With the popularity of smart devices, PoE switches have become a powerful assistant in network cabling. It can transmit data and power at the same time through a network cable, eliminating the cumbersome laying of power cables, and is deeply loved by home users and corporate network managers. However, for first-time users, facing the diverse products on the market, it is not easy to choose a suitable PoE switch.
As an experienced user of PoE switches, I have summarized five practical tips based on my own experience to help you get started quickly and find the device that best suits your needs.
1. Determine the power supply standard: It is important to choose the right power
The power supply capacity of the PoE switch is the primary factor in selection. The common PoE standards on the market are as follows:
PoE (IEEE 802.3af): The maximum power supply power of each port is 15.4W, which is suitable for low-power devices such as ordinary IP cameras.
PoE+ (IEEE 802.3at): Each port provides up to 30W power, which can support some devices with higher power consumption, such as PTZ cameras and high-performance wireless APs.
PoE++ (IEEE 802.3bt): More powerful, divided into 60W and 90W levels, which can meet the power supply needs of LED screens or industrial-grade equipment.
When choosing, first understand the power supply needs of your own equipment, and then match the corresponding standards. For example, home scenarios usually use PoE or PoE+, while industrial scenarios may require higher-power PoE++ devices.
2. Evaluate needs based on the number of ports
The number of ports directly determines the number of devices that can be connected to the switch. Common choices are 8-port, 16-port, 24-port or even more.
personally use an 8-port PoE switch in my home monitoring system, which is fully capable of meeting home needs; but in corporate projects, 16-port or 24-port devices have become standard because multiple surveillance cameras, wireless APs and other network devices need to be connected at the same time.
Tips: Although more ports mean greater scalability, the price will also increase. If the budget is limited, you may wish to choose the appropriate number of ports based on the current device needs and reserve 1-2 ports for expansion.
3. Bandwidth and performance cannot be ignored
Bandwidth is another indicator that needs special attention. If you need to connect high-definition video surveillance equipment or high-traffic wireless APs, it is particularly important to choose a PoE switch that supports Gigabit (or even 10 Gigabit) ports.
In addition, pay attention to the backplane bandwidth and packet forwarding rate of the switch to ensure that it can operate stably under high load. In my experience in actual projects, low backplane bandwidth can cause device freezes or delays, affecting overall network performance.
4. Consider the installation environment and functional requirements
Choose the appropriate type of PoE switch according to the usage scenario. For example:
Home or office environment:**Ordinary desktop or rack-mounted switches are sufficient, easy to operate and affordable.
Outdoor or industrial scenarios:**You need to purchase industrial-grade PoE switches with dustproof, waterproof or wide temperature design to adapt to harsh environments.
At the same time, functional requirements are also important. For example, some high-end PoE switches support advanced features such as VLAN (virtual LAN) and QoS (quality of service), which can better optimize network traffic and are suitable for enterprise users.
5. Choose a reliable brand and after-sales service
PoE switch is a long-term network device, and brand reliability and after-sales service are crucial. Professional network equipment brands like Newbridge are widely praised by users for their stable performance and high-quality services. Whether it is hardware quality or technical support, you can reduce your worries during use.
I once bought a brandless switch for cheapness, but the port was damaged in less than half a year. In the end, I chose a reliable brand product. Since then, I realized that on these core devices, you must not be "cheap".
Conclusion: Choose a satisfactory PoE switch in five steps
Through the above five tips, I believe you have a clear idea of how to choose a PoE switch. Remember, clarifying the needs is the key. Combined with the power of the device, the number of ports, bandwidth performance, environmental adaptation and brand quality, you can find the one that suits you best.
PoE switch is not only a device, but also a powerful tool to improve network efficiency. If you are still hesitating, you might as well start with the basic needs, gradually understand and try, I believe you will definitely find its powerful charm.