It's time to consider upgrading your network switch.
It's time to consider upgrading your network switch.
Over the last few months, your internet connection has been slowing down consistently, often staying at around 94 Mbps both ways. When you restart the network switch or plug in and out the Ethernet cables, the speed drops to about 90 Mbps up and 100 Mbps down. Compared to wireless speeds—which are naturally lower due to wireless limitations—it’s significantly faster. This suggests the issue might be with your network switch. Should you replace it, or could another factor be responsible?
It might be your Ethernet cable. It was the one I used. My connection jumped from 1 Gbps to 100 Mbps after a short time. It turned out to be a bad connection (I was using punch down without fully understanding the setup). Fixing it properly solved the problem. If it's a factory-made wire, swapping it should work. I have a slim 35-foot run cable with the same issue now. I’m using it across my light fixtures from the loft to the dining room—it functions, but it’s facing the same problem you mentioned.
Based on their performance and capabilities, yes. Generally, the basic 4, 8, or 16-port switches running at 1 Gbps are all passive cooled. Dust might be a concern, but it seems quite old and dusty. You should be able to tell just by inspecting the device. Occasionally, some ports on a network switch can fail, which is why I ended up buying a new router. Wi-Fi worked, but the four ports began dropping connections.
Observe how the standard switches come with fans too. When examining Netgear’s product range, you’ll see they offer both home and business models. The business version includes a lifetime warranty and advertises round-the-clock reliability. I usually choose the business line, but I found myself having a few identical units of each model. The main distinction lies in the business model—specifically, it features a heat sink whereas the home version lacks that extra component. The interior design is nearly identical, except for the added cooling feature and warranty benefits, which also comes in a different color and at a lower price point.
The model I'm seeing could be a Netgear IRCC, featuring passive cooling only.