Getting the most out of your Eero WiFi system often requires adding an Ethernet switch to connect wired devices. With so many switch options available, choosing the right one can be confusing. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to find the perfect Ethernet switch for your Eero setup.
What is an Ethernet Switch and Why Do You Need One?
An Ethernet switch is a device that connects multiple wired devices on a local area network (LAN). The switch allows connected devices to share data and access network resources.
There are a few key reasons why adding an Ethernet switch can benefit an Eero WiFi network:
- Increased speed and reliability – Devices connected directly to the Eero router or satellites via Ethernet will enjoy faster, more reliable connectivity compared to using WiFi. This is ideal for devices like smart TVs, game consoles, and desktop PCs where lag and buffering can ruin the experience.
- Wired backbone – Adding a switch creates a wired backbone between your router and satellites. This takes load off the WiFi network, improving overall performance.
- More wired ports – Eero devices have 2-3 Ethernet ports. A switch expands the number of wired connection options for your network.
- Improved WiFi performance– Having more devices wired instead of using WiFi reduces congestion and interference on the wireless network.
Bottom line – adding a switch to your Eero setup enables a faster, more robust, and higher performing connection for multiple wired devices.
Key Features to Look for in an Eero Switch
With a basic understanding of why you need an Ethernet switch for Eero, let’s look at the key features and capabilities to evaluate when choosing the right switch:
Speed
The first major consideration is the speed rating of the switch. You’ll want a switch that supports gigabit Ethernet speeds. Anything rated for 100 megabits per second or less will bottleneck network performance.
The latest Eero routers have 2.5 gigabit per second WAN ports. To take advantage of those speeds for wired devices, look for a 2.5G or multi-gig switch. Keep in mind the switch speed must match the Ethernet port speeds of connected devices.
Ports
Evaluate how many wired devices you need to connect and choose a switch with enough ports. For most homes, an 8 or 16 port gigabit switch will be sufficient. If you have many high bandwidth devices like gaming PCs and 4K streaming boxes, consider a managed switch with link aggregation for combining multiple ports.
Form Factor
Switches come in two main form factors:
- Desktop – These sit horizontally on a shelf or desk. Desktop switches offer more ports in a compact form factor.
- Rackmount – Designed to be mounted in a standard 19-inch equipment rack or cabinet. Ideal if you have a structured wiring panel or enclosure.
Layer 2 vs. Layer 3
Switching happens at layer 2 of the OSI networking model. Layer 2 switches simply connect devices on the same network.
Layer 3 switches add more advanced capabilities like VLAN segmentation, inter-VLAN routing, static routing tables, and DHCP services.
Layer 3 switches are more complicated to configure but allow for more control and flexibility in how you design your network.
Managed vs. Unmanaged
Unmanaged switches automatically connect devices together without any configuration needed. Managed switches let you tweak settings like port speeds, VLANs, monitoring, and traffic prioritization.
Managed switches provide more customization but require networking expertise to configure. Unmanaged plug-and-play switches work well for most home networks.
PoE
PoE or Power over Ethernet provides power directly to devices like access points, security cameras, and VoIP phones over the Ethernet cable. This avoids the need for separate power adapters.
If you are connecting any PoE devices to your switch, make sure to choose a PoE enabled model. Pay attention to the total PoE power budget compared to your connected devices.
Best Ethernet Switches for Eero in 2023
Now that you know what to look for in a switch for Eero, here are our top picks across a variety of budgets and needs:
TP-Link 5 Port Gigabit Ethernet Network Switch (TL-SG105)
- Ports: 5
- Speed: Gigabit
- Type: Unmanaged desktop
- PoE: No
- Ideal for – Adding a few wired devices on a budget
This compact 5-port TP-Link switch provides an affordable way to add more wired ports to your Eero network. It’s plug-and-play with no configuration needed. While lack of PoE and 2.5G limit future expansion, the TL-SG105 is a cost-effective choice for small deployments.
Netgear 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS308)
- Ports: 8
- Speed: Gigabit
- Type: Unmanaged desktop
- PoE: No
- Ideal for – Most home networks
Netgear’s GS308 strikes a good balance of capacity, performance, and price. The eight Gigabit Ethernet ports have auto-sensing and auto-negotiation to optimize speed and duplex settings. It also supports jumbo frames up to 9KB. The plug-and-play design works great for Eero networks.
Linksys Business 16 Port PoE+ Gigabit Switch (LGS116P)
- Ports: 16
- Speed: Gigabit
- Type: Managed desktop
- PoE: Yes, 120W budget
- Ideal for – Powering devices like access points and cameras
This feature-packed managed switch from Linksys offers 16 Gigabit Ethernet ports with a 120W PoE budget. It gives you plenty of power and capacity to add devices like wireless access points and VoIP phones. Advanced VLAN, QoS, and security features provide enterprise-level capabilities.
QNAP QSW-M408-4C
- Ports: 10GBASE-T – 4, Gigabit RJ45 – 4, SFP+ – 2 shared
- Speed: 2.5/5/10G and Gigabit
- Type: Managed desktop
- PoE: Yes, 250W budget
- Ideal for – High bandwidth and PoE devices
The QNAP QSW-M408-4C brings blazing multi-gigabit speeds perfect for new WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E devices. You get four 2.5G/5G/10G BASE-T ports, four Gigabit ports, and two 10G SFP+ slots. The 250W PoE budget powers hungry devices like security cameras. Advanced traffic monitoring, VLANs, and automation make this a great high-performance option.
Eero Ethernet Switch Setup Guide
Installing your new Ethernet switch on the Eero network is quick and easy:
- Connect switch to Eero – Use an Ethernet cable to connect one of the switch’s uplink/Internet ports to the Ethernet port on your Eero gateway router.
- Connect devices – Use additional Ethernet cables to connect your wired devices like computers, smart TVs, game consoles, and NAS devices to the switch’s downlink ports.
- Power on – Connect power to switch and power it on. Desktop switches don’t require additional configurations. If you have a managed switch, log in and configure as needed.
- Connect satellites (optional) – To create a wired Eero mesh backbone, connect any additional Eero satellites to your switch with Ethernet cables instead of wirelessly meshing.
Once connected, the switch will pass network traffic between your wired devices and the Eero gateway seamlessly. Wired connections will bypass any WiFi bottlenecks, providing faster and more reliable throughput.
Eero Switch Recommendations by Use Case
Here are our quick picks for the best Eero Ethernet switches for popular use cases:
- Budget pick – TP-Link 5 Port Gigabit Ethernet Network Switch (TL-SG105)
- Gaming – Netgear 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Pro Gaming Switch (GS108PE)
- 4K streaming – Linksys Atlas Pro 6 8 Port 2.5G Ethernet Switch
- Smart home – NETGEAR 16-Port Gigabit PoE+ Ethernet Smart Managed Switch (GS316P)
- ** Wired mesh** – Synology RT5600ax Router and MR2200ac Mesh WiFi System
- 10 gig – QNAP QSW-M408-4C 10GbE & 2.5GbE Managed Switch
- Rackmount – Cisco Business CBS250-16P-4X 16-Port PoE+ Rackmount Switch
Take stock of your current and future wired connection needs and match them to the right switch model for maximum Eero network performance.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ethernet Switches for Eero
Q: Do I need an unmanaged or managed switch?
A: For most home users, an unmanaged “plug and play” switch like the TP-Link TL-SG105 or Netgear GS308 will work great. If you need advanced features like link aggregation, VLANs and traffic shaping, choose a managed switch.
Q: How many ports do I need?
A: Choose a switch with at least one port per wired device you need to connect, plus one uplink port for your router. Add some buffer room for expansion. 8-16 ports is typically sufficient for home use.
Q: Should I look for PoE?
A: Only if you need to power devices like VoIP phones, security cameras or WiFi access points over the Ethernet cable itself. If not, basic non-PoE switches will be cheaper.
Q: Does switch brand matter for Eero?
A: Not really. Unmanaged gigabit switches from trusted brands like TP-Link, Netgear, Linksys, and Trendnet will all perform similarly with Eero. Stick with proven players in the switch market.
Q: What’s better – desktop or rackmount switches?
A: Desktop switches are easier for home use since you can place them anywhere. Rackmount switches are great if you have structured wiring in a cabinet or closet. Ultimately, choose the form factor that best fits your space.
Q: Will a switch slow down my Eero WiFi?
A: No, adding a switch will actually improve your overall network performance by keeping high-bandwidth wired devices off the wireless network, reducing congestion for WiFi clients.
Q: Should I connect my switch to my gateway Eero or a satellite?
A: For best performance, connect your switch directly to your gateway Eero router via Ethernet, then connect any additional satellites wirelessly to the gateway to create a unified mesh network.
Q: How do I configure VLANs on a managed switch with Eero?
A: Eero routers don’t support manual VLAN configuration. If you need advanced VLANs, consider replacing your gateway Eero with an Ethernet router like UniFi that integrates with your managed switch.
Conclusion
Adding an Ethernet switch to your Eero home mesh WiFi system helps optimize network performance by letting you connect more wired devices at faster speeds. When selecting the best Ethernet switch for Eero, consider port count, PoE needs, speed, form factor, and managed vs. unmanaged capabilities based on your specific requirements.
With the right switch choice made easy by our detailed buying considerations, setup recommendations, and FAQs, you’ll be ready to build a robust wired backbone that perfectly complements your Eero’s cutting edge wireless connectivity.