TP-Link TL-SG105, 5 Port Gigabit Unmanaged Ethernet Switch, Network Hub, Ethernet Splitter, Plug & Play, Fanless Metal Design, Shielded Ports, Traffic Optimization,Navy Blue

Update in 2024:This review is originally from 2020. This little thing is still going strong and lovely. It’s been moved several times as the home network has been changing and upgrading, and it keeps going. No complaints, just keeps working. Probably the most reliable piece of tech in my home network next to the UPS units I have for the machines. The original unit serves high demand steaming/upload download on the local network (NAS + servers in a proxmox setup). I have other units that service other parts of the home, and they work great.TLDR: If you have issues with Zoom, streaming services, or just overall spotty internet connection with your WiFi, you may want to consider getting the 5 port switch (not PoE! Save yourself some money) along with some CAT 6 cables (for gigabit internet). Unmanaged works fine for just ‘plug and play’. It’s insane how much it helps! You shouldn’t have to do much besides plugging in everything and selecting the ‘Ethernet’ option on the device if it doesn’t so automatically. They’re reliable and easy to setup and use.The long story:I had purchased the PoE one at first to allow it to later be utilized for a security station if need be (or if I had something fun to play with), but I also got the unmanaged 5 port (without PoE) on accident. The one WITHOUT PoE is much smaller (3/4 the size it feels like). I would recommend the 5 or 8 port if you just have a few things you wish to plug in to it. PoE is not something you should worry about unless you know your devices require it. My household has issues with WiFi, so many devices can’t connect well enough to have an enjoyable experience. WiFi extenders, a new router, etc, did not work for us in the past (and ended up causing many issues), so we resulted to using Ethernet for our most used devices. Our internet plan is top tier for our area, so we expected better connections. Turns out we just do a whole lot of internet stuff to bog down the main router and our bandwidth!The household setup:One switch (PoE 5 port, unmanaged) is at the router since the router only offers 2 Ethernet ports. This switch services a smart TV, computer, and free cable for whatever device we decide to plug in (be a laptop or game console). It also services another switch (5 port, unmanaged) across the house. That way we only have one Ethernet cable running across the house until we can put it under the house.The second switch services a WiFi station, computer, game console, and smart TV. The computer is on 24/7 and the TV is on a majority of the day and night streaming HD movies and shows from multiple services. All of these are fairly ‘heavy’ devices on this switch, as in they are constantly downloading or uploading content all waking hours of the day.All devices are connected with CAT 7 Ethernet cables, but CAT 6 work just fine. (I would recommend CAT 6 or CAT6a since it is certified to run gigabit. CAT 7 is overkill and I do not recommend it because of price and it’s not standardized as much as the others).Results:So far everyone in the household has noticed an improvement not only with the devices plugged into the switches, but also the overall WiFi quality. Smart phones are no longer ‘dropped’, the printer remains connected, and even most laptops are seeing better speeds and responsiveness on the WiFi. My household is especially polluted with plug and play devices (such as Amazon Echos, Ring Cameras, wireless smart plugs, etc), and all of these seem more responsive now that we have gotten the ‘heavy’ loads off of the WiFi.The second switch that is piggybacking off of the first switch has no issues, and all devices are able to preform to their peak. Even though not all of them are gigabit, they seem to greatly benefit from being on Ethernet. Zoom calls are much better too. Before we could only have 1 person on zoom but now everyone can get on so long as only one person is on WiFi.The switches do not heat too much and are easily concealable, but require power. I do not recommend stuffing them into a blanket closet or among pillows though, even though it’s tempting to hide their flashing lights.Overall they have exceeded my expectations. This review will be updated in the future if any issues arise.

Edit 11/15/2024:I periodically like to perform check-ins on my previous reviews. Over 2 years later I am happy to say this thing still works flawlessly. Haven't encountered a single hiccup. Very consumer friendly and is truly "set it and forget it".-----------------First off I need to mention that Amazon asked me to rate 3 "features": 'WiFi signal', 'Tech Support', and the 'User Interface'. Let me be clear that this device does not use WiFi and it does not have it's own local IP address to let you log into a "User Interface". Just wanted to point this out in case you come across other reviews that have these two "features" rated that could be misleading you.I recently built a house and had it wired for Cat 6 Ethernet, with there being 1 wall port in each room. One room in particular I have a desktop PC and an Xbox that I wanted both to have a wired internet connection to which is what required the purchase of this device. It is extremely easy to set up, and with it being "unmanaged", there was no portal I needed to sign into that would require me to mess with settings. It's a very simple "plug-and-play" set up, you simply need to connect an incoming ethernet cable from your router/modem (in any port) and then you can now share that internet connection to 4 other wired devices - that's all there is to it.One important note is this: if you have a modem-only device (these devices usually only have a single ethernet port on the back) then you are probably needing a router - not a switch. A router is capable of assigning your devices their own internal IP addresses via DHCP - which is important if you don't know how to assign them yourself. It's also what manages your NAT for situations your devices may need to use the same internet port number. While you don't necessarily need to know what all of this means, you need to understand that a switch is not a replacement for a router. If you are a consumer (as opposed to a business) then you're likely considering this switch to extend/add more ports than what your router has (they usually have around 4 or 5). Even the devices that are connected directly to this switch will still be getting their local IP addresses assigned from your router.The benefit of this switch over a "hub" is that it knows how to route your internet traffic to your devices. So even though it's not responsible for assigning IP addresses to your devices, it knows how to route specific traffic to the devices that require it. It does so lightning-fast - I notice absolutely no additional latency (which is great for gaming) and no compromise in speed either. If you're on the market for a small unmanaged switch, then this is an affordable and excellent choice.As I've said above, this device does not contain WiFi. You cannot connect this wirelessly to any device. You would be able to purchase a separate device that would connect to this to transmit a wifi signal, but this will not do it on its own.

Works great. Easy setup. Purchased this one in particular after my internet installation tech suggested an ethernet switch with metal construction. According to him, the cheaper plastic models are prone to overheating and potential fires.

I've been using TP-Link TL-SG105s for several months now, and it's been a game-changer for my home network. At under $20, I was skeptical about its quality — I’ve had sandwiches that cost more — but this little device has exceeded all expectations.Build Quality:This thing is built like a brick. A small, metal, network-loving brick. It feels solid in the hand and looks like it could survive being run over by a moderately distracted Roomba. The fanless design keeps it completely silent, which is perfect — one less thing whining in the background.Ease of Use:Setup could not be easier. It’s literally plug-and-play. I plugged it in, all the lights came on like it was ready for a disco, and everything just worked. No apps, no passwords, no tech-induced panic spirals.Performance:Flawless. All five ports are delivering reliable gigabit speeds. Whether I’m streaming, gaming, or transferring huge files, it handles it without breaking a sweat. Honestly, it works so well I forgot it was even there — which is kind of the dream.Value:How TP-Link delivers something this good at this price is beyond me. I'm not asking questions, I'm just buying another one for the garage.Conclusion:If you want a small but mighty switch that just works, looks sharp, and costs less than a movie ticket (with popcorn), this is it. No gimmicks, no drama — just a hardworking little box that does its job like a pro.