Which PoE Switch Should I Use with Ubiquiti Unifi Access Points?

We wrote this guide to assist people who want to set up their own Ubiquiti Unifi WiFi network but aren’t sure which Power over Ethernet (PoE) switches are compatible with which Ubiquiti Unifi Access Points.

This was written primarily for domestic installations, but the principles still apply in commercial settings.

PoE is actually quite simple, but the terminology can be confusing. It’s made even more perplexing by the fact that different terms are used to describe the same thing. Hopefully, by the end of our guide, you’ll understand everything.

If something is unclear, please leave a comment below with your questions or suggestions.

When to Use PoE Switches

There are two ways to power a Ubiquiti Unifi Access Point. The first method is to use a PoE injector. This is a simple solution for a single Access Point. Until recently, Ubiquiti Unifi Access Points came standard with PoE injectors, but with the new WiFi 6 models, that has changed and they no longer include them. PoE injectors are relatively inexpensive and a good choice if you only intend to deploy one or two Access Points.

We would recommend using a PoE switch for anything more than one or two Access Points. They are generally more reliable, and it is a much neater solution. We’ve seen deployments with 10 or more PoE injectors, and it’s a disaster!

PoE switches start with 5 ports and scale up from there. Because not all ports on many models are PoE, make sure to check how many ports on the switch are PoE before purchasing.

Types of POE

For Ubiquiti Unifi Access Points, there are three types of PoE to consider as described in detail below:

24V Passive

In Ubiquiti Unifi terms, this would be considered a legacy PoE type; previously, it ran everything, but Ubiquiti has phased it out, and none of the latest WiFi 6 models use it. Many of the WiFi 5 models could use 24v Passive but could also use PoE (802.3af), so it wasn’t strictly necessary. Ubiquiti’s UISP range still uses 24v Passive.

It is difficult to find 24v Passive PoE switches, but some Unifi models do (detailed in the table below). The most important thing to understand about 24v passive is that it will not work unless the switch is specifically designed for it (or has the ability to be changed to 24v Passive).

PoE (AkA 802.3af) (AkA 802.3af)

PoE is the most common type of PoE used by PoE products such as CCTV cameras, VOIP phones, and Smart Home equipment. It can deliver up to 15.4W per port. It was the most common PoE type used by Unifi Access Points, but the most recent generation is now predominately PoE+ (below)

The great thing about PoE devices is that they can be powered by either PoE or a PoE+ switch. The PoE+ switch will reduce the power to allow for PoE.

PoE+ (AkA 802.3at) (AkA 802.3at)

PoE is the most common type of PoE used by PoE products such as CCTV cameras, VOIP phones, and Smart Home equipment. It can deliver up to 15.4W per port. It was the most common PoE type used by Unifi Access Points, but the most recent generation is now predominately PoE+ (below)

The great thing about PoE devices is that they can be powered by either PoE or a PoE+ switch. The PoE+ switch will reduce the power to allow for PoE.

It is important to note that while a PoE device can be powered by a PoE+ switch, the reverse is not true; you cannot power a PoE+ device with a PoE switch.

Planning your PoE budget

When using a PoE switch, make sure that the switch can power the devices that are connected to it. This is known as budget planning for your PoE.

Your PoE budget is very similar to any other budget. The PoE switch will have a maximum PoE output, and each Access Point will have a maximum PoE consumption (or demand). To determine whether your PoE switch is suitable for your deployment, add all of the Maximum PoE consumption together and make sure it is less than your PoE switch’s maximum output.

For instance:

• 3 x Unifi Lite 6 = 12W (x 3 = 36W)
• 1 x Unifi Pro 6 maximum demand = 13W
• Total Maximum Consumption = 49W

• Lite 16 PoE+ switch total output = 46W

46W output – 49W consumption = -3W

The switch is not the right one

It is critical that you calculate your PoE budget and use an appropriate switch. You’ll probably find that if you connect all of your Access Points to a switch that doesn’t have enough PoE, they’ll still work. This is due to the fact that the access points are not always operating at full capacity.

The issues arise when the Access Points reach their maximum capacity. Things will start to fail at this point. It is usually the last Access Point to be plugged in that suffers the most, and it is a difficult problem to troubleshoot because the issues are intermittent.

The maximum PoE demand of an Access Point can be found in the technical specifications, but we have created a table below to show you the Ubiquiti Unifi models and their demands.

Table of Unifi Access Points, their PoE type, and Maximum Consumption

Ubiquiti Switches

When selecting a switch for your Ubiquiti Unifi Access Points, keep in mind that you do not have to use a Ubiquiti Unifi switch. A Unifi switch is vastly over-specified for most domestic installations, as 99% of the features are never used. Spend your money on more Access Points or a good Router, in our opinion.

Because they are designed for enterprise networking, Ubiquiti Unifi switches are pricey. We would seriously consider using a cheaper unmanaged PoE switch from another brand unless you intend to use the switch’s more advanced features. Contrary to popular belief, there will be no discernible difference in your network performance, particularly in a domestic environment.

Unifi’s latest generation of PoE switches is a little disappointing. The PoE demand for the new generation of Unifi Access Points has increased, while the PoE output of the less expensive Unifi switches has decreased. This means that for deployments of more than a few PoE devices, you must either use multiple switches or spend a small fortune on the more expensive models. This is unfortunate because previous generations of Ubiquiti Unifi switches, such as the US-8 150W and US-16 150W, were far more generous in their output while remaining reasonably priced.

To be clear, we are not implying that Ubiquiti Unifi switches are not good; they are excellent, and we use them frequently, particularly in commercial/business deployments. Our point is that they will not make a significant difference in a simple domestic deployment.

Ubiquiti Unifi Switches their PoE type and Maximum Output

Many different manufacturers produce PoE switches. There are models from Networking manufacturers, AV manufacturers, Smart Home manufacturers, CCTV manufacturers, and others. In general, Networking brands should be matched with Access Points, but this is not a hard and fast rule.

Everyone has their favorites, but we generally prefer TP-Link for smaller domestic deployments and either TP-Link or Netgear for larger domestic deployments. However, we also use HP, Draytek, Zyxel, D-Link, and other brands. Since the impact of Covid on supply chains, we have used a much broader range of brands, and to be completely honest, all of the products have been completely reliable.

We have a few criteria in mind, and we make sure that the switch can meet them before we deploy.

We generally seek the following for domestic deployments:

• Gigabit
• Fanless
• PoE+
• Unmanaged

Both TP-Link and Netgear provide excellent value for money. We particularly like the TP-Link 5 port PoE+ model (65W) because it is a small switch with a sizable PoE budget. Furthermore, despite the fact that the TP-Link is not a managed switch, it can still pass VLAN tags and thus be used in a more advanced deployment.

Non-Ubiquiti PoE switches we use

Fans

If you intend to place the switch near a working or living area, we advise against using a fan-cooled switch because the noise will quickly become irritating. If the switch is going to be in a cupboard, a loft, or somewhere more remote, a fan will suffice.

Conclusion

We hope this guide has been useful in clarifying the PoE requirements for Ubiquiti Unifi Access Points and which switches to use. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below or contact us for home or office network solutions in Kenya. Click any of the links below to explore more products on sale:

• Ubiquiti PoE Injectors for Sale in Kenya
• Ubiquiti Switches for Sale in Kenya
• Ubiquiti Antennas for Sale in Kenya
• Ubiquiti Routers for Sale in Kenya
• Ubiquiti Access Points for Sale in Kenya