs at 1000Mbps; there is no distinctive colour for the speeds under the 1000Mbps). On the back side of the switch, there is a power port (100-240V~ 50/60Hz 2.0A) and on the bottom side there four protruded feet and a label with printed info about the device (the serial number).

Furthermore, the TL-SG1008PE features a total PoE power budget is 124W, but there are two additional variations of this Ethernet switch which can also be added to the best Ethernet switches list: the TL-SG1008P, an 8-port Gigabit switch that is equipped with only four PoE ports and there’s the less expensive TL-SF1008P, also a 8-port switch with 4 PoE ports which lacks the Gigabit speeds (it uses older Fast Ethernet ports).

Since we are dealing with a Plug-and-Play device, the setup process of the TL-SG1008PE is quite simple, all you have to do is connect the power cable to the back of the switch and to a wall outlet (keep a safe distance from the other devices that may cause interference, such as powerline adapters) and then just add your devices using Ethernet cables (since this is a PoE+ switch, you can add 802.3af/at compliant devices, like IP cameras or IP telephones).

One interesting feature is the priority functions, that has the role to protect the system in case of power overload. So, if the power consumption is greater or equal to 124W, the eight PoE+ ports will receive a priority and the switch will cut the power from the port with the lowest priority (for example, port 1, 2 and 4 will use 30W, while port 3 will use 25W, so any port after the first four will have the power supply cut, as they will have a lower priority).

Furthermore, the TL-SG1008PE has a great energy efficient technology that detects if there is any unused PoE port, so it can reduce the power consumption by up to 75%. Additionally, the switching capacity is 16Gps and it supports Jumbo frames (16Kb).
The TP-LINK TL-SG1008PE switch is compliant with the following standards: IEEE802.3i, IEEE802.3u, IEEE802.3ab, IEEE802.3x, IEEE802.1p, IEEE802.3af and IEEE802.3at.
Note: Inside the package, you can find the TP-LINK TL-SG1008PE switch unit, a Power cord, the Installation Guide, four rubber feet and two mounting brackets, along with the fittings.

4. CISCO SYSTEMS SG112-24-NA Ethernet Switch

CISCO SYSTEMS is the largest networking company in the world and it’s well known for its enterprise-focused products (including routers and switches), but it also hasn’t neglected the consumer side.
One such product that is more suitable for the homes/small businesses sector, instead of the larger offices and corporations, is the CISCO SYSTEMS SG112-24-NA, a 24-port unmanaged switch that can offer network connectivity, as well as reliability for small businesses.

In terms of design, the SG112-24-NA looks pretty much the same as any other switch on the market. You get the black rectangular case, made of metal and with the matte finish on top. Since not much can be made for a switch to stand out from the crowd, manufacturers have resorted to making the devices as compact as possible. Cisco also adopted this new trend and made the SG112-24-NA surprisingly compact (it measures 11.0 x 1.7 x 6.7 inches and it weighs 5.05 lb), which means that it won’t take more space than a router.

So, you can position it pretty much everywhere in the room in the horizontal position, but, if space is important (in offices), Cisco offered the option to wall mount the device. Additionally, the SG112-24-NA can be rack mounted by using the two included brackets (before installing the switch into a rack, take into consideration the ambient temperature, don’t obstruct the airflow, use an overcurrent protection and a reliable earthing).

The bottom of the SG112-24-NA is plain, as well as the top, with only the CISCO logo that livens up a bit the device. On the front, you are greeted with all 24 Ethernet Gigabit RJ-45 ports (10/100/1000) positioned in two arrays of 12, and two more combo mini-GBIC (SPF) slots that converts the electric currents to optical signals and vice-versa (acts as an interface for high-speed networking and it’s used for fiber optic connections).

Each of the 24 Ethernet ports features two LED lights (on the left and right) for LINK/ACTIVITY and GIGABIT. On the left of the ports, underneath the small CISCO logo, there is a PWR green light that shows if the unit is powered ON. If you turn the switch around, there are a couple of labels, the first one containing information about the S/N, MAC address and PID VID. Next to the labels, there’s the Power port (100-240V~, 1000-500mA, 50-60Hz).
This switch does not feature any fan (it uses passive ventilation), so there is no annoying noise. The heat dissipation is done by the series of vent holes on the left and right of the device.

In terms of hardware, the CISCO SYSTEMS SG112-24-NA is equipped with 128 MB flash memory, 128 MB of RAM and, since we are dealing with a 24-ports switch, there is a total bandwidth of 48 Gbps available.
Setting up the SG112-24-NA is very simple, since this is a plug-and-play device, so you only have to connect your devices using an Ethernet cable and the switch will do the job on its own without needing any configuration from the user.

Obviously, since this is a Cisco device, there are lots of interesting features that run automatically and help creating a reliable network. Among them, there is the Quality of Service (QoS), which senses the services that need prioritizing (like VOIP or video streaming) so you get a better network performance. The QoS also uses the weighted round-robin (WRR) features, which has the role to distribute the load among the resources, so the requests are evenly distributed.

Another interesting feature is the Loop Detection, which has the role to discover any accidentally created loop in the network, so it avoids any possible broadcast storm (the network is overwhelmed by continuous broadcast or multicast traffic). Additionally, there are also the cable diagnostics (identifies any cable faults or shorts), the flow control, Layer 2 switching, auto-negotiating, it support Jumbo frames (9216 bytes), 35.7 Mbps forwarding capacity, Energy Efficient Ethernet (it monitors the traffic on an active link and it puts the link into sleep mode during quiet periods, so there is reduces energy consumption) and many more.
The SG112-24-NA is compliant with the following standards: IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3az, IEEE 802.1p, IEEE 802.3u, IEEE 802.3x and IEEE 802.3z.
Note: Inside the box, you can find the CISCO SYSTEMS SG112-24-NA unit, a power Adaptor, the Rack Mount Kit and a Quick Start Guide.

5. NETGEAR ProSAFE GS108 Ethernet Switch

Netgear is a well known manufacturer of networking products, having a portfolio that covers consumer-level devices, as well as enterprise-type products. Among them, there are powerline adapters, routers (the Nighthawk series being incredibly popular), NAS devices, wireless VPN firewalls and ProSAFE switches.
Maintaining the theme of the article, I will focus on an entry-level unmanaged switch, the NETGEAR ProSAFE GS108, which is suitable for home use, as well as for small business offices.

The NETGEAR ProSAFE GS108 went through several revisions (the latest being v4), but it has kept the same design, looking very similar to pretty much every other switch on the market. It doesn’t really excel from the aesthetic point of view, but switches are all about practicability. So, you can expect a metallic rectangular case, covered by a blue matte finish, with the Netgear logo and name written on top, as well as two series of vent grills on both the right and left side.

The switch itself is very compact, as expected from an 8-port device, it measures 6.2 x 4.0 x 1.1 inches and weighs 1.04 lb (it’s lightweight, but the four feet should give it more stability). In terms of positioning, the GS108 can be placed horizontally on a flat surface (just make sure not to obstruct the air vents), but it can also be wall-mounted. As expected, you can’t rack-mount it, this option being available only for the 16-port and the 24-port variants (JGS516NA and the JGS524NA).

On the bottom of the switch, besides the four feet and the two holes for wall-mounting, there is a label with printed information about the device (the version of the switch and the serial number). The front of the switch is occupied by the 8 10/100/1000 Base-T RJ45 Ethernet ports and a Power LED (if it’s ON, it means that there is Link, otherwise, if it blinks, it means that there is ACTIVITY).

Every port features two LEDs: the left LED lights up if there is a connection of 100Mbps, the right LED lights up for a connection of 10Mbps. If both LEDs are ON at the same time, it means that there is a connection of 1000Mbps. Unfortunately, none of the ports support the PoE technology. The rear side of the switch is home to a Kensington lock, an OFF/ON switch and a Power port (12V – 0.5A). Overall, the power consumption is quite low and because it doesn’t feature a fan (it relies on passive cooling), the switch is quiet.

Furthermore, I saw some major improvements from the GS108v3 in terms of power conumption after Netgear added support for the latest IEEE 802.3az standard which should translate into reduced energy consumption (up to 50% less) when the cable is shorter than 320 feet (Auto Green Mode), when there is light traffic on any active ports or when no activity is detected (a features also called Auto-Power Down).
Inside the case, the NETGEAR ProSAFE GS108v4 remains equipped with a Broadcom BCM53118 chipset. The advertised switching capacity of the NETGEAR ProSAFE GS108 is 16Gbps.

Since this is an unmanaged switch, the setup process is very simple (this is a Plug and Play device): you have to connect the power adapter to the back of the switch and connect the desired devices using Ethernet cables (Cat 5). For every added client, the corresponding LED should turn on and flash when activity occurs.
Despite being unmanaged, the NETGEAR ProSAFE GS108 has lots of built-in features that help crating a better LAN network. Among them, there is the support for Jumbo frames (9k), which has the ability to boost the throughput significantly, there’s also the Store and Forward and the 192 KB on-chip Packet Buffering forwarding modes.

Additionally, you get traffic prioritization and DSCP-based QoS, so, applications like VOIP and video streaming have a higher priority.
The NETGEAR ProSAFE GS108 is compliant with the following standards: IEEE 802.3i, IEEE 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.3az and 802.1p.
Note: Inside the package, you can find the NETGEAR ProSAFE GS108 Gigabit unit, the AC Power adapter, the wall-mounting screws, an Installation Guide and the Warranty.

6. Buffalo BS-GU2024 Ethernet Switch

Buffalo Technology is a North American subsidiary of the Japanese company Melco Holdings Inc. The Austin-based company is a fairly popular manufacturer of networking products and a leading provider of NAS devices, wireless routers and access points, external hard drives, network switches (both unmanaged and smart devices) and many other type of networking solutions.

One of the more popular products from Buffalo Technology is the BS-GU2024, which is an interesting rackmount unmanaged switch, suitable for small business offices or for a home tech enthusiast. The Buffalo BS-GU2024 is part of the Gigabit Green Ethernet Switches group and, since this series lacks the PoE functionality and, you can have a look at the 16-port BS-GU2016P (but be aware that it will cost a bit more).

The design of the BS-GU2024 follows the same guidelines as most other switches on the market, which is a good thing especially because I am talking about a device that can be rack-mounted, so it has to have a rectangular case. Furthermore, Buffalo made the device fairly compact for a 24-port switch (it measures 11.8 x 1.7 x 7.0 inches and weighs 3.5 lbs) and the chassis is made of metal, therefore it’s a lot more durable than the plastic alternative.

The Buffalo BS-GU2024 can be positioned in multiple ways: you can put it horizontally on a shelf or desk (but, don’t forget to attach the supplied rubber feet), it can be mounted to a metal surface by using the BS-MGK-A Magnet kit (which is not included in the package – see the note below), it can be mounted on the wall using the supplied mounting brackets (use the mounting holes from the bottom of the device) and lastly, the switch can be installed on a 19-inch rack by using the mounting brackets and the provided screws (use the four holes on each side of the device).

Note: Inside the package, you can find the BS-GU2024 switch unit, an AC 100-240V power cable, a retainer band for the power cable, the 19-inch mounting brackets along with the screws, the rubber feet, the serial number stickers, user manual and warranty.
Since this device is marketed as a rackmount switch, the top of the device is plain and uneventful (except maybe for the vent holes from the top edges) and the same can be said for the right and left side. But, on the rear side of the BS-GU2024, you can find the AC-IN power port and a zone for the power cable retainer.

As expected, the front of the switch is the most eventful side. Here, you can find 48 LED lights, two for every port, each having three states: if the LINK/ACT LED is Off, the link has not been established, if it’s On, then the link has been established, otherwise, if the LED is blinking, it means that the data is being transferred and if the loop is blocked, the LED will blink once per second. If the 1000 Mbps LED (green) is On, it signifies a 1000 Mbps link, otherwise, if it’s Off, it signifies either a 100/10 Mbps link or no link. If the LED blinks once per second, it means that a loop is blocked. Additionally, there are a couple of LEDs, one for LOOP and the other for Power.

On the right side of the LEDs, there is a small Loop prevention switch, which can turn On or Off this function. Next to the small button, there are two blocks of 12 LAN ports each (1000BASET/100BASE-TX/10BASE-T). Overall, the power consumption of the switch is 13.5W at full load and, since this is a fanless switch (possible because it’s unmanaged), the device runs silent.

The Buffalo BS-GU2024 is an unmanaged switch, therefore setting it up is very simple (as with any plug-and-play device): all you have to do is to connect your devices to the switch, using Ethernet cables and that’s pretty much it, you don’t need to configure anything. But, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t some interesting features that help create a better and more secure network.

The BS-GU2024 is capable of Jumbo Frames (9K – Header 14 Bytes + FCS 4 Bytes inclusive), has a buffer memory of 512KB and a switching fabric of 48 Gbps. Furthermore, the switch features the 802.3az Green Ethernet technology, that scans which ports have connected devices and provides power only to the active ports, while also putting any transmitters in Sleep Mode if no data has been received or sent. Also, this feature takes into consideration the length of the connected cable so it can adjust the amount of power it needs to supply. Additionally, the switch has the Loop prevention feature which will turn off any port where there’s a network loop detected (you will also be alerted by the dedicated LED if there is a network loop detected).
Note: The switch has an internal power supply.

Unmanaged vs Web-smart vs Managed switches

As you have probably guessed, you will find three main types of switches: unmanaged, Web-smart and managed switches.
The unmanaged switches are the most basic from the bunch, as they require no configuration, no management and they work as plug-and-play devices (just add your devices one by one using Ethernet cables). But, this doesn’t mean that the unmanaged switches are devoid of any features. Quite the contrary, because most come with a basic form of QoS, there is PoE port prioritization (if PoE support is present), but, everything is done automatically and works as you power on the switch until you turn it off, there is no way to configure these options in depth (some can still be monitored by LED indicators).

In terms of appearance, there isn’t a difference between an unmanaged and a managed switch, they can be positioned on a desktop, wall or rack mounted. But, is an unmanaged switch the best device for you? Well, if a plug-and-play switch that doesn’t require any configuration and works well by its own sounds good to you, then yes, you should go for it (also, take into consideration the built-in PoE support). Also, don’t forget that unmanaged switches are the cheapest out of the three variations.

The Web-smart switches are a form of managed switches, but with a more limited feature set (they fall between the unmanaged and the managed switches niche).
Smart switches are easy to set up and offer a web interface that allows you to configure a lot of features (a more basic set, comparing it with a full managed switch). You get Link Aggregation, Port Monitoring, VLAN, QoS, LAG and some other L2-level features, but, while most of the managed switches can be managed using a CLI (command line interface), a smart-managed switch lacks any console port, SSH or telnet support.

While some may argue that a web-smart switch may have a poorer management spectrum, less features and not enough security, technology has evolved a lot lately and some web-managed switches can now rival the full-managed ones. But, this will be reflected in the price tag (although, usually, smart switches are cheaper than the enterprise ones). But, do you need a Web-smart switch? Since these type of switches are the middle ground between the unmanaged and the managed switches, it means that they will work great with small businesses, as they offer some degree of configurability (especially if the features of a managed switch may be overkill) and, usually, they come at a more reasonable price. If this are your needs, then yes, smart switches are perfect for you (again, take into consideration the advantages of PoE support).

A fully-manages switch (also known as enterprise switch) offers the most out of the three variants and the biggest difference between them is the level of control over the network. As expected, the fully managed switches provide the greatest amount of management and control. You also get access to more than one interfaces (including CLI, SSH and SNMP) and layer 3 features (routing capabilities).

Now, do you need a fully managed switch? There is an IT joke that if you wonder if you need a managed switch, then chances are you that don’t. And there is a bit a truth into this, because a managed switch gives full control over the network and the manager can see everything that is going on and adjust it in such a way that the network will be perfectly optimized. This requires a clear understanding of how things work and a steep learning curve. Usually, medium to large enterprise-level networks would need such high-end switches, but lately, even small businesses seem to take an interest for the fully-managed switches.

What Features Should You Look For Before Choosing The Best Network Switch?

1. Number of Ports
One of the most important factors to consider is choosing the switch with the right number of ports (the Ethernet switches, usually come with 5, 8, 10, 16, 24, 48 and 52 ports). For example, if you have 4 or 5 devices to connect, then a 5 or 8-port switch would fit the bill.

Also, if you have 15 devices, then a 16-port will handle them, but if you want to expand the network in the future, you may want to consider purchasing a 24-port switch. At the same time, if you have over 50 users (a small business), then you may have to consider purchasing two switches to handle your network.

2. Gigabit or Fast Ethernet
The Fast Ethernet is a term that refers to a traffic rate of 100Mbps (an upgrade over the usual 10Mbps rate), while the Gigabit Ethernet is a term that refers to a traffic rate of 1000Mbps.
Obviously, a Gigabit switch is preferred, but depending on your network setup, it may not really be a necessity. You need a Gigabit switch if you need to push 1000Mbps per port and it’s ideal if you need to transfer large volumes of data and have a fast performing network with a low latency.

Obviously, there will be more stress on the link, but you get a better performance, more bandwidth and less congestion, but if your network focuses on Internet access or just for the transfer of low volume of files, then a Fast Ethernet switch (100Mbps) will be more than enough. Regardless, you should still consider a Gigabit switch, simply because the technology got less expensive than before and it’s clearly future-proof.

3. PoE
The PoE (Power over Ethernet) technology refers to any system that passes electric power along with network data on an Ethernet cable.
This technology helps to reduce the cost (since you don’t need to install any power cables), is safe (has protection for overloading or underpowering) and is flexible (compatible devices can be installed anywhere, without worrying about having a nearby power outlet).

Some of the devices that use the PoE technologies are VoIP phones, IP cameras and wireless access points. The last two types of devices are the reason why PoE switches are becoming more popular everyday. Nowadays, people value a lot more a flexible network infrastructure and a PoE switch allows you to connect any type of devices, but recognizes the PoE-compatible devices (such as IP cameras) and it enables power automatically.

The PoE technology obviously offers a series of advantages and can be found implemented on unmanaged switches and on the managed ones, but will definitely increase the price (and sometimes even the size of the switch).

4. With Fans or Fanless?
This one may seem simple, because everybody prefers their devices to be as quiet as possible, so a fanless switch is the preferred one. Unmanaged and Web-smart switches are usually fanless, simply because they don’t emanate a lot of heat (due to a less powerful setup), but, if switches have the PoE tchnology and are managed (therefore a better performance), then the passive cooling may not be enough, so when things get heated, the fans can come into action to cool the situation down.

If you have a server room, having a noisy switch won’t really make a difference, but if you keep your devices on the desk or wall-mount them, then a fanless switch will be the preferred option.

5. Desktop, Rackmount or Wall-mount
Ideally, a switch will feature all three options, but, depending on the size, the rack-mounting option may not make much sense. A desktop switch will have the default position horizontally, with four feet on the bottom, but, usually, you can also wall-mount it. The rackmount switches, on the other hand, will feature only this position (on a rack) as the only one available (the case will have no screen or LED on top) and some switches will also have the rackmount ears built into the body of the switch.

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Mark is a graduate in Computer Science, having gathered valuable experience over the years working in IT as a programmer. Mark is also the main tech writer for MBReviews.com, covering not only his passion, the networking devices, but also other cool electronic gadgets that you may find useful for your every day life.

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