@IAN118 

 

If you are looking to replace the switch, and willing to spend the $$  look at the   TL-SG108-M2

 

Its a new model just out and has the faster 2.5gbps ports, this will soon be the standard and should do you a long time!  However as with all new tech, still quite pricey!

@Philbert 

Hi and thanks for the reply, so I would have to connect from this direct to the computer? in other words I could not connect this to a TL-SG1008D switch and output to various devices? to connect to other devices I would need another TL-SG108-M2?  thanks

@IAN118 

 

No this can be connected to your other switch without any issue, it just wont run at its full speed when talking to the other switches.

 

The main difference in this new model is it can support both 1gbps connections and 2.5gbps connections.  Some new devices are coming with 2.5gbps network cards as standard now (new PCs, Laptops etc) so when they are connected they get the full speed

 

However, if you connect an older 1gbps device (like the other switch, old printer etc) it will happily talk to it also, just at a slower speed.

 

Basically it will work exactly as the other switches do, just devices connected to this will have faster connections (2.5x times faster) if they support it

 

 

@Philbert

Hi, and I understand, my output from BT is:- Download 36-40mbps & upload 8-9mbps, so would these speeds be any good for the TL-SG108-M2? Thanks again  

@IAN118 

 

Hey

 

A fellow BT customer :)

 

Being perfectly honest, if you are only getting 40mbps down then dont even consider the new switch as it will make no difference, any cheap 1gbps switch is going to be more than fast enough for you.  The bottleneck here is going to be the BT connection

 

Im starting to move to the new 2.5gb switches as I have recently got the FTTP from BT and its coming in at ~1gbps, therefore the limit of the older switches, the faster switch is likely a good investment.

 

From your point of view its not going to make any difference at all, save your money and get another 1gbps switch for £30

 

The only thing i could suggest is you have mentioned that you have 6 switches?  Im guessing these are all in different locations?    Just thinking out loud that should you have 2 or 3, 8 port swtiches right next to eachother.. replacing them with a single 24 port may be a good choice for you, certainly be neater!

@Philbert 

Hi, I totally understand what you say, I have a switch in five rooms so I could try to buy a 24 port, any recommendations for a 24 port? thanks again for your help

just seen this one:- TP-Link 24-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch, Rack-Mount/Desktop, Steel Case(TL-SG1024D), Do you have any recomendations for ethernet cables to buy? thanks

@IAN118 

 

 

At £60 that switch would do the job for you perfectly..  

 

In terms of cabling, cat5e at the minimum..  personally I would opt for Cat6 cables for most installs I do, the difference in price is barely noticeable!  

 

 

 

@Philbert 

Hi, I bought a network 6 [Cat 6?] from Rhino cables, I presume its Cat 6, they seem to have good reviews, thanks again for your help 

@IAN118 

 

I have used Rhino cables a good few times, they are solid built and reliable.    Would 100% recommend them!

 

It would be usually printed on the side of the cable, Cat6 or Category 6 UDP .. something like that.   I would say it is indeed, pretty standard now