GoKawiilA brilliant and budget-friendly network switch from a top brand has just gone on sale for a limited time only. Amazon has slashed this TP-Link 8-port unmanaged Ethernet Switch in price to just $20.86 right now, saving you 48% on its usual list price.
● Check out this deal on Amazon
The data crunchers at Camelcamelcamel confirm that this is an almost record low price, only going lower once before, back in January 2020. This is a seriously good offer for a switch that will unlock an additional eight ports on your network, although one of those ports will be used to connect it to your existing LAN. This isn't an unmanaged switch (despite the Amazon product image), so you will need to configure it, but TP-Link makes this easy with a simple setup process. It's designed to be plug-and-play, and you can hook it up to your existing router or modem without high-end configuration (unless you want that) using a standard Ethernet cable.
There isn't a better option out there for speed and latency on a home network. WiFi might have improved since the early years, but it's still prone to interference, and distance from the router is a problem. A switch like this TL-SG108E model is the perfect antidote, offering gigabit speeds to help you completely max out the bandwidth on your internet connection for high-speed gaming or 4K video streaming, along with file transfers and more.
Network switches are a useful addition to any home, especially if you need to provide high-speed connections to multiple devices in a location far away from your existing network ports. The big benefit, however, is the speed upgrade you're getting from using it. It won't magically make your internet connection better, but it can shave off latency where WiFi interference is a problem. I use one just like this to provide a branch off my main LAN to devices upstairs, for instance.
TP-Link is a well-known brand in the networking space, too. If you're having trouble with your home network connections, this TL-SG108E switch will give you rock-solid wired connections for a whole heap of devices that support Ethernet. It isn't a PoE switch, so you can't use it to power IP cameras that lack their own power source, but it'll otherwise work fine.
It's not going to take up a huge amount of space, either. It measures 6.2 x 4.0 x 1.0 inches in size, which is small enough that it won't be too difficult to hide. It's fanless, too, so you won't hear it while you're gaming or streaming, no matter how many devices you hook up to it.
As we've mentioned, this is a managed switch with a web portal for easy configuration. This unlocks extra features that an unmanaged switch wouldn't offer, but it's more user-friendly for beginners than an enterprise-grade alternative. For instance, you can use it to create separate VLANs, letting you isolate certain devices (such as cameras or a guest device) from the rest of your network. It supports QoS for improving traffic flow depending on what you're using, along with integrated network monitoring to see (and control) what your devices can and cannot do.
The $20.86 deal on this TP-Link TL-SG108E 8-port gigabit switch is a stonkingly good one. This is a (near) historic low for this particular model, with a spec sheet that makes it a serious option for anyone, beginner or pro, who is looking to upgrade their home network. Make sure to grab this one quickly, however, as this limited-time deal is set to run out by tomorrow.
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