Is there a more affordable alternative to an Eero PoE switch for your needs?
Is there a more affordable alternative to an Eero PoE switch for your needs?
I aim to utilize my home’s existing Ethernet infrastructure while planning to establish a home lab setup, including a Plex server.
Current configuration: The house is already wired for Ethernet, and all connections end in the basement. Fiber arrives from the basement to the basement via a fiber modem, which links to an Eero 6 WiFi Gateway Router on the second floor. The fiber connection offers 1 Gbps speed, which is the fastest available locally, preventing potential bottlenecks that could arise if higher speeds were used.
I attempted to connect a basic switch between the modem and the Eero 6, but it failed because the modem only provides standard functionality. I also tried connecting a simple switch directly from the modem to the Eero 6, which didn’t work due to the modem’s limitations. The Eero 6 is supplied by my ISP and doesn’t support additional features.
It appears the straightforward approach would be to purchase an Eero PoE gateway switch for the basement and integrate all Ethernet connections there. This avoids complications from using a different gateway than the one provided by my ISP. While the $400 cost seems high, it might be necessary for reliability.
My current choices are:
- Install the Eero switch between the modem and Eero 6, routing basement Ethernet to it.
- Relocate the Eero 6 to the basement and connect a switch there using its outbound port.
- Place a new Eero in the upstairs location, connecting via the switch (though signal quality may be poor).
I prefer the second option because it aligns with my ISP’s equipment and avoids unnecessary expenses.
Are there any problems with my current plan? Are there other possibilities I haven’t explored?
Your issue is that the ISP only provides you with one public IP address. This is why many people use a router to share that single IP among all devices in their home via NAT. These devices are more accurately referred to as gateways.
The correct path should be: ---isp fiber---modem---router---switch---other equipment.
You cannot insert a switch between the modem and the router because only one device receives an IP address, while the rest remain without one.
Here are some possibilities:
- Purchase the most affordable router available with gigabit WAN and LAN ports. Turn off Wi-Fi and place it in the basement. Use an EERO in AP mode upstairs to supply Wi-Fi. Since you don’t need Wi-Fi in the basement, a router with a 1200 port number works well. Make sure all Ethernet ports are gigabit-capable. These routers without Wi-Fi tend to be pricier.
- Alternatively, use an Eero in the basement. Disable Wi-Fi but keep it on if desired. Then acquire a router that offers the Wi-Fi you require. Wi-Fi 6 offers minimal improvement over Wi-Fi 5. I’d recommend Wi-Fi 6e. The cost has decreased significantly since Wi-Fi 7 was released. You still won’t need an extremely advanced router, as your main use is wireless communication.
In either scenario, run the device upstairs in AP mode. Essentially, this acts like a switch equipped with Wi-Fi radios. Other router functions are unnecessary here.
Only one device should be configured for NAT. If you have multiple routers operating in router mode, it can cause communication problems between devices inside your home and complicate setup. It also simplifies the overall configuration.
There are more advanced solutions if you have several ethereal cables from the basement to the upstairs room. You might connect a cable between the modem and the eero wan port, then run another cable from an eero lan port back down to a switch in the basement. I won’t go into detail, but you can also employ smart switches and use vlans to create two networks over the same cable, making it act like two separate cables.
As recommended, the purpose is to understand why a PoE switch is necessary and what goals you aim to reach. If you need to connect your Plex server to the internet from outside, it's advisable to set up a private VPN with tools like ZeroTier, Tailscale or NetBird, rather than using a public IP and port forwarding.
I will include the idea of drawing a straightforward network diagram covering every device, connections (by ports), and cable paths inside the house. Add details such as device names, models, IP addresses, MAC addresses, and cable specifications as shown on the cables. Power outlets should also be represented in the diagram. Keep other notes where necessary. The diagram doesn’t have to be elaborate; many examples exist online. What matters is that it remains clear and sufficient for planning or future reference. Understanding the overall "big picture" is essential when evaluating options and network layout. Creating a template and updating it as plans change would be helpful. A copy of the house’s floor plan could serve as a reference. Alternatively, using small Post-it Notes for each device offers flexibility. This approach can greatly aid future troubleshooting.
Thanks for the replies everyone. I guess I should have expanded on the title a little bit more than I did. I don't
want
to buy a PoE switch, it just seems like my only options for a gateway switch happen to be PoE (especially if I stick with the Eero brand my ISP uses), and that's an unnecessary expense I'm trying to avoid.
I'm used to having cable internet, where the ISP just provided me a modem so I could do whatever I wanted with the router/AP. My current ISP provides the router/AP, and although I manage it with the Eero app, when I open the app it says "Eero...provided by <ISP>". I'm not sure if putting a new device between the fiber modem and their Eero would mess anything up, and since I work from home I'm a little hesitant to do anything that would require me waiting on them to come out and undo/reset/fix something. Sticking with the Eero-branded switch would make me a little more confident in making the swap, but I can't justify buying a $400 switch.
@bill001g
I'm leaning towards your second recommendation. Putting the ISP's Eero 6 in the basement means there is no change from their perspective. I have my previous wireless router I can put upstairs as a AP.
@cruisetung
Right now my "network closet" has to be co-located with my AP. My goal is to de-couple the ideal location for my AP (upstairs bedroom, good line-of-sight to the house and yard) from the ideal location for things like a NAS (the basement location where the ethernet drops are).
The Plex server is just for the local network, at least for now.
@Ralston18
All good points. Right now the ethernet drops are un-terminated, mostly un-labelled, and just dangling. I plan to connect them all up to a nicely-labelled patch panel and store sketches and notes in my "network closet" as I go.
It's worth noting that switching with PoE and VLAN capabilities are not costly. You might want to consider using them for security cameras later on.
https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-TL-SG108P...0AD1W?th=1
https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Gigabit-E...LMDC/?th=1