TRENDnet 8-Port Mini Gigabit Switch, TEG-S80g, Ethernet Splitter, NDAA + TAA Compliant, Desktop Metal Ethernet Network Switch, 8 x Gigabit Ports, Fanless, Lifetime Protection, Black

I purchased this gigabit switch so that I could create a small home network with my PC and my PS3 (along with any future devices I might want). I use my PS3 to stream HD movies from my PC with PS3 media server. Before, I streamed the movies wirelessly and had constant problems with the movies stuttering. Whenever the bitrate exceeded 10-15 mbps, the movie paused and became unwatchable. I'd have to pause the movie for a second, then hit replay until the movie went to a lower bitrate, and it was highly annoying. Not only did I stream movies wirelessly, but I connected wirelessly to the internet with my PC as well. I've had problems with my wireless connection ever since I moved in, and I always assumed it was my provider's fault. I was lucky to average 10 mbps download, even though I pay for 15 mbps. I was on the verge of contacting my provider the service was so bad. So I started reading around online, and decided that a wired connection might solve both my problems, and that the gigabit switch was the way to go.I installed the switch last night. I ran 75 ft of CAT 6 cable from my PC to my PS3, tacking it along the baseboard and door frames with insulated staples to make it look pretty. I also updated all my ethernet cords to new CAT 6 cables. I plugged everything into the switch, and plugged my cable modem into the WAN port on my router. My PC instantly connected at 1 gigabit /sec. The quality difference in my internet connection IS STUNNING! I'm almost in disbelief! I went from around 10-11 mbps (on a very good day) with wireless to averaging 25 mbps with my wired conection! I also noticed lower ping times than average. The boost is simply incredible. That alone was worth the price of the switch.My next test involved streaming HD movies on my PS3. The difference, once again, is OUT OF THIS WORLD! All my stuttering issues are completely gone. I had some movies which were not even watchable due to the high bitrate, but now they stream without a hitch (last night, some movies were hitting 25 mbps bitrate and were streaming with no problems whatsoever). Not only that, but now I can stream all my HD movies while continuing to download files on my PC at full speed (over 1.5 MB/sec, whilst streaming movies at 25 mbps on my PS3). I know that a local connection through the switch makes it so that my PS3 streams movies without using the internet, but this is a HUGE bonus in my eyes.The switch itself is very sleek and attractive. It is lightweight but feels durable. I've had it on for around 16 hours now and it is not even warm. At this price, this switch is a steal. I'd recommend the 8-port over the 5-port for everyone, just in case you want to hook up more stuff to your network some day. The switch came with a small instructions booklet, but I didn't use it. No software or any other devices are included: it is solely the switch with the power supply and the small booklet. The device is truly plug-n-play, however, so you don't need any instructions. Just make sure your NIC is gigabit as well. I would recommend switching the default connection speed to 1000 mbps full duplex for all possible devices manually, instead of auto-negotiate (just to be sure you reach gigabit speeds).In sum, for my needs of a small home network, this switch is perfect. My internet connection is blazing fast now due to ditching my WiFi, and I can stream HD movies without any stuttering. The switch exceeded all my expectations. Highly recommended!!And, of course, thanks to Amazon for being so spectacular. I ordered this with 1-day shipping for 3.99 (under Prime shipping rules) and they one-nighted it from Arizona to Ohio to be delivered on a Saturday by FedEx! You rock Amazon!

I have 3 of these TRENDnet 8-port gigabit switches. All of them are in used heavily.With my current TV setup, I stream video to various terminals within the house. These switches handle all the streaming perfectly. I have not once had to reboot one. They are reliable, fast, and the price is great. What more could you want?Pros:* Price. These are one of the best values for an 8-port gigabit switch out there.* Reliability. As I stated previously, I have not had to reboot these switches at all. This is more than can be said for other switches that I have owned in the past.* Form factor. I like the square, boxed, form factor. It makes these very easy to stack.* Build quality. The switches feel very solidly built. The case is made of metal, which helps heat dissipation. However, the switches do not get terribly hot anyway.* Green. I haven't hooked them to a KillAWatt or anything, so I'm just going off of the literature on the product. It's nice that they have some technology to reduce power consumption. Every little bit counts!Cons:* Wall wart. This is a stretch, but I with it employed an in-line power brick terminating with a standard plug, rather than a wall wart. It can be annoying to find solutions to accomodate wall warts for use with power strips.* Nothing else I can think of!Overall, I have been very impressed with these switches. Any time I need a new switch, I don't even think about it and buy one of these. I have recommended them to several friends, and they have all been happy with their purchase as well.

UPDATE 3: 08/21/14Started the return process with TRENDnet. TRENDnet is instructing me to ship the item and all original packing/accessories to their facility on my own dime. I am willing to bet most people wouldn't keep the original packaging for more than a month. I still do have the original packaging, but I am not sure if I want to cough up the money only to have another unit sent to me that will fail and then I have to deal with a cycle of RMA online, ship on my dime, wait for processing and shipping, and then failing again after a few months. The fact that there are a number of other switches available on Amazon for less as well as packing a ton of good reviews, I don't think this unit is worth even RMA'ing.Bottom line: Stick with the other units.UPDATE 2: 08/20/14Removed the switch from my network and all of my issues have been resolved. I really hate to ditch this unit. It's great for my needs and the build quality feels superb, but dropping connections frequently is just not gonna fly. Contacting customer support. Will update with customer service experience.UPDATE: 08/20/14Was having network issues. Specifically it was dropped connections. I thought it was my router at first so I restarted, updated, and reset to factory settings. Upon further inspection, another computer that is connected directly to the router, was never experiencing these issues. Meanwhile I continued receiving dropped connections with my computer that is connected to the switch. Was dealing with these issues, for more than an hour straight. I switched to the next port and restarted the switch. The connection got dropped once after doing that but seems to be stable.Will continue to monitor situation. I really hope this unit is not failing, as it serves my needs perfectly.Pros:-Metal build feels sturdy-Very easy to use, plug and play-8 ports! Although most people are going to have to subtract one for the internet connectionCons:-Don't see any yetI bought this for a number of reasons. One reason was because I was tired of having the router in my room. The wireless signal was adding interference to my wireless PC headset. Now that I have this (and a long ethernet cable) I can keep the wireless router out of my room. I also have 3-4 devices that require an ethernet port in my room so it is very nice to have a switch nearby that can accommodate all of my devices at once. Lastly I wanted to convert my network to gigabit and this unit was essential.Honestly, I keep the switch out of sight so the lights aren't going to be a factor for me. If I want to test my speeds I'll go on my computer and transfer files over the network.Very satisfied with this purchase so far. Have had this for about a month and I will update my review if the need arises. If the unit holds up then I would definitely buy more of these if I need multiple.