NETGEAR 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS308) $27.99

Can someone explain what I would use this for? Is this essentially for splitting an Ethernet port in my house between multiple devices?

ead009 wrote: ↑Can someone explain what I would use this for? Is this essentially for splitting an Ethernet port in my house between multiple devices?

Yes, you are just giving yourself more ports to connect devices to.

what does UNMANAGED switch mean?

This TP-Link is on sale at Canada Computers as well. Just in case you would want to support your local brick and mortar store and keep the comptetition with Amazon alive. Don't get me wrong, I shop and Amazon and local stores, but if the price is similar I prefer local store to make sure we don't give Amazon monopoly.

Klikerko wrote: ↑ This TP-Link is on sale at Canada Computers as well. Just in case you would want to support your local brick and mortar store and keep the comptetition with Amazon alive. Don't get me wrong, I shop and Amazon and local stores, but if the price is similar I prefer local store to make sure we don't give Amazon monopoly.

But Canada Computers has it for $29.99 (vs. $27.99 on Amazon)... this was $21.99 as a lightning deal not too long ago. But I picked up one anyway because one of my gigabit switches is dead so the timing is perfect.

kiasu wrote: ↑ what does UNMANAGED switch mean?

No settings, plug and play.

kiasu wrote: ↑what does UNMANAGED switch mean?

It means you can’t configure it. Things just plug in and work. Managed switches allow you to configure each port and better traffic control for each device. Average home user would have no need for a managed switch.

Got this same box for $22 on Prime Day. I know there’s no time machine. my point is that this goes on sale frequently and might be cheaper if you can wait ...

ead009 wrote: ↑ Can someone explain what I would use this for? Is this essentially for splitting an Ethernet port in my house between multiple devices?

If you get one of those Google WIFI mesh pods, it doesn't have extra out ports for lets say Arlo Camera bridge etc., this can be used with the pods.

Thanks OP, just in time. Any one know of any deals on smaller switches?

7865875 wrote: ↑ Thanks OP, just in time. Any one know of any deals on smaller switches?

I'd imagine 5 port switches will only fall so far, how about:

https://www.amazon.ca/TP-Link-TL-SG1005 ... 139&sr=1-4

And it's scary at how many ethernet ports you can fill up in a short time. Had to go with an 8 port for my bedroom: uplink to my router, gaming PC, 55" smart tv, 4k fire stick with ethernet adapter, bell receiver & vizio soundbar. And yeah, wifi is bad in this part of the house, so wired it the way to go for me.

At this price range, are the TP-Link or NETGEAR a wash? Do people even have a preference one way or another?

rvs007 wrote: ↑ But Canada Computers has it for $29.99 (vs. $27.99 on Amazon)... this was $21.99 as a lightning deal not too long ago. But I picked up one anyway because one of my gigabit switches is dead so the timing is perfect.

I bought this at $21.99. Works well. No issues. Would recommend. Would even consider a bigger one, but the bigger ones tend to not come down to these prices.

id suggest waiting for lower price and buy one for every room of your house . Its a must have for a home network, or another way is buy one with more ports and install ethernet ports on your walls with the cables routed inside

Would I be better off adding this after my hybrid Router/Modem from my ISP or having a dedicated router followed by this switch?

Skilas wrote: ↑ I bought this at $21.99. Works well. No issues. Would recommend. Would even consider a bigger one, but the bigger ones tend to not come down to these prices.

The 16-port Netgear was $39.99 at one point on Amazon but I missed that sale too... that would have allowed me to replace two 8-port switches that I have daisy-chained in my basement.

Jonald wrote: ↑ Would I be better off adding this after my hybrid Router/Modem from my ISP or having a dedicated router followed by this switch?

It really depends on 1) whether you want to use your ISP's modem as a router (depends on the performance of that modem/router), and 2) how many gigabit ports does the ISP's modem/router have (if any). If you decide to use the ISP's modem and it doesn't have any gigabit ports, then this switch would give you 7 extra ports for devices (1 will be used to hook up to that modem/router).

No_Style wrote: ↑ At this price range, are the TP-Link or NETGEAR a wash? Do people even have a preference one way or another?

At this price range, the three brands I would consider are Netgear, TP-Link and Trendnet, and each of them will go on sale for around the same sales price from time to time ($25-30). They all have metal & plastic casings but I always prefer the metal ones because of the amount of heat the switch generates. But between the three brands, I always prefer the Trendnet because unlike the other two brands, the Trendnet switch has the ethernet ports at the back of the device, not the front. So if you have the switch sitting on a table, you won't see the unsightly mess of ethernet cables connected to the switch. But sadly the one that just died on me is a Trendnet brand, and it's one of their old ones that doesn't have the lifetime warranty.

If you overlook the plastic housing, I found a Trendnet gigabit switch at Canada Computers for $19.99:

canada-computers-trendnet-gigabit-switc ... 9-2310364/