UniFi US-8-150W Switch: How to choose UniFi SFP
Ubiquiti Networks have introduced a portfolio of UniFi switches into the market and they have gained great popularity among users. The UniFi switch spectrum covers 8, 16, 24, and 48 ports, which offer the forwarding capacity to simultaneously process traffic on all ports at a line rate without any packet loss. Among them, the UniFi US-8-150W switch is the first version of the UniFi switch and the compatibility issue is controversial when connected with SFP fiber modules. So, how to choose the suitable optics for UniFi US-8-150W switch? Thus, this post will give you a detailed analysis of the US-8-150W switch and list the supportable UniFi SFP modules for building the network with the UniFi US-8-150W switch.
What are the UniFi US-8-150W Switches?
The Ubiquiti UniFi US-8-150W is also known as the Ubiquiti UniFi Switch 8 150W. It is a managed PoE+ Gigabit Switch. This switch features 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports along with 2 SFP ports, making it easy to incorporate high-speed local storage networks into the configuration. The 8 Gigabit RJ45 ports offer different power output options: auto-sensing IEEE 802.3af/at PoE/PoE+ and 24V passive PoE, whereas the 2 SFP ports provide optical fiber connectivity options to support uplinks of up to 1 Gbps. The physical size of the managed PoE+ US-8-150W switch is a bit larger than a standard home switch. So, would-be buyers who are looking to rackmount need to buy an extra shelf and stick it there. The table below provides clearer information about this switch. The functions of all ports on the switch can be explained more explicitly via the table below.
| Port | Descriptions |
| 8*RJ45 | Support 10/100/1000 Ethernet and Power over Ethernet (PoE) |
| 2*SFP | Support 1 Gbps data rate |
| 1*Reset Button | Restart or Restore to Factory Default Settings |
Pros and Cons of UniFi US-8-150W Switches
Although UniFi US-8-150W Switches have won great popularity among users, there are still some pros and cons when using US-8-150W to build home networks.
Pros
- Competitive price for an 8-port managed POE switch
- Fanless and silent, so OK for use in a quiet home office
- Easy GUI configuration
- Seamlessly blends with other Unifi components
- Standards-compliant functionality (802.3af/at POE, 802.3ad dynamic LACP)
Cons
- No rack-mount option
- No SFP+ 10Gbps uplink option—1Gbps SFP only
Compatible UniFi SFP for UniFi US-8-150W Switches
Before choosing the supportable UniFi SFP transceiver modules for the US-8-150W switch, we’re gonna see what type of UniFi SFP Ubiquiti themselves produce for their switch. Ubiquiti Networks only offer two types of UniFi SFP—UF-MM-1G and UF-SM-1G-S. UF-MM-1G SFP module supports the data rate of 1.25 Gbps over multimode fibers. It uses the 850nm as the Tx and Rx wavelength with a maximum distance of 550m. UF-SM-1G-S is a single-mode SFP available in both blue (1310nm) and yellow (1550nm) color codes. Unlike the 1000BASE-LX SFP optics with LC single-mode fibers that can operate up to 5 km, UF-SM-1G-S only supports a link limit of 3 km.
Of course, the supportable SFP transceiver modules for the UniFi US-8-150W switch are not limited to these original SFPs. A wide range of third-party transceivers (including some Cisco SFP modules and HP compatible SFP modules) can also work with the UniFi US-8-150W switch.
Conclusion
With the UniFi Managed PoE+ Gigabit 8 Port US-8-150W Switch, it is pretty easy to expand the capacity and reach of the existing networks. In addition to Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, the network ports support 802.3af/at PoE networking standards designed to power devices such as VoIP phones, access points, IP cameras, and more. Once installed, this switch supports Ubiquiti’s own UniFi Controller simplifying the process of managing network resources, switch configurations, port statuses, and much more.