Question 1

Can this switch be used BEFORE my router? Or can it only  be used after the router? Tried another brand unmanaged switcher and the router did not work when placed after the switch....no internet access...

Accepted Answer

Here is what Linksys says:

Re: Switch before Router? 
Options
‎11-24-2007 01:17 AM

It depends on whether your modem is a simple modem or a modem with router included. Often modems are full routers, too, although people don't notice.

If it is a simple modem, you probably cannot connect a switch to the modem. Any device which is directly connected to the switch and modem connects directly to the internet and has a public IP address. For many ISPs it is a paid option to have multiple public IP addresses at a time, thus it usually does not work except for a single device at any time.

Moreover, even if you have multiple public IP addresses the computers are fully exposed to the internet. You don't want to use windows file/printer sharing on computers directly connected to the internet. It is a high security risk.

Thus if you have a simple modem only you most likely need a router from which you connect. If you don't want to move the wireless router down to the modem and you don't have a second line between the current position of the router and the modem you must get another router which you connect directly to the modem and from which you go into the wiring closet. You can setup the wireless router as simple access point to create a single LAN.

In case your modem is also a router you can simple rewire and reconfigure the wireless router to set it up as access point like this. Now the modem/router is the only internet gateway for your LAN and the wireless router operates as simple wireless bridge into your LAN.

To find out which kind of modem you have you can make this modem check. If the IP addresses you'll find are identical your modem is a simple modem. If not, the modem is also a router (well, of course unless your ISP uses private IP addresses which would be rather unusual).

Question 2

Is this wall mountable?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the trendnet TEG-S81g is wall mountable. I just opened the box and checked. Glad I could help!

Question 3

I have several older Trendnet Gigabit switches that convey link speed with a green / amber LED.  Does this router indicate what speed you are connected at with a green or amber LED?  Hard to tell from the specifications, and a couple reviewers say it does not.  Can someone verify?  Thanks.

Accepted Answer

I just tested this on my PC by manually setting the NIC adapter settings to 10Mbps, 100Mbps, and 1Gbps, and there was no change in the indicator lights or colors on the front of the switch for any speed.  The only indicators are a single green link acitivity light per port and a single green light for unit power.  Hope this helps.

Question 4

Trendnet, Please give us a longer power cord; 3' is too short!  Older switches had 5' or 6' cord; was it worth the savings on an otherwise excellent product?

Accepted Answer

The savings were what mattered for me. I was able to use a power strip to make up the difference in the short cord length.

Questions & Answers