16 Port Gigabit Switch with POE?

TRNC · 23 Jan 2012 at 22:54

Can anyone recommend a 16 port gigabit switch which has POE capabilities too. I dont need POE on all ports, 8 will be fine as its for VOIP phone extensions and the other 8 ports would be for data connected to PC/Printers.

JonnyT · 23 Jan 2012 at 22:58

** Edit, must read OP's requirements before posting D'oh! **

To be honest, for the price difference involved, you're better off going for a 24-port switch such as the Netgear GS724TP which also is a Smart Switch (half way between un and fully managed) so is a bit more intelligent than a bog-standard unmanaged switch

TRNC · 23 Jan 2012 at 23:07

Is there that little price difference between the two??

24 port seems like overkill for our needs although I guess it gives extra ports for if we want to add a second connection to the server, more printers or a NAS type box.

Duke · 24 Jan 2012 at 08:23

It might be cheaper to use some PoE injectors and just have a normal switch.

#Chri5# · 24 Jan 2012 at 09:08

NetGear options would be a GS724TP (Gigabit with 24 x POE ports). Or for similar money, you could get a FS726TP (24 x 10/100, 12 of those have POE, 2 GB Uplinks) and a GS724T (24 x GB, no POE).

TRNC · 24 Jan 2012 at 09:09

If i do that using POE injectors then I might as well just use the power supplies with the VOIP phones etc. The idea is to reduct the ammount of cables/plugs/ups's etc.

zpos · 24 Jan 2012 at 13:12

To the uninitiated (I.e. me) what is POE?

TRNC · 24 Jan 2012 at 13:14

Power over ethernet

moss · 24 Jan 2012 at 13:14

zpos said:
To the uninitiated (I.e. me) what is POE?

Power Over Ethernet, a way of supplying power as well as data to devices (such as wireless access points) through CAT5 network cable.

zpos · 24 Jan 2012 at 13:46

Ooh, that's clever.

K.C. Leblanc · 24 Jan 2012 at 14:05

Have you looked at 'POE Midspans', they're basically severaly POE injectors monted into a single unit with a single psu.

POE Gigabit switches tend to be expensive because doing POE and gigabit at the same time requires power and data to be send down the same wire.

#Chri5# · 24 Jan 2012 at 14:43

K.C. Leblanc said:
Have you looked at 'POE Midspans', they're basically severaly POE injectors monted into a single unit with a single psu.

POE Gigabit switches tend to be expensive because doing POE and gigabit at the same time requires power and data to be send down the same wire.

The last time I looked a midspans, they were way more expensive than something like the GS724TP.

Yamahahahahaha · 24 Jan 2012 at 15:34

Injectors are useful where you need a few ports to be PoE and already have existing infrastructure, or where you need a couple for a new install.

In this case, it makes more sense to get a proper PoE switch.

I have used the Netgear GS724TP and the Zyxel GS1500-24P without issue.

Please check the power requirements for the devices being attached to the switch, as some may need more power per-port.