Fairly cheap ($35 including ship) 8 port 10/100 switches

[beergeek]

I've been looking for a cheap 8 port 10/100 ethernet switch. I have come across the Linkskey LKS-SH8+, the Gigafast EZ800-S, and the Archtech FH100-8. Newegg is selling each of these for $29 + $6 shipping (search link for all three). The specs (and pictures) of these units are _very_ similar - they could be rebadgings of the same unit, or they could be based on a common chip and design. I have heard of none of these vendors, and wonder if anyone else has any history or comments.

Also, Buy.com has a Linksys 8 port switch for $50.70, with a $15 Linksys rebate and free shipping, bringing its net cost to $35.70. I've heard of Linksys, but that's not necessarily good . Also, this one has the downside of dealing with a rebate to get to the same price point.

Anyone have any experience with any of these and can make a recommendation?

(Yes, PW does show some cheaper switches, but for those, I've never heard of either the switch vendor or the merchant. At least I've bought from both Newegg and Buy.com with good results...)

 

[GoatHerderEd]

My friend has the gigafast one. works great, doesnt get very hot. IT has autosence uplink port, so no button! Great deal. Go for it.

 

[beergeek]

Well...
The description on the Gigafast web site shows a (mechanical) switch rather than auto-sense to change the uplink port to x-over. Not too big a deal - either (or even a dedicated port wired for x-over) saves me from having to build a cable, but the auto-sense (in theory) removes one more possible source of error or confusion.

 

[mikeford]

I have the Gigafast, it does have a small switch on the side for uplink on port 1, but big difference is that it is SMALL (ala 1x6x4 inches). It uses very little power, runs cool, which is why I choose it, but it may be too small to suit some people, ie little mass, must be on top of stacks etc.

OTOH lots of Linksys only stacks with other linksys, has a hump and extra long legs.

Couple places have rebates on the Gigafast, but just those places (which I don't remember).

 

[GoatHerderEd]

they must offer differnet versions of this thing. My friend got it a few weeks ago from new egg, but i bet you could care less if there was a button or not

great deal anyway.

 

[skyking]

I installed the gigafast, plus a SMC router and westell modem on a piece of plywood, and hung it from a wall in an office install I just did. So far, very happy with the gigafast 8 port switch. Careful with it, it is so small you could lose it if it is unhooked from the cables!

 

[hossafat]

you might be interested in this one, it's 40.00 + 11.00 to ship, but if you live in CA you have to pay tax..
BayNetworks

 

[beergeek]

The Bay switch isn't really of interest. It's pretty old tech - the uplink port is 10/100, but the other ports are only 10Mb half-duplex. The unit is also huge (both because it's older tech and because it's designed to be rack mounted). It is a managed switch (SNMP w/RMON, etc.), but that isn't of any real use to me (except that I have seen mention of conformance to 802.1 only for managed switches - are unmanaged switches usable only in strictly hierachical (loopless, non-redundant) nets, or is conformance to 802.1D just assumed?)

 

[jatwell]

I would make sure whichever one you get doesn't have a fan either.

I had a small 8 Port 10/100 (don't remember what brand) and that thing was louder than my heatsink!

You should be able to find an air-cooled one pretty easy, from the comments above, it seems like the Gigafast one is...

 

[laugh]

DO NOT buy d-link DSS whatever 8 port switch! This crap needs to reboot (well power off then wait for 30 sec then power on) once a week. Dam it. D-link spells "JUNK" in my dict.

Look at the ugly MP3 player D-link makes. I don't remember anything decent this cheap company ever made. Oh well, it's cheap, so should not complain much...

BTW, D-link still owes me $20 rebate for the dam switch! crap!