Low Power router needed

westbranch · June 2014

I have a NetGear router that will run on 12V DC 1A from a power brick..

I am going to use it on 120V AC power for the interim but would like to use a lower power device to hook into 2 separate Classics for (simultaneous) monitoring over Cat5 connection, hooking both into one computer .

I am looking for suggestions for a lower power replacement, doesn't have to be a router, just use less power, as the connection will be hardwired.

thanks

BB. · June 2014

Re: Low Power router needed

I have a 4 port 10/100/1000 Net Gear switch (hardwire ports only). Supposed to take around 4 watts +/-

http://www.netgear.fr/images/gs105v3_gs108v3_ds_28aug0965-4903.pdf

About the only computer gear that I have plugged in and NEVER worried about/had to fiddle with.

-Bill

jonr · June 2014

Re: Low Power router needed

You might be better off just adding a USB ethernet dongle to the computer. It will certainly draw less than 2.5 watts.

westbranch · June 2014

Re: Low Power router needed

doesn't that only give me a USB to Cat5 connection?will the pc still recognize its built in Cat5 port along with the new one?

westbranch · June 2014

Re: Low Power router needed

Following up on BB's comment, so far I found the Linksys SE1500 switch at 6 watts. still looking.

inetdog · June 2014

Re: Low Power router needed

Yes, the computer will recognize both, but you may have to go into the routing tables manually to let it know which it should use for what destination IP addresses if it ever sees both active at the same time.
If only one will be active at at time, you can usually get by with just a fixed IP address (or DHCP) on both and both set up as default gateway for all traffic when active.

Also remember that for some purposes you really need a router (Level 3), not just a switch (Level 2). If you have only a single computer rather than a home network connected to an ISP, then a switch may do the trick.

westbranch · June 2014

Re: Low Power router needed

inetdog wrote: »

Also remember that for some purposes you really need a router (Level 3), not just a switch (Level 2). If you have only a single computer rather than a home network connected to an ISP, then a switch may do the trick.

thanks for the info. So far am having trouble finding power use < 6w, but I am sure ''it's out there somewhere''.

At this point there is no ISP involvement, as we do not have a satellite hookup yet, but it will come. However I do not plan on going the My Midnite route as we will be 100% OG and I don t like leaving stuff on while away. had a situation over the winter where the Classic #647 strangely shut down and heavily drained the battery for ~ 4 months, luckily it was tare losses and didn't kill the battery... it is a bit weaker than its sister, but gaining

zoneblue · June 2014

Re: Low Power router needed

6w you say? For a switch. Nah, most will be well under that. I measured several for blackbox, and found that more or less:

0.6W base load, plus 0.6W per connected rj45. The newer ones have "engery effecient" power reduction on idle connected ports. The current blackbox 5 port model (Tplink TL-SF1005) with three ports operating continuously, is drawing about 1.5W DC /9V.

If you actually do want a wifi router/bridge then TP-Link make these cute little travel routers which while chinese model only are considered about the lowest power use in the game.

http://www.dx.com/p/tp-link-tl-wr703n-mini-3g-2-4ghz-802-11b-g-n-150mbps-wireless-router-blue-158552

Have a USB port, and you can put openwrt on them too.

solar_dave · June 2014

Re: Low Power router needed

zoneblue wrote: »

6w you say? For a switch. Nah, most will be well under that. I measured several for blackbox, and found that more or less:

0.6W base load, plus 0.6W per connected rj45. The newer ones have "engery effecient" power reduction on idle connected ports. The current blackbox 5 port model (Tplink TL-SF1005) with three ports operating continuously, is drawing about 1.5W DC /9V.

If you actually do want a wifi router/bridge then TP-Link make these cute little travel routers which while chinese model only are considered about the lowest power use in the game.

http://www.dx.com/p/tp-link-tl-wr703n-mini-3g-2-4ghz-802-11b-g-n-150mbps-wireless-router-blue-158552

Have a USB port, and you can put openwrt on them too.

I actually like the TP-link stuff, I have a pair of wr700n 150Mbps Wireless N Mini Pocket Router that I use as a wireless bridge here because it is hard to run cat 6 to those locations. Appears to be pretty bullet proof if used with the latest firmware. Just make sure you upgrade them from a hard wire connection and not over the wireless connection. I was pretty shocked they even support 10 mbit from the TED which is nice because the TED only likes to play nice at a couple locations in my house wiring. One is now hiding behind the living room couch and the other is hiding behind the TV stuff.

Price is even better at Amazon and free shipping if you order over $50 worth of stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WR702N-Wireless-Repeater-150Mpbs/dp/B007PTCFFW/ref=sr_1_1/182-1307672-2049004?ie=UTF8&qid=1404084162&sr=8-1&keywords=tl-wr703n

westyd1982 · July 2014

Re: Low Power router needed

I power most of my network equipment from my off-grid system. I've had good luck with the Linksys/Cisco products. They have built-in power supplies and I have been able to power all of their devices straight from a 12v battery bank. I most recently replaced an old switch with an 8-port gigabit Cisco Small Business switch. It works great from a 12v battery and draws very little power.

Low Power router needed

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