Can you check my PoE/switch design please

[Adsibob]

I did not lay enough Ethernet cable in my house and now need to get creative to set up various extra PoE cameras. 
 

currently, I have the Internet coming in and going straight to a VirginMedia router that is just set up in modem mode. From there, it goes to my Ubiquiti Dream Router which then provides internet to a NETGEAR PoE Switch 8 Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Network Switch (GS308PP) - with 8 x PoE+ @ 83W.
Two of those ports respectively feed Internet to two combination APs/switches which @Nickfromwales recommended, otherwise known as the Ubiquiti U6-IW. Image of the U6-IW below:

 

 

If I buy another netgear switch like the one above, and feed it Internet from one of the U6-IW units, will that enable me to plug my PoE cameras into the netgear switch, or is not advisable to have a switch taking its Internet from a switch which is in turn taking its Internet from the U iquiti Dream Router (which itself has a form of built in switch). Sends like a lot of switches!

[Alan Ambrose]

Usually not a problem at all.

[Nickfromwales]

  On 28/02/2025 at 00:29, Adsibob said:

will that enable me to plug my PoE cameras into the netgear switch

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Depends if you exceed the max w rating of the last powered port. POE to the last switch will be fed from a single port, so there’s the possible bottleneck.

 

Plural (camera's) so how many need to run off the last switch? 

[Adsibob]

@Nickfromwales you make a good point.

 

To save time I asked ChatGPT. I told it all the devices I had and what I wanted from it. And this is what it outputted:
                                   ┌─────────────────────────┐
                                   │      ISP / Modem        │
                                   └─────────────────────────┘
                                              │
                                        (WAN connection)
                                              │
                           ┌──────────────────┴──────────────────┐
                           │      Ubiquiti Dream Router (UDR)    │
                           │    [ Acts as Router + UniFi Console ]│
                           └───────────────────────────────────────┘
                             │ LAN1 (uplink to Netgear GS308PP)
                             │ LAN2 → (Personal Computer 1, data only)
                             │ LAN3 → (Personal Computer 2, data only)
                             │ LAN4 → (Tado or Hue, data only)
                             
                             
 ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
 │         Netgear GS308PP (8‑Port PoE+ Switch, 83 W Budget)        │
 │(All ports can do 802.3at / up to 30 W, total 83 W shared budget) │
 └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
        │ Port1 (Data only, uplink from UDR LAN1)
        │
        │      (PoE Ports)
        │
        ├── Port2 ──> (PoE Out ~8 W) ── [ Swiss Army Knife Ultra ]  
        │               └─ Access Point; *no extra LAN ports*
        │
        ├── Port3 ──> (PoE Out ~13 W) ── [ U6‑IW (In‑Wall AP) ]
        │               └─ Four GbE LAN ports on the U6‑IW:
        │                  • RJ45 #1 (Data only out) → e.g., TV or Hue Bridge
        │                  • RJ45 #2 (Data only out) → (Unused or future device)
        │                  • RJ45 #3 (Data only out) → (Unused or future device)
        │                  • RJ45 #4 (PoE Out) → (Optional: could power 1 PoE device 
        │                                        if U6‑IW is powered by 802.3at)
        │
        ├── Port4 ──> (PoE Out ~15.4 W) ── [ Ring Elite Camera #1 ]
        ├── Port5 ──> (PoE Out ~15.4 W) ── [ Ring Elite Camera #2 ]
        ├── Port6 ──> (PoE Out ~15.4 W) ── [ Ring Elite Camera #3 ]
        ├── Port7 ──> (PoE Out ~15.4 W) ── [ Ring Elite Camera #4 ]
        │
        └── Port8 ──> (Data only or PoE if needed) → e.g., 
                      • Could connect TV or Hue/Tado here 
                      • Or leave unused for expansion
 

 

Clever.

 

[Big Jimbo]

I used Chatgbt for the first time the other day. I was impressed, but then again, that ain't hard.

[MrSniff]

Shouldn’t be a problem. The new switch should receive data only, with power supplied to the POE ports by the new switch’s power supply (unless I’ve misunderstood the setup!)

[Nickfromwales]

  On 01/03/2025 at 06:40, MrSniff said:

Shouldn’t be a problem. The new switch should receive data only, with power supplied to the POE ports by the new switch’s power supply (unless I’ve misunderstood the setup!)

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Ah, yes, my apologies. 

 

@Adsibob I thought you meant another Ubiquiti WAP, where it gets power from the source that feeds it, so @MrSniff is correct; you can send the data signal to another mains powered POE switch and gain another x number of powered ports for the POE cameras.

 

I’ll start getting some earlier nights in. 

[Adsibob]

Another consideration: is it best to avoid outdoor switches, and keep all the switching internal, or is there a place for outdoor switches? 

[Alan Ambrose]

Never seen an ‘outdoor’ lan switch. Would keep internal or install in a watertight box if you really must. Internal also allows you to plug in new cables and change out the switch when the power supply dies etc.