Ubiquiti UniFi Flex Mini 5-Port PoE Switch

Product Information

We particularly like the TP-Link 5-port PoE+ model (TL-SG1005P) because it is a small switch with a relatively high PoE budget. This guide has been written primarily for domestic installations, but the principles still apply to commercial environments. We've written this guide to help people who want to set uptheir own Ubiquiti Unifi WiFi network, but aren't sure which Power over Ethernet (PoE) switches are compatible with which Ubiquiti Unifi Access Points. We’ll start with the most similar and cheapest, and deal with the larger and more expensive models last. There are a number of different PoE switches available on the market, so it is important to choose one that is right for your needs.

Switch with 802.3af PoE - Ubiquiti 8-Port Managed Gigabit Switch with 802.3af PoE - Ubiquiti

I prefer to zoom out and look at the new Professional 8 PoE for what it is: something to fill a small hole in a big lineup. PoE was the dominant PoE type used by Unifi Access Points, but the latest generation are now predominantly PoE+. With a high PoE budget and six high-speed interfaces, the XG 6 PoE (Gen1) may be older, but it can be a better fit than any alternatives depending on your network needs.

If you go for anything other than the U6-Enterprise access point, you may as well keep your USW-FLEX-XG and power the access point off the UDM SE because they all have 1GbE links. The 1430 models are unmanaged, competing more with Netgear or the Flex mini than the Professional 8 PoE. It also has 8 PoE++ and 430W of power budget, so it is great for powering a lot of high-power PoE equipment too. You then link to your ‘hub’ switch - the UniFi USW-Enterprise 8 PoE is a 2,5GbE switch with PoE and an SFP+ uplink to the 10GbE LAN port on the UDM SE or you can go 10GbE with the USW-FLEX-XG that you already have (again, you’ll want an SFP+ adapter to link the UDM SE and the USW-FLEX-XG).

switches to use with Ubiquiti Unifi Access Points Which switches to use with Ubiquiti Unifi Access Points

It is quite difficult to find 24v Passive PoE switches, but some Unifi models can provide 24v Passive (as detailed in the table below). Contrary to popular belief, there will be no noticeable difference in your network performance, particularly in a domestic environment.

PoE+, or Power over Ethernet Plus, is an extension of the PoE standard that can provide up to 30 watts of power per port. The switch is designed to handle complex network configurations and is ideal for both small and large-scale deployments.

UniFi Switch USW-FLEX-XG 10G M PoE+ - Switch no power poe Ubiquiti UniFi Switch USW-FLEX-XG 10G M PoE+ - Switch no power

The Omada switches all have gibberish names with seemingly random letters and numbers, but the closest models would be the SG3210 or SG2210MP. Unless you are planning on using the more advanced features of the switch, then we would seriously consider using a less expensive unmanaged PoE switch from another brand.If you just need gigabit Ethernet, a small bit of PoE, and don’t need layer 3 support, the Lite 8 PoE and Lite 16 PoE are significantly cheaper and worth considering. You get the layer 3 features from UniFi, a nice desktop enclosure, an integrated power supply with a locking power cable, and a wall mount. It is important to note that although a PoE device can be powered by a PoE+ switch, it does not work the other way, you cannot power a PoE+ device with a PoE switch.