In this article, we will be talking about some of the best PoE switches and injectors available out there on the market. These two are essential components in building or modifying your LAN network; especially for POE devices. They help you to use PoE functionality. Before we discuss the differences between POE switch and injector, let us first understand what PoE functionality is.
Power over Ethernet (PoE):
The term PoE is used to describe several networking standards and ad-hoc systems. Altogether, these standards allow passing electricity through the twisted pair (commonly used in most LAN networks) along with the data. It eliminates the requirement of additional power cord since a single twisted pair cable is enough for providing both data connection and required electricity. This technique is commonly used to power various networking devices such as Wireless Access Points (WAP), IP Camera, VoIP phones, etc.
PoE Switch v/s PoE Injector Difference:
What is PoE Switch:
PoE switch provides the same functionality any conventional network switch does. However, the only difference is that a PoE switch comes with build in Power over Ethernet (PoE) injection. Whenever you connect such PoE switch with other networking devices, it automatically checks if these devices are PoE compliant and power them up if they are. Thus, using a PoE switch is the handy way of adding PoE functionality to your network.
What is PoE Injector:
PoE indicators are generally used for adding PoE capability to existing Non-PoE network links. Using PoE injector, we can activate both Poe injector and Non-PoE Ethernet devices. When deploying a network, injectors are the most versatile solution since they are handy when the number of required PoE ports are limited. PoE injectors are as well used for adding PoE to a specific device on the network.
What to choose?
You should remember following aspects while choosing a PoE Injector or Switch:
PoE switches do not offer additional ports and require a little modification to existing networks. On the other hand, PoE injectors do not expect much change on the net, and they can be easily mounted anywhere
If there are only a few devices you need to power up, you should go with the injector. However, if the requirement is high or you need to add PoE to the entire network, then we recommend PoE switches
If PoE switch goes down, all connected devices will go down. However, in case an injector goes down, only one device will be affected
Replacing a PoE injector is simple, however, replacing a PoE switch will cause production downtime on active network
This might be enough for understanding significant differences between PoE switches and PoE injectors. Now, let us have a look at some of the best PoE switches and PoE injectors available out there in the market. We have covered all the essential specs and details, which will help you to choose the right product according to your requirement:
It is an integrated power over Ethernet Plus a.k.a (PoE+) switch with options for Layer-3 routing (static). The configuration software is secure and supports IP Telephony as well. Overall, it is a midrange, budget switch with additional features which you might or might not use. If you are familiar with the Linksys UI, then your setup experience would be a breeze.
If you have additional IP based security cameras or Access points, this switch is a good option.
Just like the Linksys router, the NetGear router also comes with managed POE+ capabilities. It has advanced smart networking features, such as access control, DiffServ & LACP. It also supports Link aggregation which is useful for higher logical bandwidth.
The L3 routing capability is excellent for VOIP and other network communications. The web interface can be quickly learned and easily accessible.
We recommend this device for non-technical users who are looking for a plug and play device.
General
Subtype
Gigabit Ethernet
Ports
24 x 10/100/1000 (PoE) + 2 x shared SFP
Power Over Ethernet (PoE)
PoE
Authentication Method
RADIUS, TACACS+
MAC Address Table Size
4K entries
Authentication Method
RADIUS, TACACS+
Power Over Ethernet (PoE)
PoE
Status Indicators
Port transmission speed, power, link OK, link/activity
Access Control List (ACL) support, Broadcast Storm Control, auto-uplink (auto MDI/MDI-X), firmware upgradable, flow control, port mirroring, store and forward, DHCP support, IGMP snooping, IP address filtering, MAC address filtering, Quality of Service (QoS), SNTP support, Syslog support, auto-negotiation
It is a Gigabit POE+ switch and complies with IEEE 802.3at & af standards. It is a budget device with fewer ports and can easily support IP cameras and other POE devices.
If you are not too much into the big brands and would rather go with a device which gets the job done, then the Netis is one of the recommended POE switches that we recommend. Check out its specs below:
General
Subtype
Gigabit Ethernet
Ports
8 x 10/100/1000 (PoE+)
Power Over Ethernet (PoE)
PoE+
PoE Budget
120
Performance
Switching capacity: 16 Gbps
MAC Address Table Size
8K entries
Power Over Ethernet (PoE)
PoE+
Status Indicators
Port status, power, PoE
PoE Budget
120 W
Manufacturer
Netis Systems
Power Device
Nominal Voltage
AC 120/230 V
Frequency Required
50 – 60 Hz
Type
internal power supply
Networking
MAC Address Table Size
8K entries
Subcategory
network hubs and switches
Subtype
Gigabit Ethernet
Form Factor
desktop
Type
Switch
Features
Back Pressure Support, auto-negotiation, flow control, full duplex mode, half duplex mode, store and forward
The DGS-1100 is an absolute winner in the eight-port affordable POE+ switch category. It comes equipped with L2 switching features such as VLAN & QoS, along with easy to use intuitive management interface. The switch immediately recognizes FE vs. gigabit-ethernet appliances plugged into it, and depending on the interface speed of the device, either the amber or the green LEDs on the switch ports light up respectively, giving you immediate visual verification of what the speed is.
DLink provides a lifetime warranty on the device and is also a fanless solution. Since the device is passively cooled, there will not be any noise from the device whatsoever. Whats more, the company also provides a lifetime warranty on the switch which is always helpful.
In case if you do decide to purchase it, ensure to flash the switch with the latest firmware. Check out its specifications below:
General
Subtype
Gigabit Ethernet
Ports
8 x 10/100/1000 (PoE)
Power Over Ethernet (PoE)
PoE
MAC Address Table Size
8K entries
Power Over Ethernet (PoE)
PoE
Status Indicators
Port transmission speed, power, link/activity
Manufacturer
D-Link
Power Device
Nominal Voltage
AC 120/230 V
Frequency Required
50/60 Hz
Power Consumption Operational
7.88 Watt
Type
internal power supply
Networking
MAC Address Table Size
8K entries
Subcategory
network hubs and switches
Subtype
Gigabit Ethernet
Form Factor
desktop
Type
Switch
Features
ARP support, BOOTP support, VLAN support, Weighted Round Robin (WRR) queuing, auto-negotiation, auto-uplink (auto MDI/MDI-X), bandwidth control, fanless, flow control, full duplex mode, half duplex mode, layer 2 switching, Broadcast Storm Control, port mirroring, store and forward, trunking, Cable Diagnostics Function, D-Link Green Technology, DHCP client, IGMP snooping, Multicast Storm Control, Quality of Service (QoS), Unicast Storm Control
It is an eight port device with an all metal construction target at SOHO users. It is a simple plug and play device and a completely fanless solution under the hood. So naturally, it will run cooler than the others listed above. The switch is ideal for home entertainment, where WiFi is unreliable or frequently fluctuates. Here are its detailed specifications below:
That’s it for the difference between PoE Switches and injectors. These two components hold their own major importance in networking. We hope this post helps you to understand the major differences between these two different types of network components. Moreover, we hope the device list helps you to find the right product according to your requirements and scale of the network you are currently working on. If there is any doubt, question or suggestion, feel free to use the comment section below. Thank You!
Disclosure: We are a professional review website that sometimes receive compensation or free units from the companies whose products we review. We test each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.
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