Network switch for whole home A/V
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swoon.
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July 1, 2011 at 6:53 pm #26114
This is an extension of my post on building a second htpc:
After I finish my new computer, I will have two hard wired computers, a hard wired Xbox, a hard wired bluray player, a wifi media streamer, two wifi laptops, and two wifi smartphones on my home network.
I currently have a basic N band Belkin wifi router that I have been pretty pleased with for the last two years. I would like to optimize the speed of everything, since I’ve noticed the speed of the wifi internet gets slowed down when my extender is actively streaming live tv.
I know the logical thing to do is keep my router for the wifi devices, but I am unsure exactly how to integrate that with a gigabit switch. Networking is by far my weakest pc area. I have found many different things online about what exactly I need and how to hook it up.
Can somebody
1) recommend an inexpensive gigabit switch that will allow me to route all those devices through my new house (I am laying ethernet cord down this weekend). I don’t want any more features than I really need, since I won’t know how to use them.
2) I need to know how to wire everything together. From what I’ve read, I will plug all the gadgets into the switch, and then connect one of the open ports on the switch into one of the router’s pc ports. Is this accurate? Is there a better way to optimize internet speed to the devices while allowing wifi access?
July 1, 2011 at 6:58 pm #30475mikinho
How many ports do you need?
Based on the number of ports I would recommend either a HP Procurve (Unmanaged) or Dell (Web managed)
July 1, 2011 at 7:02 pm #30476Why do you recommend those over, say, monoprice’s $25 one? I understand there is probably an element of “you get what you pay for” but I guess my problem is that I don’t know what I need to be paying for.
I’ll NEED four ports. 5-10 would give me room to grow.
July 1, 2011 at 7:06 pm #30477If you use a HTPC and extender you definitely want something better than the Monoprice or Linksys. Most 1st and even 2nd generation consumer Gigabit switches are absolute crap. Even worse when you use mixed network devices like a Fast Ethernet based Xbox. You would get better performance from a Fast Ethernet only switch.
Based on as little budget as possible I would recommend the HP J9559A#ABA V1410-8G
July 1, 2011 at 7:10 pm #30478Michael’s big on the enterprise hardware. Personally, I say just pick up a somewhat cheap Netgear, like this one. Or two of them. I have two in my attic for my media closet and they work just fine.
July 1, 2011 at 7:10 pm #30479The primary reason you’ll want a decentgood switch is to handle negotiating varying network device speeds. Yes, you can turn on flow control on the network cards but even that doesn’t compensate for the issues you’ll see.
July 1, 2011 at 7:11 pm #30480Be sure that all your wires are Cat 6 (or Cat 5e)
You’ll want to decide if you want one big switch or a couple small switches. I have a 5-port switch my office and I run a long Cat 6 cable to my living room with a second 5-port switch.
July 1, 2011 at 7:13 pm #30481[quote=skirge01]
Michael’s big on the enterprise hardware. Personally, I say just pick up a somewhat cheap Netgear, like this one. Or two of them. I have two in my attic for my media closet and they work just fine.
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That is only $15 saved compared to the product I mentioned 😛
Netgear is one of the better “cheap” gear as they also make some Enterprise level switches.
July 1, 2011 at 7:21 pm #30482I just did a quick search on them and came up with a 24 port for ~$200, so I didn’t know if they even made smaller ones. So, I was trying to save him $80. 😉
July 1, 2011 at 7:29 pm #30483Thanks for all the responses. Since TGB shut down I’ve been on my own trying to troubleshoot.
Like I said, I don’t want to screw with settings on it more than I have to, I just want it to work the way my current wifi router does: plug the devices into it and they all have access to the internet/to each other.
Just say for the sake of discussion I go to Best Buy tonight and buy their most basic 8 port gigabit switch. How will I connect everything to it, and what about it is going to disappoint me and make me wish I had bought a better one? What is it about the Xbox’s non gigabit connection that will cause a problem, what types of issues would they be?
July 1, 2011 at 7:33 pm #30484[quote=pittsoccer33]
Just say for the sake of discussion I go to Best Buy tonight and buy their most basic 8 port gigabit switch. How will I connect everything to it, and what about it is going to disappoint me and make me wish I had bought a better one? What is it about the Xbox’s non gigabit connection that will cause a problem, what types of issues would they be?
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When using ANY Windows Media Center Extender (andor any 100Mbps device) you may get poor performance. On the Xbox that means stuttering video, connection failures, etc.
See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929707 for some of the issues and fix. The fix on the network card can cause other issues so I personally recommend fixing it by getting better hardware.
July 1, 2011 at 7:34 pm #30485If you don’t mind buying on EBay ….
Dell PowerConnect 2708 eight port gigabit switch. Can be managed or unmanaged. Expect to pay $40 to $60 dollars not including shipping.
The newer version of this switch is a 2808 and is currently priced at ~$120 on the Dell website.
Nothing wrong with the HP Procurve either, I just don’t have any experience with them.
July 1, 2011 at 7:37 pm #30486Are there switches where some of the ports are 1000Mbps, and other ports are only 100Mbps? Would a higher quality one allow you to select the max speed of the port?
July 1, 2011 at 7:38 pm #30487The Dell PowerConnect 2708 and the HP Procurve are very similar when in unmanaged mode. The HP firmware is a little better but the Dell hardware is better. I wouldn’t buy networking equipment used though unless it came with the original warranty. One of the things I love about HP and Dell is that they have a lifetime warranty behind the switches….but it isn’t transferable (at least last I looked)
July 1, 2011 at 7:39 pm #30488[quote=pittsoccer33]
Are there switches where some of the ports are 1000Mbps, and other ports are only 100Mbps? Would a higher quality one allow you to select the max speed of the port?
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There are unmanaged switches that have mixed ports but I don’t recommend them. Typically those are larger Enterprise switches that cost quite a bit more.
And yes, higher quality managed switches allow you to set the port speed.
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