Ethernet Switches

Craig K9CT

I decided to go to wired ethernet in my shack at both home and the contest station. You will easily tap out most routers and need a remote switch to add capacity. 

The discussion about routers also has a parallel with ethernet switches. You will find that the Maestro will not work with some and will work with others. 

I can tell you for sure that the Trendnet TEG-S80g will not work....if it does, it won't after a period of time. The NETGEAR GS-108 works every time. 

I mention this only because some of you are going to pull your hair out and wonder why you can't see the wired connection. I am sure others will chime in with their suggestions as well. 

I originally had the Maestros doing WiFi and got a way with it but there is so much traffic in the contest station shack on WiFi, I decided to eliminate a possible problem. On Palmyra, we had a WiFi router to network all the computers for logging in N1MM and I was concerned about adding the Maestros to the WiFi....however, it worked. We kept that network off the internet.

Keep in mind that the Maestro has two IP addresses. One for WiFi and one for wired ethernet. It is easy to get a conflict and you should consider reserving the IP address for each important device on the network. 

73, Craig K9CT

Jd Dupuy

Quote: "Keep in mind that the Maestro has two IP addresses. One for WiFi and one for wired ethernet. It is easy to get a conflict and you should consider reserving the IP address for each important device on the network."

This just solved my problem! Outstanding Craig...thanks for your help and experience!

Paul Bradbeer

Phew, glad to hear it!  I bought a Netgear GS-105 (the 5 port version of the GS-108) in anticipation of running my Maestro, PC and 6500 on the same network.  Maestro has yet to arrive but I would have been mortified if I had bought a troublesome Ethernet switch!  Good job I didn't go on price...there were a number of cheaper alternatives

Steve (N9SKM)

I guess ill find out if the TP-Link one i bought a couple of weeks back will work or not...

Cal N3CAL

I have my Flex-6500 wired using a Cisco SG200-08 Gigabit Smart Switch.  My Maestro has been working great both wired and via WIFI.  No issues so far after a full 24 hours of tests....

Cal/N3CAL

Steve-N5AC

For what it's worth, we use the DHCP from our local router here at the FlexRadio office without issue.  In other words, both the wired and wireless interfaces in Maestro are all set dynamically from the router without incident.  The only time we use static DHCP is when the developers prefer to use a numerical address for their equipment and have it always be the same.  

Burch - K4QXX

When I originally had my wifi issue, I plugged my Maestro into a old 1GB Netgear switch.  It's the same switch as my 6700 is plugged into.  Maestro seemed to work OK but I did notice that after some time I had 12 dropped packets.  It was probably hooked up this way for about 15 minutes or so.  I can run the 6700 with my computer (plugged into the same Netgear switch) for hours and never get even 1 dropped packet.  So Craig is correct, some switches will not work as well with Maestro.  Once I fixed my wifi issue, I get less dropped packets with wifi as I do with wired Ethernet to the old Netgear switch.  The switch is at least 7 years old so I am planning to replace it anyway.  I was just surprised to see any dropped packets since I never see any on my computer running SSDR. 

DH2ID

TP-Link TL-SG1005D here. Works 365/7/24 here without any problems.
Alex - DH2ID

Steve (N9SKM)

Sweet i have the 5 port version of it. FB with the Maestro then? All of my cables are already cat6 for better shielding so not expecting issues there.

ctate243

Here is a great Contesters shack tip.. the Netgear GS-116(the 16 port version for a few bucks more) works great as well and actually has a unique bonus, a chassis ground lug on it. 

Bonding is good.  :-).

Tim - W4TME

..and actually has a unique bonus, a chassis ground lug on it

Metal cases that can be grounded (Faraday cages) are worth their weight in steel and aluminium.

dlwarnberg

Running one here.. Netgear GS-116, gigabit internal network.. ZERO issues and it's grounded...  Between the main Router (in the main room) and the GS-116 (in the shack) I have a pair of TP-LINK MC200CM Fiber gigabit connection... 

73's

David