[CS-FSLUG] [Mac-Min] Higher Power Ethernet Switches

[Timothy Butler]

Here's an update: I tried replacing one of the Trendnet switches with a 5-port Netgear ProSafe Gigabit switch. The connection was shaky between the 5-port and the Trendnet 8-port on the other side of the 280 ft run, but unlike the Trendnet switch, the Netgear managed to alternate between grabbing a 10/100 and gigabit connection (the Trendnet, as I mentioned yesterday, established no connection at all). 

Meanwhile,  decided to locate a switch on the one end of the line right where the line comes in the building, which allowed me to clip about 30-35 ft off that run. With that, I was able to maintain a reliable gigabit connection between the Trendnet and the Netgear. Hopefully with two Netgears and the shorter run, I'll have enough wiggle room that I can hook up my APC ethernet surge suppressors without killing the link.

Progress! I thought someone might find this intriguing. I've typically treated unmanaged switches as essentially generic, swappable items. But, here's a very good, real world sign that they are not.

Blessings,
Tim

On Sep 15, 2012, at 5:52 PM, Timothy Butler <tbutler at ofb.biz> wrote:

> Howdy, folks,
> 	I'm continuing my project to get Internet from one building to several others. Since I last posted, I've run a brand new Cat 6 cable through an empty conduit. The length is a bit longer than I thought (the underground conduit isn't as direct as I hoped) -- it is approximately 260 ft. In addition, on my cable run, I left about 20 ft of slack -- 10 ft on one end, 7 on the other -- "just in case." 
> 
> 	I have been trying to put Trendnet 8-port unmanaged gigabit "GreenNet" switches between the different runs. They were cheap ($25) and seemed to be well liked. So, I have one of those in the church office; the cable then runs 260 ft to the next switch. When I plug the two together, the lights do not light up on either switch (both of which work, otherwise). However, I plugged in a lowly Linksys WRT54G router and was able to establish a 10/100 connection successfully.
> 
> 	Thus, I'm wondering if the Trendnet switch's "GreenNet" functionality is causing me trouble. Apparently, it automatically reduces power to the ports to try to lower energy consumption. I'm wondering if it simply is trying to be too green and is thus unable to accomplish what a very basic Linksys router can do.
> 
> 	Question: Does anyone know of an affordable (preferably sub-$50) gigabit switch that might emit a signal with more power to edge me closer to the 100 meter limit on Ethernet? I'd rather not stick to using the Linksys WRT54G as my switch in this particular location...
> 
> 	Thanks!
> 
> 	Blessings,
> 			Tim
> 
> ________________________
> Timothy R. Butler
> Discipleship Pastor
> Grace Presbyterian Church
> timothy.butler at gracepca.net
> 
> "The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the glory and the grace of God." -- Martin Luther
> 
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