TOP 5 unmanaged 8-port PoE switches

TP-LINK TL-SG1008P Price from 1 849 up to 3 057 ₴ →

This affordable 8-port switch features gigabit speeds on every port. This is an undoubted advantage of this inexpensive model, since it allows you to create a fast local network with a minimum delay in the transfer of large amounts of data. 4 of the 8 ports are PoE capable, enabling easy LAN connection of active devices with power consumption up to 15.4W per port, which complies with the IEEE 802.3af standard. Most PoE-enabled IP cameras, which are typically connected to these ports, are well within this power requirement.

Ports with PoE technology can automatically detect the consumption level of a PoE device and supply the necessary power. Data and power are transferred from/to devices over a single cable, which allows you to install active network devices — IP cameras or access points — in places where there is no access to power from a wall outlet. This allows you to install the same IP video surveillance system in the most flexible way, installing cameras in the most convenient places.

Equipment without PoE support is automatically detected and does not receive power to avoid damage to the electronics. In addition, given the small PoE low-cost (maximum 53 W), the switch was equipped with an overload protection system. If the power consumption of all connected PoE devices exceeds the maximum allowed (a sharp spike in power consumption is possible, for example, when all IP cameras turn on the energy-intensive night IR illumination), the switch port(s) with a lower priority will stop receiving power. On the one hand, this is a minus — for example, one or more IP cameras can "fall out" from the surveillance system. But on the other hand, it prevents the collapse of the entire system due to energy overload of the switch, which is a definite plus. PoE ports have the following priorities: port 1 is the highest priority, port 4 is the lowest. That is, port 4 will be powered off first, and this should be taken into account when creating an IP video surveillance network or connecting PoE access points to this switch.

Tecsar TS-44

The Tecsar TS-44 8-port PoE switch is presented as a low-cost device, but quite balanced in terms of characteristics. Here, the PoE low-cost is 64W, so each of the 4 PoE-enabled ports gets at its disposal 15.4W, provided for by the IEEE 802.3af standard. This is a key difference and at the same time an advantage of this model among many other low-cost switches that have limited load power and do not allow providing 15W per port with simultaneous operation of all 4 ports with PoE support. For example, this switch is able to provide reliable power supply using the same cable that transmits the data stream for 4 PoE IP cameras with powerful night infrared illumination, effective at a distance of 40-60 metres. As you know, often it is the IR LEDs that are the most “gluttonous” component of the PoE surveillance camera. The switch automatically determines the power consumption class of a PoE device when it is connected, and flexibly manages the power consumption of the port.

This model is equipped with Ethernet ports with a maximum data transfer rate of 100 Mbps. This is quite enough for the normal operation of computers over the network, and for connecting "fast" active network devices, such as IP cameras or access points with support for the Wi-Fi standard up to 802.11n. A wired network speed of 100 Mbps is enough even to operate IP cameras with a resolution of 5 megapixels. Such cameras are more than enough to create a very high-quality video surveillance system in a private home, small office, and even in a small or medium-sized enterprise.

The electronics of the switch is placed in a durable metal case, and for its installation and operation there is no need to perform any complex operations or carry out additional settings — just connect the device to the power supply and it is completely ready for use. At the same time, the switch implements an algorithm for optimizing power consumption, which allows you to reduce power consumption with a low load on the device. Thus, the Tecsar TS-44 switch is optimally suited for operation in the SOHO segment network, which needs reliable and at the same time the most simple and efficient automated management, while not requiring a lot of money and time for installation.

PLANET FSD-804P Price from 2 935 up to 4 479 ₴ →

The PLANET FSD-804P switch is an affordable device with 8 Ethernet ports, including 4 of them with PoE support. The connection speed on all ports corresponds to Fast Ethernet: 10/100 Mbps. Among the advantages of the switch when working with a local network, one can note the presence of auto-detection of the connection speed on the port, support for duplex operation (in duplex mode, the total throughput rises to 200 Mbps per port) and the function of detecting an Ethernet cross-cable connection.

PoE switch ports comply with the IEEE802.3af standard, that is, they allow you to connect a load of up to 15 W each. This allows you to easily connect rather energy-intensive active network PoE devices — IP cameras, wireless access points, etc. to the local network without the need to connect these devices to a standard 220V outlet. This solution allows you to deploy a network infrastructure or a digital video surveillance system more variably, without being tied to the presence of electrical wiring and sockets at the device installation sites. The switch guarantees reliable power to devices over a twisted pair cable at a distance of up to 100 metres. As you know, the limit on the length of the network segment for reliable data transmission over Ethernet is also 100 m, so everything is perfectly balanced here. The switch also guarantees the normal operation of the equipment with a power of 15.4 W on each of the 4 ports with PoE.

However, when operating the switch, you need to take into account the nuance that the total PoE low-cost of the switch is 55 watts. And the power of all devices connected to the PoE ports should not exceed this value, otherwise stable operation is not guaranteed. That is, if a maximum load of 15 W is already connected to the 3rd ports of the switch, then it is not recommended to connect a PoE network device consuming more than 10 W of power to the fourth port. This fact must be taken into account when operating the network.

D-Link DGS-1008P Price from 2 599 up to 5 559 ₴ →

The size of this small switch in a compact package allows you to easily place it even in places with very limited free space. The ports are located on the rear panel, which hides the cables and minimizes their impact on the interior of the room. The switch has a passive cooling system and is therefore silent in operation, which is a big plus in a small office or home.

Despite its modest size and cost, the switch offers 8 Ethernet ports with gigabit speed. This allows you to make the local office network very fast, as well as connect wireless access points to the switch that support the advanced and fast Wi-Fi 802.11ac standard without a significant impact on the overall data transfer rate between network segments. A fast network also makes it possible to use the shared resources of NAS (Network Attached Storage) with more bandwidth and, accordingly, speed.

It is easy and simple to connect the switch to the network, it does not require manual settings, it automatically detects the speed and connection type on the ports, eliminating the need to use crossover cables when connecting to another switch or hub.

4 Ethernet ports with PoE support allow not only to transfer data, but also to supply power through a twisted pair cable. These ports can be connected to active network equipment that does not receive or is not able to receive power from the mains — various access points, IP video surveillance cameras, etc. At the same time, unlike low-cost switch models, all 4 ports here support the IEEE 802.3at standard. That is, active network equipment with power consumption up to 30 W can be connected to each of the PoE ports — for example, heated outdoor IP cameras. Whereas low-cost devices usually allow a load of less than 15 watts per port.

At the same time, you need to take into account that the total PoE low-cost of the switch is 68W. Thus, devices corresponding to IEEE 802.3af with a consumption of up to 15 W can be simultaneously connected to all 4 ports of the switch. However, more than 2 PoE devices compliant with IEEE 802.3at cannot be connected to it at the same time, with a consumption of about 30 watts.

Of the additional features, the switch supports D-Link Green technology. It reduces power consumption and extends the life of the device without sacrificing performance or functionality. Briefly about D-Link Green: the technology automatically changes power consumption depending on the status of the connection and the length of the connecting cable, up to the complete shutdown of the port in the absence of communication with the device.

Despite the fact that the D-Link DGS-1008P switch is far from new, this model, in terms of price and performance, will give odds to many much more “modern” models. This is an excellent choice for creating a network in the SOHO segment.

Zyxel GS1100-8HP

The ZyXEL Communications brand is known worldwide as a manufacturer of quality network equipment. Of course, the price of the ZyXEL switch is higher than that of Chinese counterparts of similar capabilities, but this is a payment for the name of the manufacturer and the quality of the product, as well as the excellent functionality of the technology.

Each of the switch's 8 ports supports gigabit data transfer rates, allowing you to create a high-bandwidth network that can actively use NAS and other shared network resources with large traffic flows. As expected for gigabit networks, an increased frame size is supported to reduce the load on transmission devices — Jumbo frames up to 9216 bytes in size are supported, instead of the standard 1500.

4 ports are equipped with PoE technology, and both IEEE 802.3af (up to 15W power consumption) and IEEE 802.3at (up to 30W power consumption) equipment are supported. Support for IEEE 802.3at makes it possible to connect even powerful PoE Wi-Fi access points or energy-intensive PoE IP video cameras, such as PTZ cameras or those with a long range of night illumination, to the switch. PoE — connection makes it possible to place such devices in places where it is not possible to connect the equipment to a standard 220V power supply. Plus, this network power system allows you to provide fault tolerance for network infrastructure, such as IP video surveillance systems, in case of surges, interruptions, or even a complete loss of voltage in the power grid, provided that the switch is connected to a reliable and powerful backup power source.

The total PoE low-cost of the device is quite high — 75 W, and in order not to exceed it and not damage the equipment, a corresponding warning indicator is provided on the front panel of the switch. The switch itself can be called energy-saving, it supports the ability to reduce the power consumed on the port in the absence of a connection or depending on the length of the connecting network cable.

The switch is cooled without fans, without creating unnecessary noise in the room — an important nuance for a device used in a small office or home environment. The robust metal case and compact dimensions allow this model to be used even in cramped conditions, without worrying about finding a place and structural strength of the equipment.