How to determine which switch works best for you?

Hello Peter.

Please evaluate the PoE requirements further. Most "simple" PoE IEEE 802.3af (not talking of PoE+ IEEE 802.3at and the new 4PoE IEEE 802.3bt) request - even if there are different power classes - request and reserve the full 15.4 W on the PoE switch. The available PoE power on smaller switches is limited, and does not have to comply with the number of PoE ports. The mentioned JGS524PE does have 12 PoE (802.11af) ports, but a max power budget of 100 Watts. Say you try to connect 12 simple wireless AP like a WAC505/510, you will find that only six will be powered (6 * 15.4 W == 92.4 W), even if the effective required power is way less - but the lower power classes are not sufficient to power it under all conditions.

Real PoE+ and 4PoE devices can request required power in a more granular way, but when operating classic PoE devices, the above "logic" does apply.

Be aware that bigger/faster wireless AP, e.g. a WAC540 does require PoE+, the upcoming up WiFi 6 access points need even more power (depending on the number of WiFI radios and the uplink speed, e.g MultiGig or 10G - what requires more expensive switches then, or at least two network links in a LAG).

Regards,

-Kurt.