8-port gigabit switch

[Smudger]

I've got an old Edimax 10/100 switch/router sat between my powerline adaptor and my media stuff (TV, PS3, Blu-ray, Tivo) and now I've got 200Mbps internets, I thought it might be due an update. I know I'm not going to get 200mbps with powerline, but I want as much headroom as possible, as I might use it for delivering 4k streaming to the new telly I'm thinking about buying.

I've looked at Netgear GS switches and it all seems like they do the same thing but with different price tags. Will the basic, plastic GS208 do the job, or am I better off going for a managed/web managed/smart switch? Ideally I'd like to just plug it in and let it do its job.

[Biscuit]

I suspect, as you already mentioned, the powerline will be your bottleneck anyway. Using a gbit switch without upgrading them will be a bit of a waste. Even so there shouldnt be a limit for 4K media if its decoded locally to the television.

No need for any kind of smart switch, anything basic will do the job you describe. I use a mixture of cheapo netgear and TP link gigabit switches around the flat for basically the same purpose as you explain. Works perfectly fine.

Personally I prefer the ones with metal cases over the plastic ones... but I suspect the innards are basically the same.

[virtuo]

I suspect, as you already mentioned, the powerline will be your bottleneck anyway. Using a gbit switch without upgrading them will be a bit of a waste. Even so there shouldnt be a limit for 4K media if its decoded locally to the television.

No need for any kind of smart switch, anything basic will do the job you describe. I use a mixture of cheapo netgear and TP link gigabit switches around the flat for basically the same purpose as you explain. Works perfectly fine.

Personally I prefer the ones with metal cases over the plastic ones... but I suspect the innards are basically the same.

+1 I always go as cheap as possible and have always gotten a metal enclosure - don't think I've ever seen a plastic one? Amazon seem to usually have a 5-8 port Netgear GB switch for around a tenner

[Smudger]

Thanks, they do this one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NETGEAR-GS2...f_rd_i=desktop

Which seems exactly the same as this one, except in a plastic case. They were both at £13.99 earlier in the week, maybe I'll wait for the metal one to come down in price again.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NETGEAR-GS3...keywords=gs308

[bledd]

Ditch the powerline, run ethernet.

[Smudger]

I guess another question is: I've already got 500mbps powerline adaptors, which probably deliver about 25-30mbps, is upgrading the powerline units going to improve things, or am I at the mercy of my electric circuits?

[Smudger]

Ditch the powerline, run ethernet.

Nice idea, in practice...

Actually, we're getting some work done on the house soon, maybe I'll drop a cable down then... (fnaar fnaar)

Edit: So for minimum fuss/expenditure I'd go VM modem -> wall plate -> ethernet put in wall while work being done ->wall plate -> switch -> TV etc? Or would I want another switch in between modem and wall socket?

[virtuo]

Thanks, they do this one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NETGEAR-GS2...f_rd_i=desktop

Which seems exactly the same as this one, except in a plastic case. They were both at £13.99 earlier in the week, maybe I'll wait for the metal one to come down in price again.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NETGEAR-GS3...keywords=gs308

Yep I have that exact 308 - I paid £15 for it about 6 months ago and I've seen them lower in the daily/prime deals. At £20 they are still an instant buy for me.

Edit: Just missed out, they were £13.99 a week ago
http://uk.camelcamelcamel.com/NETGEA...uct/B00AWM7PKO

but the price is up and down very regularly.


Zero issues other than the ports only have one light so you don't know what speed they are running at by looking at it (most will have a yellow 100MB and green 1Gb light, these just have a green light for everything)

Edit: looking in to it, those lights should change colour depending on speed - I don't think they do but everything I run is at 1G anyway so it's not important.

[Biscuit]

Ditch the powerline, run ethernet.

The OP asked about a cheap £10 gigabit switch and you're telling him to rewire his house?!

Dude, you do this on every thread where powerlines are mentioned and people say the same thing every god-damn time.... nevertheless...
The convenience of powerlines far outway the latency and performance benefits of fixed ethernet cable for 95% of home use cases. If you buy a good set, they work just fine and many people cant actually get away with running Ethernet cables around their rental homes.

Nice idea, in practice...

Actually, we're getting some work done on the house soon, maybe I'll drop a cable down then... (fnaar fnaar)

Edit: So for minimum fuss/expenditure I'd go VM modem -> wall plate -> ethernet put in wall while work being done ->wall plate -> switch -> TV etc? Or would I want another switch in between modem and wall socket?

Totally up to you about whether you run the switch local to the end devices or closer to the router and then run lots of cables. Personally If I had the opportunity to run cables in then I would run a few more to each location than you think you initially need. This way you're covered on both front. Alternatively it could be used to hide the STB near the router and run HDMI through the CAT5e/6 cable.
Either way, If it doesn't get used right away then it can stay in the wall/box un-terminated until you need it.

[Smudger]

Thanks, I'll speak to our electrician when he comes. Or it might be that I decide just to stick with the powerlines (TP Link AV500s). Our wifi's pretty strong as well...

[Dashers]

So for minimum fuss/expenditure I'd go VM modem -> wall plate -> ethernet put in wall while work being done ->wall plate -> switch -> TV etc? Or would I want another switch in between modem and wall socket?

If you've got a sparky doing some work, it makes sense to think about the future slightly. It also depends on the disruption, chasing cables in brick is a pain, but if you have stud walls then it's very easy for a sparky.

I've got a NAS in the airing cupboard, so my modem and main switch is in there. I then have cables from there to relevant places, such as the TV, which has an old switch/wireless doofa. TV and what-not is all connected to the switch and the wireless is unobstructed and in the area of the house it's used.

But then I also had cables run off to other rooms from the airing cupboard too - so I my PC is hard-wired and my TV in my bedroom is too. Life is so much nicer with CAT.

[outwar6010]

I'm using powerlines on my consoles and its just sooo awesome. Why do you expect to get such low speeds from them? I get the full speed when sse isn't throttling me. I got the full speed when I was with Plusnet though.

I have these.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[DanceswithUnix]

I have these.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

People mean they don't get the full 500Mbit, and generally not even close. I get about 80Mbit/s out of my 500Mbit/s powerline network, but that is more than our 40Mbit internet connection so there aren't many complaints. I think I have too many plugged in now, and occasionally they drop out. Time to bite the bullet and work out how to drop a cable or two which I utterly dread doing.

I have 5 of them, occasionally a 6th if I am working on a PC in the garage.

[Saracen]

If you've got a sparky doing some work, it makes sense to think about the future slightly. It also depends on the disruption, chasing cables in brick is a pain, but if you have stud walls then it's very easy for a sparky.

....

But as Biscuit pointed out, if it's a rental property then how easy it is to do may not be the problem. The oroblem may well be the landlord who either just says no, or might allow it but only if done to standards they dictate, by contractors they trust. And that includes redecorating to that standard after chasing walls out, and if it's painted plaster it seems near impossible to match the chased out bit without using a good plasterer. All told, sometimes powerline is just a good compromise.

Me? Not a fan of powerline, but then, I'm not renting and can (and have) run network cables all over the house. Several times. The first lot being10Base2 coax in about 1990. God, that takes me back. And a right bleep of a job it was too. Thankfully, I "future-proofed" enough to have been able to pull that out and modernise fairly easily.

Powerline might not be the optimum solution, and it wouldn't be my first choice (in this house) but sometimes, given other circujstances, it's just good enough compared to the hassle, effort and cost of alternatives.

[Smudger]

If you've got a sparky doing some work, it makes sense to think about the future slightly. It also depends on the disruption, chasing cables in brick is a pain, but if you have stud walls then it's very easy for a sparky.

We're having a stud wall taken out to open up our lounge, moving away the power outlet that was there into the outside, brick wall. Not sure I'll get away with it, but I guess it depends which way he's making the conduit. We're also getting new spots etc so the downstairs ceiling below the room where the stuff will be, is coming down.

Edit: I realise this may be confusing. The VM cable comes into the upstairs in the house. I think they guy who owned it before used to run a home business, and that's where he did his computing. Below this room is where the ceiling will be coming down. I'm happy to leave the modem etc upstairs, and the network speed I get from the Powerline adaptors is adequate, but might not be once I get 4k.

[Smudger]

I'm using powerlines on my consoles and its just sooo awesome. Why do you expect to get such low speeds from them? I get the full speed when sse isn't throttling me. I got the full speed when I was with Plusnet though.

I have these.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've got the newer/older/mini version of those, supposed to be 500s, but not getting anywhere near.