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ploppy
Avid Contributor I
September 13, 2018

Recommendation for new Gigabit Switch

I'm thinking of replacing my old/slow unmanaged switch to which I connect my two Play:5s so I'm looking for a recommendation.

Briefly, my setup is as follows:
BT HomeHub 5
Unmanaged 100BaseT switch connected to HH5 and the following connected to the switch
- two Play:3s, in stereo
- macMini
- DVD Player
Also wired directly to HH5 are
- NowTV box
- BT TV box
On the wifi
- one Play:1 in kitchen
- one Play:1 upstairs
- a variety of MacBook Pros and iPhones

I've read various posts in the past talking about managed switches, VLANs (especially where NowTV is involved), etc so I'm curious as to what the current advice is. Would anyone please recommend a managed switch for me? I'd also need to know whether there is any specific settings I need with respect to getting my Sonos to work optimally with it.

I know Curry's (in the UK) sell the TP-LINK TL-SG105E for £25 - so I'm imagining something like that. Annoyingly, that switch has the ports and power socket on opposite sides. Ideally I'd like one with all the ugly cable stuff on the same side so that I can make my rat's nest look tidier.

TIA.
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21 replies

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Belly M
Belly M
September 14, 2018
D-Link with metal case, unmanaged, but have a look at eBuyer.com

In my experience pretty looking white plastic cased switches tend to overheat. Hide it away in a cupboard, kick the back out for cables and close the door!
    Kenv
    Kenv
    September 14, 2018
    These BT switches seem to get good enough reviews on Amazon, not that the commentators necessarily struck me as having any particular expertise, but critically the switch did what they wanted. Additionally they are not on the Sonos list of incompatible hardware, although be aware that is not an exhaustive list.
    The final question is if your existing switch works will you notice any improvement in moving from 10/100MB to a Gigabit switch, I am doubtful that you will. However at the price these are not expensive.
    pwt
    pwt
    Virtuoso
    September 14, 2018
    The TP-Link device linked below has worked fine for me for 3+ years. It sits in the house wiring closet and I've never had to touch it. There are two or three unmanaged switches (Apple AirPort and Airport Express, D-Link) sitting downstream of the main switch. It all works fine with Sonos.

    I have 50-100 networked devices in the house, but I've not so far had a requirement for anything other than an unmanaged switch.

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00A121WN6
    4 x P:5 | Sub | 4 x P:1 | 3 x Connect | 2 x Boost | Connect:Amp | 2 x One | Amp | Move | Port | Era 300
      ploppyAuthor
      Avid Contributor I
      September 14, 2018
      D-Link with metal case, unmanaged, but have a look at eBuyer.com

      In my experience pretty looking white plastic cased switches tend to overheat. Hide it away in a cupboard, kick the back out for cables and close the door!
      If only - no cupboards in the vicinity, unfortunately.
      ploppyAuthor
      Avid Contributor I
      September 14, 2018
      The final question is if your existing switch works will you notice any improvement in moving from 10/100MB to a Gigabit switch, I am doubtful that you will. However at the price these are not expensive.
      Just noticed recently that the power input socket to my existing switch is dodgy, so it loses power intermittently.
      Belly M
      Belly M
      September 14, 2018
      D-Link with metal case, unmanaged, but have a look at eBuyer.com

      In my experience pretty looking white plastic cased switches tend to overheat. Hide it away in a cupboard, kick the back out for cables and close the door!
      If only - no cupboards in the vicinity, unfortunately.

      Found that Netgear ones are great initially and then die early, but for home use would still suggest a plastic D-Link as they have ventilation slots.

      https://www.ebuyer.com/54225-d-link-dgs-1008d-8-port-gigabit-unmanaged-desktop-switch-dgs-1008d-b-dgs-1008d

      (I also have several Apple Airport Extremes / Time Capsules configured as switches, such a shame Apple no longer make them.)
      ploppyAuthor
      Avid Contributor I
      September 14, 2018
      The TP-Link device linked below has worked fine for me for 3+ years. It sits in the house wiring closet and I've never had to touch it. There are two or three unmanaged switches (Apple AirPort and Airport Express, D-Link) sitting downstream of the main switch. It all works fine with Sonos.

      I have 50-100 networked devices in the house, but I've not so far had a requirement for anything other than an unmanaged switch.

      https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00A121WN6
      If I were hiding it away, I'd go for something like that, but as it'll be visible it needs to look slightly less industrial - to satisfy the powers that be! That's the main reason I'm leaning towards the BT.
      pwt
      pwt
      Virtuoso
      September 14, 2018
      If I were hiding it away, I'd go for something like that, but as it'll be visible it needs to look slightly less industrial - to satisfy the powers that be! That's the main reason I'm leaning towards the BT.
      Depends if you like all the blinky lights on the front of the BT switch. If I had a switch on display, I'd prefer the lights on the back next to the cabling, where I don't need to see them. Plus, I'm shallow -- I like metal cases 🙂
      4 x P:5 | Sub | 4 x P:1 | 3 x Connect | 2 x Boost | Connect:Amp | 2 x One | Amp | Move | Port | Era 300
      ploppyAuthor
      Avid Contributor I
      September 14, 2018
      If I were hiding it away, I'd go for something like that, but as it'll be visible it needs to look slightly less industrial - to satisfy the powers that be! That's the main reason I'm leaning towards the BT.
      Depends if you like all the blinky lights on the front of the BT switch. If I had a switch on display, I'd prefer the lights on the back next to the cabling, where I don't need to see them. Plus, I'm shallow -- I like metal cases :)
      Take your point. I'll have to think about that.
      ploppyAuthor
      Avid Contributor I
      September 14, 2018
      D-Link with metal case, unmanaged, but have a look at eBuyer.com

      In my experience pretty looking white plastic cased switches tend to overheat. Hide it away in a cupboard, kick the back out for cables and close the door!
      If only - no cupboards in the vicinity, unfortunately.

      Found that Netgear ones are great initially and then die early, but for home use would still suggest a plastic D-Link as they have ventilation slots.

      https://www.ebuyer.com/54225-d-link-dgs-1008d-8-port-gigabit-unmanaged-desktop-switch-dgs-1008d-b-dgs-1008d

      (I also have several Apple Airport Extremes / Time Capsules configured as switches, such a shame Apple no longer make them.)
      Cheers. I'll add to my shortlist.
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