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When we talk about smart homes and home entertainment systems, wireless technologies like Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and Bluetooth usually come to mind. However, it’s surprising how many smart devices perform best with traditional wired Ethernet connections.
Take the Philips Hue Bridge, for example—it requires an Ethernet cable. Or consider your Apple TV streaming device; while it can connect via Wi-Fi, using Ethernet enhances its performance. Similarly, smart hubs benefit significantly from a wired connection, and if you’re gaming on a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, a solid Ethernet link is crucial for maintaining a competitive kill/death ratio.
However, the demand for Ethernet ports can quickly exceed the offerings of most Wi-Fi and mesh routers, which typically provide only a few Ethernet connections—often just one or two extra ports.
This has led me to invest in Ethernet switches, and my top pick is the unmanaged 5-port gigabit Ethernet switch from TP-Link, currently priced at just $13—a fantastic 35% discount! There are also various options available, such as an 8-port switch for $27.99 (30% off), a 16-port option for $59.99 (33% off), and even a larger 48-port switch for $179.99 (25% off).
In my smart home setup, I utilize three of the 5-port TP-Link switches. One of them is located under my desk and connects my PC, Philips Hue Bridge, and HDHomeRun over-the-air TV tuner. The link port connects to my mesh Wi-Fi router, and the fifth port leads to, yes, yet another Ethernet bridge.
The second switch resides in a steel cabinet in my office, dedicated to my four Raspberry Pi boards. These Pi systems run various locally-hosted applications, such as HomeBridge for integrating non-HomeKit devices into the Apple Home app, Home Assistant for managing my smart home, and Plex for my DIY media server and DVR functionalities with my HDHomeRun tuner. While these Raspberry Pis can work over Wi-Fi, a stable Ethernet connection enhances reliability, especially for media streaming.
Lastly, my third TP-Link Ethernet switch sits behind my TV in the living room, connecting my Apple TV 4K, PlayStation 5, and Denon AVR-X1600H. This setup ensures uninterrupted video streaming, reduced gaming latency, and smooth audio streaming via AirPlay.
Setting up these TP-Link Ethernet switches is straightforward. As they are unmanaged (meaning they don’t assign IP addresses independently), you simply connect the link port to your Wi-Fi router or mesh hub and plug in your devices. You can daisy-chain multiple switches together if needed. An AC adapter powers them through a compact wall wart.
I’ve been using these TP-Link switches for several years without issue. I highly recommend them if you’re running low on Ethernet ports in your smart home or entertainment setup—more ports can only help!
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