Ubiquiti UniFi Flex Mini 5-Port PoE Switch

Product Information

Power over Ethernet (PoE) switches are becoming increasingly popular for home networking, as they allow users to power their access points and other PoE devices over the same Ethernet cable that they use for data transmission. This can save users the hassle of having to run separate power cables to each device, and it can also help to keep networks tidy and organised. The Industrial and Mission Critical switches are both what I consider specialty models. The Industrial features a rugged fanless enclosure, designed for dirty, hot, or other challenging environments. It also has 8 PoE++ and 430W of power budget, so it is great for powering a lot of high-power PoE equipment too.

switches to use with Ubiquiti Unifi Access Points Which switches to use with Ubiquiti Unifi Access Points

We've written this guide to help people who want to set uptheir own Ubiquiti Unifi WiFi network, but aren't sure which Power over Ethernet (PoE) switches are compatible with which Ubiquiti Unifi Access Points.

You work at BID, what a legend.

I’m running one cable over the roof (into centre of house) so need a 10 gig hub I can plug my pc into too. Then one for the WiFi point. You then link to your ‘hub’ switch - the UniFi USW-Enterprise 8 PoE is a 2,5GbE switch with PoE and an SFP+ uplink to the 10GbE LAN port on the UDM SE or you can go 10GbE with the USW-FLEX-XG that you already have (again, you’ll want an SFP+ adapter to link the UDM SE and the USW-FLEX-XG). So you now have a choice about your wireless LAN. If you go for anything other than the U6-Enterprise access point, you may as well keep your USW-FLEX-XG and power the access point off the UDM SE because they all have 1GbE links. If you go with the U6-Enterprise then you’ll need the USW-8-Enterprise switch and a SFP+ DAC cable.

UniFi Switch USW-FLEX-XG 10G M PoE+ - Switch no power poe Ubiquiti UniFi Switch USW-FLEX-XG 10G M PoE+ - Switch no power

And you want line speed to your wired devices and as much as you can get on your wireless devices and you like Unifi’s marketing?The Ubiquiti USW-Enterprise-24-PoE is a cutting-edge managed Layer 3 switch designed for high-performance networking. With 24 ports, it offers ample connectivity options for diverse networking needs. This switch is part of Ubiquiti's renowned UniFi series, known for its reliability and advanced features. The switch is designed to handle complex network configurations and is ideal for both small and large-scale deployments. Its robust build ensures durability, while its advanced management features make network monitoring and configuration a breeze. To summarise then, you have some form of extremely fast internet connection - probably 2.5GbE synchronous? However, for anything over one or two Access Points, we recommend using a PoE switch. PoE switches are generally more reliable and provide a neater solution. I have seen deployments where 10+ PoE injectors have been used, and it is a total mess!

UniFi Switch USW-FLEX-XG 10G M PoE+ - Switch no power poe Ubiquiti UniFi Switch USW-FLEX-XG 10G M PoE+ - Switch no power

If you want to drive yourself mad, focus on small spec differences and compare the Professional 8 PoE to every alternative out there. I prefer to zoom out and look at the new Professional 8 PoE for what it is: something to fill a small hole in a big lineup. PoE is the main type of Power over Ethernet (PoE) used by devices such as CCTV cameras, VoIP phones, and Smart Home equipment. It can provide up to 15.4 watts of power per port. PoE was the dominant PoE type used by Unifi Access Points, but the latest generation are now predominantly PoE+. Ubiquiti Unifi switches are expensive because they are designed for enterprise networking. Unless you are planning on using the more advanced features of the switch, then we would seriously consider using a less expensive unmanaged PoE switch from another brand. Contrary to popular belief, there will be no noticeable difference in your network performance, particularly in a domestic environment.TP-Link Omada is essentially a budget copy of UniFi. TP-Link has done its best to replicate the UniFi ecosystem, down to some similar designs and feature limitations. Omada is generally cheaper and more flexible but has fewer options, less polish, and a lower market share. There are a number of different PoE switches available on the market, so it is important to choose one that is right for your needs. Some factors to consider include the number of ports you need, the amount of PoE power you need, and your budget. To be clear, we are not suggesting that Ubiquiti Unifi switches are not of high quality. They are excellent and we use them regularly, particularly in commercial and business deployments. Our point is that they will not make a significant difference in a simple home deployment.