D-Link DES-1008PA 8 port POE switch

[thewireguys 3]

We are looking for a low cost 4-8 port POE switch for our 4 IP camera setups. Well the D-Link isn't gonna cut it. I hooked up 1 Arecont 5 megapixel, 2 Acti 1.3 megapixel, and 1 Axis none megapixel camera and I am having a hard time getting the web interfaces to load. So I hooked the cameras backup to the Linksys SRW208MP and everything was back to normal. All cameras came up and I was getting full frame rates with the Linksys.

 

So I am assuming the D-Link can't handle the bandwidth so I need some recommendations for a low cost 5 - 8 port POE switch.

 

Thanks for the help

[Soundy 1]

Part of the problem might be that you're cramming all that data through a single 100Mbit connection to the DVR. Try something that has a gigabit port or two for the DVR to run on. We've used these on several sites now with multiple megapixel cameras, and it works great: http://a-power.com/product-6481

 

(BTW, toni, that Netgear doesn't do PoE)

[thewireguys 3]

Part of the problem might be that you're cramming all that data through a single 100Mbit connection to the DVR. Try something that has a gigabit port or two for the DVR to run on. We've used these on several sites now with multiple megapixel cameras, and it works great: http://a-power.com/product-6481

 

(BTW, toni, that Netgear doesn't do PoE)

 

Soundy.... This is why am I am looking for a LAN bandwidth tester. I would like to test this switch to see how much bandwidth it can handle. I don't understand why this switch can't handle the bandwidth. I am going to try it with 4 ACTI 1.3 megapixel cameras. I know ACTI cameras cap there bandwidth at 4 megs so with 4 cameras that will be a total of 16 megs. This switch should handle it.

[Soundy 1]

There are times when cost is a pretty good indicator of quality and performance, moreso than just the specs... like with car stereo amps, where output power ratings can be easily fudged and at times seem almost made-up. My old system had one amp rated 2x30W that retailed at $600, and it completely blew the doors off the $150 2x65W amp, for example.

 

In this case, you're comparing what's essentially an $80 switch (with PoE support adding about 50% to that cost), to a $300 switch, so yeah, there will be performance differences (granted, part of that $300 also gets you management features).

[thewireguys 3]

There are times when cost is a pretty good indicator of quality and performance, moreso than just the specs... like with car stereo amps, where output power ratings can be easily fudged and at times seem almost made-up. My old system had one amp rated 2x30W that retailed at $600, and it completely blew the doors off the $150 2x65W amp, for example.

 

In this case, you're comparing what's essentially an $80 switch (with PoE support adding about 50% to that cost), to a $300 switch, so yeah, there will be performance differences (granted, part of that $300 also gets you management features).

 

So your telling me a 10/100 switch can't handle 16megs of data? I need to find a way to test the bandwidth of this switch. I have talked to different people and they say they use this switch with 4 ACTI mega pixel cameras without a problem. I wonder if I have a defective product.

[Soundy 1]

There are times when cost is a pretty good indicator of quality and performance, moreso than just the specs... like with car stereo amps, where output power ratings can be easily fudged and at times seem almost made-up. My old system had one amp rated 2x30W that retailed at $600, and it completely blew the doors off the $150 2x65W amp, for example.

 

In this case, you're comparing what's essentially an $80 switch (with PoE support adding about 50% to that cost), to a $300 switch, so yeah, there will be performance differences (granted, part of that $300 also gets you management features).

 

So your telling me a 10/100 switch can't handle 16megs of data?

 

I'm saying it may not handle it as efficiently or effectively, especially on a constant basis, as a more expensive 10/100 switch. It may be fine with bursts of data but not so much under constant load.

 

That's just one suggestion, anyway... there are plenty of other possible reasons that it may be having problems. Bottom line, though: there are reasons why a $300 switch costs more than a $100 switch, when most of the relevant specs are the same.

 

I need to find a way to test the bandwidth of this switch. I have talked to different people and they say they use this switch with 4 ACTI mega pixel cameras without a problem.

 

It's hard to comment on that without knowing the test conditions - what resolution are they running the ACTIs at? What framerate? What compression? How much movement (scene changes)? etc. etc. All things that affect the amount of traffic. And "without a problem" is subjective - if you hadn't tried the cameras on the LinkSys, you might not know that the slow performance is "a problem" and might just accept it as normal... likewise for those "different people", they might be experiencing similar issues but don't consider it a problem.

 

I wonder if I have a defective product.

 

There's always that possibility.