Excellent choice
Written: Jun 28 '02 (Updated Apr 10 '03)
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Pros: Speed, status LEDs, auto uplink, good looking.
Cons: Bulky power supply, front connecting cable.
The Bottom Line: You will find this switch great for any setup. It's reliable, and fast.
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| zoist's Full Review: NetGear FS105 (FS105NA) 5x10/100 Mbps Networking S... |
The package
The box contains two screws for mounting the switch, warranty cards and manual, switch, and power supply.
Switches vs. Hubs
I bought this switch because I wanted to upgrade my slower 8 port Netgear EN108TP 10mbps hub. Switches have "more brains" to put it simply. Switches unlike hubs direct data to the proper destination without waking all the other computers on the network to see if the data being sent belongs to them.
Second Netgear device
I thought 5 ports would be enough for my home network which has 2 desktops, 1 laptop and a server. The switch would be suitable for a small office network too.
As I had another Netgear hub previously, I thought I'd stick with the brand I know works well for me.
I have had it for about 18 months, and haven't had a single problem with it.
Status LEDs
The status LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) on it are handy. They show whether the link is connected at 10 or 100mbps. There is also collision LEDs, and also LEDs to show whether there is a full or half duplex connection.
The power supply
The power supply is a bulky plug pack with a transformer inside a case which plugs directly into the power socket. It would have been better to have a lighter, non bulky switchmode power supply instead.
Smart uplink
This switch also has a feature called "auto uplink". Basically uplink means you could connect another switch to the switch, so it uplinks the data to the second switch. It also allows the use of crossover cables to be used. This switch allows you to use uplink on any port on the switch without pressing a button like other switches/hubs. It senses the cable type and adjusts the mode in a flash.
Testing
I have tested it with 10/100mbps 3COM 905B-TX network cards and also a couple of Realtek 10mbps cards. I found that when using the 3COM cards in full duplex 100mbps mode, there is never any collisions, but when using the 10mbps Realtek cards there are often collisions. I would have to say that the circuitry of the switch is a very good design.
Front loading
The switch is designed for ethernet cables to enter the front of the switch below the LEDs. Some people may not like this, so it's worth thinking about, but it doesn't bother me. I just place my switch on the end side of my desk or you could put it on top of your computer case.
Final words
If you're looking for a fast, reliable switch at a good price, then I highly recommend this switch.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 75
Driver Availability: Windows, Linux, and Mac
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Epinions.com ID:
zoist
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Location: Australia
Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 0 members
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