You probably don’t need the switch you’re looking at
Most people buy too much switch or too little. A 48-port managed switch for a 10-device office is overkill. An unmanaged 5-port switch for a growing business will bite you when you need VLANs next year.
Here’s how to pick the right one for your actual needs, not the salesman’s ideal.
Unmanaged vs Smart vs Managed
Unmanaged switches
Plug and play. No configuration. Connect devices and they talk. R150-R800 for 5-16 ports. Good for home networks, adding ports to a router, or connecting non-critical devices.
Smart (web-managed) switches
Basic management through a web interface. VLANs, QoS, port mirroring, simple monitoring. R600-R3,000 for 8-24 ports. Good for small businesses that need to separate guest WiFi from the main network or prioritise VoIP traffic.
Fully managed switches
Full Layer 2/3 features. CLI and web management. Spanning tree, link aggregation, dynamic routing, advanced security. R2,000-R15,000+ for 24-48 ports. Required for networks with servers, multiple VLANs, or compliance requirements.
PoE: Power over Ethernet explained
PoE lets you power devices through the same network cable that carries data. One cable for both. It’s essential for:
- IP cameras (each one needs power where it’s mounted)
- WiFi access points (mount them on the ceiling, one cable)
- VoIP phones (no separate power adapter)
- Access control panels
PoE standards matter:
| Standard | Power per port | Typical devices | Switch cost (8-port) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PoE (802.3af) | up to 15.4W | Older cameras, basic APs | R800-R1,500 |
| PoE+ (802.3at) | up to 30W | Modern APs, PTZ cameras, VoIP | R1,200-R3,000 |
| PoE++ (802.3bt) | up to 60-90W | High-power APs, thin clients | R3,000-R8,000 |
Most access points need PoE+ (30W). Check before you buy – a PoE switch won’t power a PoE+ device properly.
How many ports do you need?
Count your current devices. Add 30-50% for growth. Don’t forget:
- Each WiFi access point needs one port
- Each IP camera needs one port (or use a PoE switch)
- Your router/firewall needs one port
- Your server or NAS needs one port (or two for link aggregation)
- Printers, VoIP phones, smart TVs, desktop PCs
For most South African businesses:
| Size | Devices | Recommended switch | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 5-8 | 8-port unmanaged | R200-R500 |
| Small office | 10-20 | 16-24 port smart managed | R1,500-R3,000 |
| Medium business | 20-50 | 24-48 port managed PoE+ | R3,000-R8,000 |
| Enterprise | 50+ | Stacked 48-port managed | R8,000-R25,000 |
Layer 2 vs Layer 3
Layer 2 switches route traffic based on MAC addresses. They handle VLANs, port security, and basic traffic management. Most businesses only need Layer 2.
Layer 3 switches can route between VLANs without needing a separate router. If you’re setting up multiple VLANs (guest WiFi, CCTV, VoIP, management) and want them to talk to each other through the switch rather than a router, you need Layer 3.
Brands in South Africa
TP-Link (budget to mid-range)
The best value for money. TL-SG series unmanaged from R150. Smart managed from R600. Full Omada-managed from R1,500. If you don’t have specific enterprise needs, start here.
Ubiquiti UniFi (mid-range to enterprise)
Beautiful management interface. One app for your entire network – switches, access points, gateway, cameras. More expensive per port but the management experience is unmatched. USW-Lite-8-PoE from R1,200. USW-24-PoE from R4,500.
MikroTik (budget enterprise)
Incredible value for features. RouterOS gives you enterprise features at consumer prices. Steep learning curve but unbeatable for cost-per-port. CRS series from R600. Not for beginners.
Cisco / Aruba (enterprise)
Enterprise standard. Expensive but bulletproof. Cisco Catalyst for large deployments, Aruba Instant On for small businesses that want Cisco reliability without the Cisco price.
Load shedding considerations
- PoE switches draw significant power – budget for a UPS that handles the total wattage
- A 24-port PoE switch at full load draws 370W+ – you need at least a 600VA UPS
- Managed switches recover cleanly from power loss. Unmanaged switches just reboot.
- If you have UniFi or Omada, the controller needs to be on a UPS too, or your network takes longer to come back up after power returns.
Shop network switches at Remote Help – TP-Link, UniFi, and more. Nationwide delivery, VAT included.
Not sure which switch? WhatsApp us on 081 358 4869 with your device list and we’ll recommend the right one.
