Here's the problem; Wi-Fi is still a lot slower than wired internet. And because every new product is "smart," most people own too many wireless devices---their home Wi-Fi network is congested by dozens of competing signals, which makes the Wi-Fi slower and less reliable. Build and expand your network with Ubiquiti Networks UniFi Switch, part of the UniFi line of products. The fan-less UniFi Switch delivers quiet yet powerful performance. Sharing a total of 150W PoE, eight Gigabit Ethernet ports offer 802.3af/at PoE+ or 24V passive PoE and two SFP ports offer optical connectivity.

Buy Switch 3. Zyxel GS1900-8HP 8-Port GbE Smart Managed PoE Switch 8-Port GbE Smart Managed PoE Switch The Zyxel GS1100-10HP 8-port FE Unmanaged Switch with PoE is designed for SMBs to boost business network performance and efficiency. The Series provides not only plug-and-play simplicity for high-bandwidth connectivity but also N-way auto-negotiation to connect network counterparts with the highest possible data speed and to activate duplex mode automatically. The GS1100 Series is ideal for typical noise-sensitive office environments for its superior energy efficiency and Ethernet connectivity. Conversely, a good wired connection can cut out these and other shortcomings of an over-the-air signal, while providing faster speeds and a reliable, stable connection. But with most mainstream routers only offering just four Ethernet ports -- or sometimes fewer -- the best network switches step in to fill the gap, giving you more ports to plug your wired devices into. Not only that, they can also spread out some of the load on your network, freeing your router up to carry out its primary mission of getting internet service to all the wireless devices on your network that need it. When you grow frustrated with Wi-Fi, a wired internet connection is usually your best bet. But you may need more Ethernet ports than your router can offer. That's where a network switch comes in handy. It's an extremely simple and affordable device, and it's one of the best upgrades for a busy home network. A Network Switch Adds Ethernet Ports to Your RouterIn testing, we found that, when using the Flex without configuration, it worked about as well as any other in this list: Transfer speeds were solid, and faster than other gigabit switches tested under load. It’s worth noting here, however, that the Ubiquiti does get quite hot, sitting easily over 100 degrees Fahrenheit at idle and getting as warm as 118.7 degrees F with every port in use -- and that’s in a cool room, with plenty of air movement. It’s rated to operate in temperatures up to 149 degrees F (at 25W output - 131F at 46W), but it would still be a good idea to keep it in a shaded area if using outside, as direct summer sun could shorten its lifespan or impact performance. Our guide to the best network switches caters to a diverse range of needs, covering various budget ranges and network sizes. From compact models suitable for a few devices to larger switches with numerous ports for extensive networks, we provide insights into a variety of options to help you make an informed choice. If you want more Ethernet connections than your router can provide, then you need to buy a network switch. There are several reasons why you may want additional Ethernet ports---maybe you own several devices that will benefit from a wired internet connection, or maybe you want to host an old-fashioned LAN party. In any case, an inexpensive network switch will do the job. Advanced network error prevention features (loop protection, dual images, storm control, DoS and SSL) Along with its 8-port sibling - the TL-SG108-M2 - the TL-SG105-M2 is low-profile, easy to set up, and features a fanless design and metal enclosure that will keep it as quiet as it is fast. And because it’s a 2.5 GbE switch, you might not need to buy new cabling; as long as you’re already using Cat 5e cabling in your network, you’re good to take advantage of the 802.3bz network protocol, which promises 2.5 GbE or 5 GbE connections over 100 meters of cable. In testing, this bore out, with super fast file transfers that didn’t even blink when we loaded the network down with as much traffic as we could muster. The switch ran a little warm though, topping out at about 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you expect to increase the number of devices you will want to connect in the future, it may be worth purchasing a switch that has more ports than you need immediately. But you could also achieve this by purchasing an additional switch later on. The standards-based Gigabit switches sense and adjust for network speed and cabling type automatically Additionally, it's important to consider how your network switch will integrate with other essential components of your network. This includes finding compatibility with the best small business router, the best VPN router, and the best secure router to ensure not just a fast, but also a secure and well-rounded network setup.Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test. Whether we're working from home, shopping online, gaming or watching YouTube, most of us spend much of our time online when we're at home - so a fast and reliable signal is crucial. Eliminate those dead zones and enjoy high-performance Wi-Fi throughout with one of our Wi-Fi boosters. How about BT Wi-Fi extender for whole home Wi-Fi, regardless of which room you're in?

A network switch is also necessary when installing a whole-home wired Ethernet system. Typically, you'll place the switch in a recessed media enclosure and run Ethernet cables through your walls from there. Managed or Unmanaged: If you just need to get wired internet access to a few devices, then you’ll want an unmanaged network switch, which we recommend for most users. This doesn’t mean the switch has no features -- unmanaged switches can often do plenty of fancy things, from traffic prioritizing QoS to loop detection. But what if you want more than four Ethernet ports? If that's the case, you need to use a network switch---a small box that adds Ethernet ports to your router. It's basically the networking equivalent of a power strip. This switch supplants our previous choice for best 5-port switch, the QNAP QSW 1105-5T, for a few reasons. First, the TP-Link just has a bigger pipe for data, pushing a consistent 2.34 Gbps where the QNAP, in our testing, only barely got over 2 Gbps in real world use. It also has a slightly more space-friendly form factor. And perhaps most importantly, where the QNAP’s warranty ends at 2 years, the TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 falls in the company’s business class of switches, giving it a generous limited lifetime warranty. Lastly, the TL-SG105-M2 sports QoS - a feature typical of most unmanaged switches that is conspicuously absent on the QSW 1105-5T.Power Needs: Most won't need it, but certain devices can get power over Ethernet if your switch supports it. These switches meet the growing need to provide fundamental network features that will help optimise the performance of the business networks. On top of the plug-n-play Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, these switches also offer essential networking features such as VLAN, QoS, IGMP Snooping, Link Aggregation/Port Trunking on models with 16 ports or more, rate limiting and traffic monitoring. Additionally, furthering NETGEAR’s support of the environment, ProSafe Plus Switches have power-saving Green Ethernet technology. After what seems like an eternity, network devices are finally beginning to embrace faster-than-gigabit connections. From routers to modems, computers to NAS, big data pipelines are starting to enter the mainstream. And that’s a good thing, particularly as we now use more data than ever before. It’s even possible to get a 2 Gbps connection now if you live in one of the cities where Google is now offering the service.

The average internet user relies almost entirely on Wi-Fi. All of their devices, including computers and TVs, access the internet wirelessly. And this arrangement is usually just fine. Wireless connectivity is faster and more reliable than ever before. Looking for network switches? You've come to exactly the right place for quality options from top brands including TP-Link. These nifty gadgets enable ultra-fast intra-network communication, and they're just what you need to stop traffic between two devices from obstructing your other devices on the same network. And they put you in complete control as well - so you can control who has access to parts of the network and monitor usage as well. Need a powerline adapter? We've got you covered on that front too.On many switches, every port runs at the same speed. But there are a growing number of devices that offer multiple speeds on different ports. If you are only connecting a small set of devices, you will only need one speed – and it’s quite commonplace now to get 1 Gigabit speeds (1000 Mbps) even on small switches.