USW-Flex

A look at the USW-Flex from Ubiquiti Networks - a 5 port, Layer 2 switch with 1 PoE in (802.3af/at/bt) and 4 PoE out ports.

Crosstalk Solutions is an authorized Sangoma partner and reseller.

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Twitter: @CrosstalkSol

[ScottClevelandmi]

That was the best explanation of all the different POE standards I’ve seen yet. I think the fact that you struggled a little bit and had some trial and error in there made it clear / memorable. Thank you.

[jeromes]

One thing no one has mentioned is the switch has a extended operating temperature, -40 - 149F at 25 W. I bought one to run in my attic. It is connected and powering two AC-Pros. The flex is powered from a SW-8 150w. Have had no issues

[DethpickleDave]

I've got a difficult run into the back yard that currently has an AP-AC-Mesh on it. Adding one of these would let me also add a couple G3-Flex cams without crawling to that tight attic corner again. Hundred bucks versus getting all dirty and sweaty for an hour or so of swearing again.

[CPTS-Productions]

These little switches are awesome for in-room wired POE distribution when you only have one wired (POE) up link (e.g. multiple phones, phone and AP, etc. etc.). Also, regarding the comment about 24V passive...while Chris is absolutely correct that these switches do not output 24V passive, this is very easily adapted for by simply placing an instant 802.3af (accessory sold from Ubiquiti...they make indoor and outdoor varieties) inline with the output from the USW-Flex. Thee switches then afford you all the configurability available in unify...including 802.1x security, all the VLAN port profiles, etc. Again, this little thing...for $99 bucks is awesome!!!

[SimpsonOutboards]

I used one this week. It's a great product. I've installed it outside on its own under a balcony on a cliff. Here in Lands End Cornwall. I will silicone the gaps though. Both from cables and the bracket but what a nice product.

[jeremyc]

Been running one of these for a while now, it's a nice little switch. Was using it as a desktop switch in my office, but have it powered by BT power and had a nanohd, and 2 g3flexs hooked up and running with no issue. Currently installed in my attic powering an AP and g3 flex

[Exploited]

The G4 Pro consumes12.5 watts, the Nano HD 10, you went slightly above the 20W maximum there!

[strikermed]

A note, I'm powering mine with a Unifi 24port 250W switch. I've got about a 100foot run to the Flex powered via 802.3at and then all my devices are anywhere from 15 to 30 feet of wire to cameras. I attempted to power 4 cameras on this, and it works fine during the day, but I continuously got dropouts at night when the IR lights started powering up. Cameras were drawing roughly 3 watts during the day, and 7-8 at night. Surprisingly the flex chose the same port to cut power to, or maybe just by design it just so happened to loose power on the same port, but it was always port 4. I reconfigured today, and thus far through the night, all 3 cameras are going strong. Still a handy device.

[frankmalcolm]

Thanks Chris, buying one tonight for a client. Currently using a USW-8-60W, but in hot Maryland summers the location where the switch is placed is just too hot. With a higher operating temperature of 20+ degrees fahrenheit depending on POE output, hopefully this little switch does the trick.

[HunterLaska]

This switch would be a good switch to put up in the attic for cameras pointed around the house! You wouldn't have to run power and install outlets, just run the ethernet cable and plug it all in. You could also plug in a nano station or two on the roof! All depending on poe power budgets of course.

[horatiu-mariangraur]

Thank you Chris for this review! I was searching for a small switch to power an exterior video intercom and the interior monitor (which require 802.3af) without additional power supplies in that area and this seems to be the winner :) I was a little disappointed that the nano switch didn't have a version with 802.3af but now I'm happy :D

[evancjensen]

Thanks for the video! I have a nano switch and was hoping they'd come out with one of these. A bit disappointing that it requires 802.3bt to power more than 2 devices, but it makes sense.

[Esqpillar]

Another excellent video, Chris. Thank you. I wish I would have watched this video before spending 4 (angry) hours trying to figure out why all my devices kept shutting off hahahah.

[jeremymyers]

I have a 10x14 workshop that requires a little over 150ft of Ethernet cable to go from the rack out to the workshop. This switch helps me run my G3 flex camera, my smartTV and my desktop with one cable run instead of multiple cable runs.

[juanmarcosruiz]

I found, that in order to have the full 46W of power budget, when powered by a PoE, like the 50v-60W, PoE mode has to be enabled in the device menu. But this menu doesn't show in the new web interface. Classic view must be enabled to show the PoE option.

[rudolphbeschererjr]

This would be great as an alternative to the Switch 8 60W for an install I just did at church. We have a limited number of runs of what appears to be Cat 5 cable in a building where it is either brick walls or lath and plaster, so running additional cables is cost-prohibitive, making a switch like this a very attractive alternative in terms of installation speed.

[devonwhitehead]

I am buying a new house and I am planning on using two of these to power a combination of cameras and access points. I will be using the 8 port, 150 watt switch as my core switch, with these ran off of that. On one I am planning on installing 3 G3 Flex cameras; and the other will have 2 G3 Flex cameras and 1 Flex HD access point. Running both off of 802.3at should give me plenty of power for those devices, looking at about 12 watts on one and 18.5 watts on the other. Unfortunately, that only leaves me room for expansion on one of the switches, unless I decide to power one or both off an 802.3bt PoE injector.

[nicholaswaterton]

I found a device that converts two 802.3at ports to one 802.3bt port (actually acts like an injector), you then switch the USW-Flex to “injector” mode (in general settings), and you have the full 45W output (it’s actually 45W not 46W).
So you can use two POE+ ports to power this (via one cable). I’m using it to power a UAP-FlexHD and a PTZ camera in the back garden, with my existing USW-POE24-250.

[kutalon]

3:33 I have beed waiting for that since the beginning of the video

[BillShelly]

I'm currently powering 2 Dahua 4K POE Turret cameras from the USW-FLEX, which is currently connected to my US-8-150 Switch. For future expansion, I purchased a Ubiquiti POE-54V-80W Passive injector for more power. The Ubiquiti POE-54V-60W Passive Injector would also suffice. Something to keep in mind is that Ubiquiti states on their forums that the USW-FLEX requires 15W of power overhead to be available at all times, otherwise it will cause devices to not power or to reboot repeatedly, therefore, a 60W Injector at a minimum is needed to get the full power budget of 45W. So always power with 802.3 AT, BT, or the above mentioned injectors to provide enough power. To use a PoE Injector, you will need to set the following:

Per UI-ShermanHsu: "The power source setting (is supported) on FW 4.0.31 and Controller 5.11.19 and later
.

From Controller 5.11.29+ the Power Source setting is under Config->General ->
(Choose PoE Injector)

From Controller 5.11.19 the Power Source setting is under Config->Services
-> (Choose PoE Injector)

Before UniFi 5.11.19 the following SSH commands you need to run to change the power source to PoE injector.

echo >> /tmp/system.cfg
echo >> /tmp/system.cfg
syswrapper.sh apply-config

When powered USW-Flex by PoE-Injector, please set power source to PoE-Injector to get full power budget 45W."

I love the USW-FLEX and plan on picking up two more ASAP. It's great for multiple cameras with a single Ethernet run (though I almost always run two as a CYA).