TP-Link TL-SG1008P 8-Port Gigabit PoE Switch Review

One of the most common applications for Power over Ethernet (PoE) is to connect and power IP devices such as IP phones and IP cameras over a single network cable. The main advantages are:

• you can avoid running both a power cable and Ethernet cable over long distances, instead using the spare capacity of the humble ethernet cable to also carry the power.
• the single power supply of the switch provides power for all PoE devices

Gigabit PoE Switches for Home Security

If you have more than one device to power over PoE, it makes sense to consider using a PoE switch instead of injecting power and data using a PoE injector. You could connect the switch to your existing router and then plug your devices into the switch.

TL-SG1008P – Features

Networking features:

The networking features of the TL-SG1008P PoE switch are:

• 8 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ45 ports, 4 of these are PoE
• 16 Gbps internal switching capacity
• Supports IEEE 802.3x flow control for Full-duplex Mode and back-pressure for Half-duplex Mode
• 8K entry MAC address table of the TL-SG1008P with auto-learning and auto-aging
• LED indicators for monitoring power, link, activity and speed
• External power adapter supply

PoE features:

The main feature that you should look for in a PoE switch is 802.3af compatibility. This is the standard which lets connected 802.3af compatible devices auto-negotiate the voltage they need from the switch. This is why you can plug in any compatible device without worrying about the specific voltage requirement. Up to 48V is available, so for example a 12V IP camera will negotiate with the switch to ensure it is given only 12V.

• Supports PoE IEEE 802.3af compliant PDs
• Supports PoE power up to 15.4W for each PoE port
• Supports PoE power up to 53W for all PoE ports
• Port power priority function that ensures prioritised devices continue to get power even in the case of an overload

A gigabit switch is advantageous over a 10/100 Mbps switch because you do not want the switch to become the data bottleneck when you are powering 4 PoE IP cameras in addition to other devices on the switch.

What’s in the box

The TL-SG1008P PoE switch comes in a compact box and we found the following in it:

• Gigabit PoE switch
• External 48V 1.25A power power brick and power cable / kettle lead
• User Guide

Look and Feel

The metallic body of the TL-SG1008P PoE switch gives it a solid appearance and a re-assuring sense of high quality. Even though you are probably going to hide the switch away in the attic or cupboard, its good to know that this is a switch that’s made to last.

Installation

Since this is an unmanaged switch, no configuration is required – simply plug in the power adaptor and your devices using ethernet cables. Power it on and you are ready to go. It couldn’t get any easier than this. Most home users need a plug and play switch and do not need advanced features or configuration options. This switch truly delivers exceptional simplicity.

Performance

A modern gigabit ethernet switch should have no issue with performance and the TL-SG1008P does not disappoint. We observed the gigabit ethenet ports being maxed out while copying files to and from a Asus 551CA laptop and a QNAP TS-231+ NAS.

IP Camera Test

I tested the TL-SG1008P with several IP cameras I’ve reviewed such as the RLC-511 and the RLC-824A which are PoE devices. These cameras are rated at 5W each with a maximum power consumption of 7W with the IR LEDs on. I plugged in both cameras and tested them over many months of 24/7 operation, and are happy to report that the TL-SG1008P switch was more than capable of powering the cameras. Each port is rated up to 15.4W so this should come as no surprise.

Verdict

Where to buy

Check price on your local Amazon Website

Also consider

The Netgear GS308P has similar features and is also worth a look.

We hope you enjoyed this review, let us know what you think!