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Forum Discussion
rvjr
Oct 09, 2022Follower
Use dual LAN ports of Wifi AP as unmanaged switch
Hi there, I wasn't able to confirm this anywhere even after a long time of searching and going through all kinds of manuals: I'm looking for a Wifi5 or 6 access point, powered via PoE, which ...
schumaku
Oct 09, 2022Guru - Experienced User
rvjr wrote:
I'm looking for a Wifi5 or 6 access point, powered via PoE, which can provide an additional port for another device.
PoE pass-through is available in the market for very small switches and low-power devices only, for example on the GS105PE. this isn't an advice for this model - check the https://kb.netgear.com/25541/GS105PE-PoE-troubleshooting to get an idea about the challenges. No way to make the magic you expect for driving beasts like a WAC540 (three WiFi 5 radios), or a even more power hungry WAX630 or 630E (three WiFi 6 2.4/5 GHz radios resp. two WiFi 6 2.4/5 GHz radios plus 6 GHz radio. The key reason for having dual Ethernet ports is to bring more bandwith to these APs. Magic wonders are not possible (or much to expensive should there be a niche product). Needless to say, this would require even more power than what eg. a WAC540 or a WAX630/630E would require - on top of for what would be required for powering a switch...
rvjr wrote:
I basically want a very flat device to sit behind my LG TV and provide reasonably fast Wifi in the room,
Just design and WAF does never lead to good solutions, certainly not for Wi-Fi. A wireless AP can't provide if hidden and shielded behind shielded electronics. reminds me to this AP I've spotted these days at a customer site - fully shielded in a VA or V2A box:
lMOA 8-((((
PoE pass-through is available in the market for very small switches and low-power devices only, for example on the GS105PE. this isn't an advice for this model - check the https://kb.netgear.com/25541/GS105PE-PoE-troubleshooting to get an idea about the challenges. And again: No, there are no APs which can be powered from a GS105PE. No way to make the magic you expect for driving beasts like a WAC540 (three WiFi 5 radios), or a even more power hungry WAX630 or 630E (three WiFi 6 2.4/5 GHz radios resp. two WiFi 6 2.4/5 GHz radios plus 6 GHz radio. The key reason for having dual Ethernet ports is to bring more bandwidth to these APs. Magic wonders are not possible (or much to expensive should there be a niche product). Needless to say, this would require even more power than what eg. a WAC540 or a WAX630/630E would require - on top of for what would be required for powering a switch...
rvjr wrote:
1G LAN to the TV, and connect over a single LAN port to a 1G switch downstairs (which can provide PoE+/++).
A WAC540 does require PoE+ IEEE 802.3at guaranteeing 25.5W power, a AX630/WAX630E does require IEEE 802.3bt guaranteeing 30.1W power. Leaving alone the 2.5 GbE port (one cable to have enough bandwidth, or two cables to a Gbe switch to provide the bandwidth), you need a really powerful, not inexpensive PoE++ switch.
rvjr wrote:
Will the dual port devices like the WAC540, WAX630(e) be able to accomplish that?
No. As stated above: These are always multiple ports to provide the bandwidth these APs need to perform. These two ports available are neither switched nor bridged ports.
There is no magic on PoE/PoE+/PoE++ designs, no tricks, no double floor fun - besides of that is able to power a device as intended.
Regards,
-Kurt
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