DGS-2205 5-Port 10/100/1000 Desktop Switch

QUICK SUMMARY: I use the Cisco-Linksys WRT320N Dual-Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router in my home, but I ran out of ethernet ports with all my connected devices. This easy-to-install network switch solved my problem by expanding the number of available ports in my network. Highly recommended! Background: I had thought to buy a Linksys-branded network switch since I already was using a Linksys router. But this D-Link was less expensive than a comparable Linksys network switch, and it's been around long enough that D-Link has revised the hardware architecture several times to improve their product. My only concern was, "Will this D-Link play well with my Linksys router?" The answer is, "YES!" WHAT I LIKE: - It's stupid easy to install. Plug in the switch, connect it to the router using an ethernet cable. There, done. (You can plug it into any of the five ports on this network switch). - Inexpensive! Saved me a few dollars over the Linksys brand. - It has gigabit ethernet, so it's compatible with my gigabit router. - Seems green. The product literature and box boast about how energy-saving it is. What Could Be BETTER: - It's not a stylish piece of hardware. But then, it's just a lowly network switch. - The CD that comes with it is really useless. When I see a CD, I immediately think I'm supposed to install some software. The enclosed CD just has the electronic copy of the user's manual and little else. Note: Since you're using one of the five ports to connect this switch to your router, and since you're giving up one of your ports on the router to connect to this network switch, your net gain is really just 3 ports on a 5 port switch. I had 4 ports on my router, but now only 3 of them are connected to devices other than this network switch. I have four available ports on the switch after connecting to the router. So, instead of a 4-port router, I've got a 7-port router + network switch. If you think you'll need more than a 3-port net gain, go for a bigger network switch. CONCLUSION: This network switch simply works, and it's not expensive, either. Recommended!

This switch is a total gem. I have never used D-Link switches before, but I saw this one on Amazon for a decent price and decided to give it a go. It is truly the easiest thing I've installed into my home network. I originally bought it for my computer room to allow 5 more PC's to connect to my router, but the router's ports ended up frying after a lightning strike. I am now using the switch to connect all of the computers in the house (through one port on the router that goes to the Switch's uplink) and am using a dumb hub in the computer room. I have seen no drop in performance (since everything is gigabit) for daily internet usage or gaming. I have about 9 - 12 devices connected to my network at any given time and I have not encountered any problems. My network consists of PCs (Windows and Linux based), an Xbox 360 (wired) and a Nintendo Wii (wireless), with a few wireless laptops. My router has let me down a bit, but that switch is a breath of fresh air. The unit itself is small, quiet, and cool, even stacked on top of my router. It has display lights for connected devices, which are color coded depending on if the device is gigabit capable or only 100-Base (amber for 100-base, green for gigabit). The lights blink for activity. If it matters I have the 5V version. There was no need to configure anything when I connected everything up, because it just worked. I definitely recommend this switch to anyone.

I have this and the 8 port version. I love the gigabit speed and the energy saving features. However, my LG LED TV has similar technology and the two devices often cause some confusion as they both seem to "turn on and off" when the TV is first turned on(for the switch it is the port and for the tv it is the network card). I understand what is happening and they seem to "figure it out" after several seconds of the TV asking for a wired network to be setup almost every time it is turned on. I could see how this would be annoying to some and confusing to others. Overall both devices work well with all other equipment I have Xbox 360s, Desktop PCs, Blueray player, etc. I don't use the Internet features on the TV and will only occasionally hook up the wired interenet as a work around.

Having only one wired ethernet feed in my home theater location I was looking for a fast yet compact switch to connect my various components. The D-LINK 2205 satisfied on all counts. My music, photo and video library files all reside on a NAS server in another location in my home. Internet access is via a hybrid (wired & wireless) router also located in another part of my home. Wireless hi-def feed performance was less than exemplary so I decided to opt for an economical high speed wired switch. The D-LINK was easy to install as all it took was connecting the various media devices to the switch and the switch to the ethernet feed in my home theater location. The switch immediately configured itself and each component interface was clearly displayed via the front panel interface. The components all accommodate 1000bps streaming so speed of hi-def transmission was no longer an issue. The switch has been in operation for a couple of weeks now and I'm delighted to report its operation has been flawless. It's small physical size allows for easy placement and the led front panel display is useful for monitoring connection and interface speed provided one is not more than 10 feet away. I was able to take advantage of a sale and rebate on the unit so my cost was only $19.99 but even at twice the price I'd highly recommend this device.