8 Port PoE Switch Review: Best switch for home or SME

  • Network switches provide wired connectivity to your network devices and having a reliable and well-working model is key for your smart home
  • 8 port devices are the best option for medium-sized home or a small office to cover basic network needs
  • This article reviews 3 best 8 port ethernet switches to give you our view on the best model to use in your home or office

Our Pick

Best 8 Port PoE Switch

NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch (GS108)

Best 8 Port PoE Switch

This switch offers plug and play connectivity, and it does not require any configuration and software for installation. Also it is reliable, energy-efficient and set of auto-sensing ports makes it a top product among users

$45.99 on Amazon

Alternatively, you can go for NETGEAR GS108T-200NAS 8 port PoE managed switch which is ideal for those who want plenty of configuration and control options. For a more affordable option, TP-Link 8 Port Gigabit Ethernet Network Switch is best for those who are looking for low-priced gigabit Ethernet ports.

What is 8 Port PoE Switch?

PoE is a network switch that works on Power over Ethernet Technology. When linked with different network devices, the switch supports data transmission and power simultaneously on one network cable.

Network switches come with different number ports. There are 8, 16, 24, and 48 ports in these switches. From these PoE Switches is considered as a cost-effective choice for businesses and homes.

Expanding a wired network is easy with the PoE switch 8 port. All the ports support PoE+ standard while transferring data and power on single Ethernet Cable.

Which type of 8 port switch would be the best for you?

The 8 port PoE Switch comes in various types. These include PoE, Non-PoE, managed, unmanaged, Gigabit, and various others. While planning to buy a switch, careful planning can save you money. Take a look at some of the types of PoE Switch 8 port.

  • Managed A managed switch provides a tailored experience, as it can be configured and managed properly. These not only monitor the network but also offer tools to control traffic. A managed 8 port PoE Gigabit switch will turn to be a better choice in later stages. Because of its diverse features like QoS, VLAN, SNMP, CLI, IP routing, etc. they can be used in the network core layer, especially in complex and large data centers. Lightly managed switches, referred to as smart switches, are also available in the market. The smart switch equipped with the features of fully managed switches is an optimal alternative when users have limited costs.
  • Unmanaged – The plug and play switch has limited performance and provides only basic connectivity between different devices. It doesn’t support the configuration interface. As the switch is manufactured with standard configuration, so it cannot be changed.
  • Gigabit – Router comes with Ethernet ports. When speed is considered, Gigabit Ethernet ports are the ideal choice because of its ten times faster uploading and downloading speed. Along with providing a connection to PC and other devices, these switches also support cloud storage servers.
  • PoE or not –  Undoubtedly PoE switch has more capabilities and is better than non-PoE. The simplified cabling process cuts network cost, saves installation and maintenance costs. It is generally used in network cameras, wireless access points, and VoIP phones. For IP camera systems, PoE switch 8 port is most popular.

Best 8 Port Network Switch: NETGEAR GS108

Amazon Reviews:
  • 8 Gigabit ports
  • Supports desktop or wall mount placement
  • The fanless design
  • Compliant with IEEE802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet mode.

WHAT WE LIKED

  • Easy installation
  • Fast speed
  • Auto-sensing Ports
  • Versatile mounting options
  • Fanless design makes it ideal for noise-sensitive environments.

WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE

  • Switch can’t measure how much each PoE Device is drawing power.

Users find this product good as it does not require any software for installation. Plenty of ports of this plug and play device accommodated all the equipment that needs an Ethernet connection. Customers also find the switch reliable with fast gigabit speed. Some have liked the product pricing and also praised the high quality of the product.

Some users have a complaint regarding the disconnection of the signal during video streaming. While some have also mentioned that when they call to claim the lifetime warranty, it ends up staying on hold for hours.

Users have enquired how selecting different models matter, as they only want to plug it into the router and connect hardware equipment to it. Some have inquired about the data transfer rate and whether all the ports of the switch are the same.

All the ports of the switch work the same. But the selection of the model depends on how many devices you require to connect to the switch. The data transfer rate is 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet.

No configuration or software is necessary to install Netgear Unmanaged 8 port PoE Gigabit Switch. For installation, hook the switch to the wall or place it on the flat surface. Make the connection by inserting one end of Ethernet into the device and the other to the port. Now connect the power adapter cord into switch and plug it into a power source.

Power LED should turn once you switch on the power source. If speed is 10Mbps or 100Mbps, right and left LED lights up respectively, while at 1000Mbps, both the LED lights up. 

Best Managed 8 Port Network Switch NETGEAR GS108T-200NAS

Amazon Reviews:
  • 8 Ports GIGABIT ETHERNET 8 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit auto negotiation
  • VLAN, QoS, IGMP Snooping, rate limiting, Link aggregation, STP, SNMP and ACL
  • Fanless Quiet Design
  • Desktop or wall mounting design
  • Operating temperature 0 ̊C to 40 ̊C (32 ̊F to 104 ̊F)
  • RELIABLE IEEE 802.3x
  • TRAFFIC OPTIMIZATION 802.1p and DSCP QoS

WHAT WE LIKED

  • Configuration and control options
  • Robust body
  • Secure network

WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE

  • Complex functionality that require good network knowledge to configure

Being a managed switch, you get the various configuration and control options. With tons of features and robust structure, spending $20 more than the unmanaged NETGEAR switch makes it a worthy purchase. The smart switch offers powerful Layer 3 Lite features, gives better PoE functionality.

With enhanced usability and performance, these are designed to cover data, video, and voice all on a single network platform. The converged and secure network blocks malware prevents external attacks and allows secure access to authorized users.

Compared to our top choice, GS108Tv2 has more customer service complaints. The interface also demands time to get used to it. Some users have even expressed concerns regarding the delay in upgradation of the product.

NETGEAR brand is well known for its high quality and performance and people go for managed switches due to its configuration facilities. Still, GS108Tv2 received negative feedback for its documentation. The switch is easy to setup and works fine, but takes time to let the user understand its features, especially for those who are new to networking. As the configuration is hard to figure out, it makes some users unsatisfied with the product. 

Best Unmanaged 8 Port Network Switch: TP-Link TL-SG108

Amazon Reviews:
  • 8 Ports GIGABIT ETHERNET 8 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit auto negotiation
  • Fanless Quiet Design
  • Desktop or wall mounting design
  • Operating temperature 0 ̊C to 40 ̊C (32 ̊F to 104 ̊F)
  • TRAFFIC OPTIMIZATION 802.1p and DSCP QoS

WHAT WE LIKED

  • Affordable
  • Simple to setup

WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE

  • Absence of web interface
  • Shorter length of the power cord
  • Lack of timely customer support

The low price of the unmanaged switch makes it a better choice among customers.

TP-link Switch lacks a web interface and also has a shorter power cord. It is worth to spend $20 more and go for NETGEAR unmanaged 8 port POE gigabit switch. Some customers have a complaint regarding the ports getting faulty with time. The customer support team also doesn’t provide the appropriate help at that time. Users have also experienced a problem with the power saving option. Some reported that the brand is misleading with the product warranty. Neither it worked in good condition for an extended period, nor they were able to get the product replaced. Spending 2 times more than the TP-link switch is beneficial to keep yourself away from these problems.

Power saving option causes trouble, and the brand also lacks efficient customer support.

Frequenly Asked Questions

Does the speed is divided between different ports, or the actual speed go per port?

Speed is not divided between the ports. All the ports work at a similar speed. But if the number of connections to 1 port is multiple, then it divides between all the connections of the single port.

Does the GS108Tv2 switch support VLAN id?

Yes, the switch supports an L3 interface on every VLAN that you create. You just have to assign the address if you have management VLAN.

Does the Tp-link switch mounts on the wall and come with brackets?

The switch can be easily mounted on the wall, but it does not come with brackets. In fact, no switches are available with wall mounting brackets. They either come with keyhole slots or can be hung with screws.

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Last update on 2024-03-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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Brainiac
Brainiac
3 years ago

If a NetGear managed switch is “too complex” for the users of security NVRs, then it shouldn’t even be mentioned, but in the world of network equipment “too complex” it isn’t. It’s dirt simple. If somebody doesn’t understand the basic network features configurable in the device, they shouldn’t be doing any networking at all. I can’t believe how stupid we expect users to be.

Neil M Howard
Neil M Howard
2 years ago

The Netgear switch GS108 is NOT a PoE switch.

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