Is my Netgear switch faulty?

[Whiffle]

Hello.

I bought this switch in March of last year:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NETGEAR-GS208-100UKS-Gigabit-Ethernet-Desktop/dp/B00AFVB41S?th=1

and have had no problems with it - mixture of RPis, desktops and a server/NAS all running fine.

I bought this particular SAT>IP Server:

Sat-IP server Telestar DIGIBIT R1 SAT2IP Umsetzer from Conrad Electronic UK

A few months, but I could not get it to connect to my network, so I sent it back on the basis of it being faulty.

I recently re-ordered the same device and encountered the exact same problems - i.e. it just would not connect to my home network.

I then realised that it had to be something other than the SAT>IP Server.

I experimented with 15 different Cat5e leads (varying lengths and qualities) and not a single one made a difference.

I then tried a very old and very long Cat6 lead and the SAT>IP Server immediately connected.

I asked, on a few forums, whether the SAT>IP Server only worked with Cat6 cable and was told that it should work with just about anything.

I did more testing and tried plugging the SAT>IP directly into my router instead - immediately connected.

By process of elimination, therefore, I realised that it is my switch not playing ball with the SAT>IP server, when used with Cat5e cable.

Do you think it is faulty?

It is an unmanaged switch, so there (as far as I can tell) no options to play with to improve the situation.

What do you guys think?

 

[Whiffle]

Thank you, both.

I think I am going to have to go back and do some proper methodical testing - thinking back, I am pretty sure that I was testing different leads in different sockets, without really paying attention to consistently using the same one.

I shall have another go, tonight, and report back.

Thanks

 

[Whiffle]

I did a bit more testing last night.

I unplugged every network device, except for the R1, and tried plugging it into every port with two different (short but high quality) Cat5e cables and it would still not connect.

I then plugged in the router and tried connecting with 1. DHCP 2. giving the R1 a statice IP via the router and 3. giving the R1 a static IP on the device itself.

I then swapped the switch for an old router that I found in my loft and again the R1 immediately connected.

I am really stumped by this - it does seem to be the case that I have two seemingly working devices that just will not place nicely together.

Unmanaged 8-port switches are not super expensive so my options are to potentially buy a different model (a shame, as I particularly like the Netgear) or send it back, under warranty, as it is not working as anticipated.