Wired Networking — Switches & Ethernet
Wired Networking — Switches, Cables & PoE (21)
How to Choose Wired Networking
The right wired setup matches your speeds, your devices and how much control you want. Use the guide below to choose.
Unmanaged switches are plug-and-play for homes and simple setups; managed switches add VLANs, QoS and monitoring for offices and advanced users. Choose managed only if you need the control.
Gigabit covers most homes; 2.5GbE and 10GbE unlock fast NAS transfers and high-bandwidth work. Match the switch and your devices' ports so the fast link isn't wasted.
Cat6 handles Gigabit easily and 10GbE over short runs; Cat6a supports 10GbE over longer distances with less interference. Use quality cable to actually reach your switch's speeds.
PoE switches power IP cameras, VoIP phones and Wi-Fi access points over the same network cable, removing the need for separate adapters. Check the PoE budget if you run several devices.
SFP and SFP+ ports add fibre or high-speed uplinks between switches. Confirm transceiver compatibility, as not all modules are interchangeable across brands.