TRENDnet TPE-TG240G 24-Port Gigabit PoE+ Switch: specs and who it suits

The TRENDnet TPE-TG240G is an unmanaged 24-port gigabit Ethernet switch that can also power devices through the same cable. That makes it a tidy way to connect IP cameras, wireless access points and VoIP phones without running a separate power cable to each one. It is built for a 19-inch rack, with a metal case and mounting brackets in the box.

What PoE+ does for your cabling

Power over Ethernet (PoE) sends electrical power along with data over a standard network cable. The device at the far end needs only one cable instead of a network cable plus a power adapter. This helps most where an outlet is hard to reach, such as a ceiling-mounted camera or an access point high on a wall.

TRENDnet says each port on this switch supplies up to 30 watts of PoE+ power. The older PoE standard is 15.4 watts per port, so PoE+ suits higher-demand devices such as PTZ cameras, which can pan, tilt and zoom, and high-power wireless access points.

Understanding the 370W PoE allowance

The PoE allowance is the total the switch can hand out across all its ports at once. TRENDnet lists 370W for the TPE-TG240G. Twenty-four ports at the full 30 watts would add up to 720 watts, so the allowance is smaller than the sum of every port's maximum. In practice, many devices draw well under their limit, and the allowance is shared as needed.

TRENDnet says the switch detects whether a connected device is non-PoE, standard PoE (15.4 W) or PoE+ (30 W) and supplies the right amount automatically. A laptop or a printer on a port is simply treated as a regular network device.

Gigabit ports and switching capacity

All 24 ports run at gigabit speed (10/100/1000 Mbps). The listed switching capacity is 48 Gbps, which is the combined rate of 24 ports in both directions at 1 Gbps each. In general, that means the switch itself should not be the bottleneck when every port is busy. Jumbo frames up to 10 KB are supported, which can help some storage and large-transfer workloads where every device on the path is set up for them.

Unmanaged means plug and play

"Unmanaged" means there is no web interface, no VLANs and no port settings to configure. You connect cables and it works. That suits simple installations, such as a camera system or a small office. If you need to separate traffic into VLANs, monitor ports remotely or set up link aggregation, an unmanaged switch will not do that.

Rack mounting and installation

The case is metal and is designed for a 19-inch, 1U rack position. The package includes the quick installation guide, a rack mount kit and a 1.8 m (6 ft) power cord. TRENDnet rates the operating temperature at 0 to 40 °C (32 to 104 °F), so the room or cabinet should stay within that range, with airflow around the unit.

The listing also states NDAA and TAA compliance for the U.S. and Canada, which some government and institutional buyers require, and lifetime protection from TRENDnet in the same two countries.

Who it suits

It suits installers and small businesses that need a block of powered ports in one place: a camera system, a set of ceiling access points, or a phone system. It is less of a fit if you need managed features or if only a few devices need PoE.

What to check before you buy

• Total power: add up the wattage of the devices you plan to power and compare it with the 370W allowance.
• Per-device standard: confirm your cameras or access points work with PoE or PoE+ as the switch provides it.
• Space and rack: you need a 19-inch rack or cabinet with a free 1U slot, and enough depth for the cabling.
• Cooling and noise: check the manual for ventilation, since a switch that powers many devices produces heat.
• Management needs: confirm you do not need VLANs or remote monitoring.
• Warranty region: the lifetime protection and compliance statements apply to the U.S. and Canada, as TRENDnet states.

The short version

• Unmanaged 24-port gigabit switch with PoE+ (up to 30 W per port).
• 370W total PoE power allowance and 48 Gbps switching capacity.
• Automatically detects non-PoE, PoE and PoE+ devices.
• Metal 1U rackmount case with brackets and a 1.8 m power cord included.
• Plug and play, with no management features.

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