Design for home network, Router & Switch recommendations

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Design for home network, Router & Switch recommendations

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michaelmurfy

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#1534215 17-Apr-2016 09:07

tdgeek: Paging Michael

I think everyone here is on the ball.

Edgerouter Lite + Xclaim XI-3 AP (or the E400 AP's that were linked above if you're lucky to get some) and a cheap TP-Link switch is the way to go.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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Spyware

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#1534216 17-Apr-2016 09:11

Cisco make some passively cooled PoE switches, e.g., SG-300-10PP.

Spark Max Fibre using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+, CRS125-24G-1S, Unifi UAP, U6-Pro, UAP-AC-M-Pro, Apple TV 4K (2022), Apple TV 4K (2017), iPad Air 1st gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPhone 13, SkyNZ3151 (the white box). If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.

Jase2985

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#1534298 17-Apr-2016 10:29

my question is what is the point in getting a 24 port POE switch if you only need a few POE ports? why not get a 16/24 port standard switch and an 8 port POE switch?

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#1534315 17-Apr-2016 11:13

Ubiquiti released a new 8 port POE Unifi switch a couple of weeks ago, fanless too

https://www.ubnt.com/unifi-switching-routing/unifi-switch-8-150w/

DarthKermit

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#1534319 17-Apr-2016 11:18

I concur with @MickeyD. You'll most likely need active ventilation.

I made a small cabinet in our hallway. The Vodafone supplied router was getting very warm inside it. I installed an 80 mm fan to suck air out of the cabinet. Now it barely gets warm. I simply rigged the fan to run off a transformer. It runs 24/7.

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#1534323 17-Apr-2016 11:42

JamesL:

Ubiquiti released a new 8 port POE Unifi switch a couple of weeks ago, fanless too

https://www.ubnt.com/unifi-switching-routing/unifi-switch-8-150w/

I want one!

Fortunately for me, perhaps, it's OOS at present.

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PANiCnz

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#1534442 17-Apr-2016 16:22

I'm using a EdgeRouter Lite + DGS-1100-24 + Unifi AP, couldn't be happier. Chose the switch specifically for its lack of fans, have had switches with fans before and the noise drove me nuts.

If I need PoE I think I'll just get an 8 port PoE switch rather than replacing my 24 port, something like the DGS-1008P.

BPInside

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#1534444 17-Apr-2016 16:24

MickeyD:

I went through something similar 12-18 months ago when building our new house. Put all the AV and networking gear in a rack which sits in a cupboard.

I'm sure others can offer better advice than me about networking equipment. I went with unifi AC access points, and a 48 port UniFi PoE switch (US‑48‑750W). My thinking was that the PoE could be used for access points, PoE cameras, and anything else that might need it (e.g. the VOIP phone that I forgot to get power installed near the phone / network jack)

If I knew then what I know now:

1. The unifi switch is incredibly noisy. Even though it was in a cupboard three doors away, it could still be heard in the lounge when watching TV. In the same room it sounded more like a jet engine. I ended up replacing the fans with some silent ones, otherwise I would've replaced the switch. Probably wasn't such a good choice for a home environment after all.

Moral of that story:

Be careful where you put your central cupboard, and think about the operating noise of the equipment.

2. Have you got good ventilation of the cupboard? Switches and AV equipment typically produce a lot of heat, and designing it to get good airflow through is important. We put in a thermostat controlled extractor fan to help with moving air through. My next step is to replace the extractor fan with something quieter.

Hope that helps you avoid some mistakes I made...

Thanks MickyD, good to hear others advise that have done something similar... I had planned on putting something to manage the heat in the cupboard, obviously the less noise the better though! Temp controlled heat extraction could be a go (if the motor is placed at the external point it can cut down on noise as well )

BPInside

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#1534446 17-Apr-2016 16:28

michaelmurfy:

tdgeek: Paging Michael

I think everyone here is on the ball.

Edgerouter Lite + Xclaim XI-3 AP (or the E400 AP's that were linked above if you're lucky to get some) and a cheap TP-Link switch is the way to go.

Thanks for the feedback Michael

BPInside

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#1534447 17-Apr-2016 16:29

DarthKermit:

I concur with @MickeyD. You'll most likely need active ventilation.

I made a small cabinet in our hallway. The Vodafone supplied router was getting very warm inside it. I installed an 80 mm fan to suck air out of the cabinet. Now it barely gets warm. I simply rigged the fan to run off a transformer. It runs 24/7.

That was my other idea to just hook up some good size computer fans to extract the air

BPInside

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#1534448 17-Apr-2016 16:30

PANiCnz:

I'm using a EdgeRouter Lite + DGS-1100-24 + Unifi AP, couldn't be happier. Chose the switch specifically for its lack of fans, have had switches with fans before and the noise drove me nuts.

If I need PoE I think I'll just get an 8 port PoE switch rather than replacing my 24 port, something like the DGS-1008P.

Yeah they are made to be housed with rack mount servers which make heaps of noise themselves, thanks for the feedback its always good to hea the things you often forget to think about

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BPInside

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#1534449 17-Apr-2016 16:32

Jase2985:

my question is what is the point in getting a 24 port POE switch if you only need a few POE ports? why not get a 16/24 port standard switch and an 8 port POE switch?

I was just thinking of using the POE injectors as the POE switches are expensive, I believe sometimes you can have issues using multiple switches hence buying the biggest one that you need but Im far from an expert on the subject ;)

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