I recently added the NETGEAR 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Easy Smart Managed Essentials Switch to my household network setup, and it has proven to be an excellent investment, especially for those in need of extra ports. The design of the switch is compact and sleek, making it ideal for placing on a desktop or mounting on a wall. The build quality feels robust, and the metal casing is a nice touch, ensuring durability. It's small enough to fit in tight spaces but still provides the functionality needed for a modern home network. I stuck mine underneath my desk with some command strips. Initially, when I used the switch directly out of the box without any IP configuration, I noticed some issues with network lag, especially during high-traffic periods. This was particularly evident when streaming high-definition content or transferring large files across the network. After assigning an IP address to the device, the performance issues were resolved. Configuring the IP was straightforward through the web-based management interface. Once configured, the network lag disappeared, and the switch performed flawlessly. The data transfer rates are excellent, maintaining gigabit speeds without any noticeable slowdowns. The Smart Managed feature adds a level of control and customization that is very beneficial for fine-tuning the network settings according to specific needs. Setting up the switch is a breeze. The plug-and-play functionality allows for immediate use, but I highly recommend assigning an IP address to avoid potential performance issues. The web-based management interface is user-friendly and provides various options for managing and optimizing network performance, including VLAN setup, QoS, and more. This switch is perfect for any household that requires additional Ethernet ports. Whether you need to expand your network to connect more devices or enhance your home office setup, this switch does the job admirably. It has proven to be particularly useful for connecting multiple devices without compromising network speed and reliability. The NETGEAR 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Easy Smart Managed Essentials Switch is an exceptional product for expanding your home network. It’s highly recommended to assign an IP address to the switch to avoid any initial performance issues. Once configured, it delivers consistent and high-speed network performance, making it an invaluable addition for anyone looking to add more Ethernet ports with smart management capabilities. The combination of robust build quality, ease of use, and excellent performance makes this switch a top choice for home networking needs. I highly recommend this switch to anyone needing extra ports for their household network. Whether you're connecting gaming consoles, streaming devices, or home office equipment, this switch will meet your needs effectively and reliably. Read more
Worked great. Boosted my internet speed tremendously from the 10/100 I had previously. Hooked up in 2 minutes. Read more
Great product, works great, easy install Read more
Works great. Bridged ISP Gateway, Gateway port 1, then any other ethernet devices on open ports. Security camera system, Game consoles, Raspberry Pi for network monitoring. Fast and works flawless. Read more
This would have been great, if I had understood what I was doing. Back in the day, these things were pretty simple to add to a rats nest of cables and devices. You just plugged them in and they figured out the details. Now, with North Korea, Russia, China, CIA, NSA, Google and Amazon messing with the internet, things have gotten complicated. It does work - kinda - just plugging it in. If ya wanna get fully connected there "is" a registration process. This isn't registering the unit for its warranty. You have to take responsibility for its existence in the internet world. It needs a IP address to identify where and whom to blame, when things go wrong. (things always go wrong) This registration process can involve direct connected desktops. It may be possible with wireless connected phones and tablets. At any rate, between various technically complicating issues, I eventually decided that it was easier to decide that I didn't need it. This should not reflect badly on the product. It's just another Me-ism. We got Spectrum Internet. What can I say? It may not be the best. But, It's a hundred times faster than Verizon DSL, for 60% of the cost. Having gone that route, there were technological ramifications. This cable system is a shared device (community) - not unlike the old party lines for land line phones in the 30s. For this community to work together, each user's modem connection has to identify itself to the co-sharing population. The modem has 3 outputs. One each for up to two digital phone lines and one for the Internet. The Internet feeds (usually) to a Wifi + Hub. The Wifi Hub communicates with all things Wifi and all of 3 wired LAN connections. Those LAN connections can go to other Wifi Hubs and so on. When the system fires up or resets, all these critters have to figure out how to play nice together. The Spectrum Modem has the responsibility for assigning fixed IP addresses to all the residential WiFi Hubs, router boxes, etc. That's where adding the NetGear device seemed like a good idea. As it turned out, it was simpler to distribute existing Wifi Hubs to different rooms, using their distributed LAN resources to fulfil the wired LAN requirements. They are a little more Plug-N-Play compatible. All the connectivity information is on the box. Sure you can still manage them remotely with a complicated to configure application. But, just to get going - it is simpler. As is my tendency, I tend to stop once I get things working. So, fiddling for perfection is on the back burner. The Switch is a very nice switch. I plan on keeping it. It "will" come in handy some day. I highly recommend it. Especially to those competent to use it. Read more
Bought for a good price and it exceeds my expectations. Easy to setup and manage. Read more
I needed a reliable switch to run my in-house PiHole DNS servers, and this absolutely did the trick. It worked right out of the box — no config or fuss needed — and has been rock solid since day one. Build quality feels great too — solid metal housing, nothing flimsy. I also found easy printable mounts on MakerWorld that make it even cleaner in my setup. No complaints here. If you want a dependable switch that doesn’t make you mess with a ton of settings, this is a good choice. Read more
Set-up a small office network quick and easily. Made of metal so will provide years of use. Well built and compact so it doesn't take up much room. Read more
