EnGenius Switch Extender EXT1106 Review

The EnGenius EXT1106 switch extender is a convenient way to extend Ethernet over 100m or to easily add additional Ethernet ports where power sockets may not be easily accessible. This device is similar to the EnGenius EXT1105P switch extender, which I previously reviewed, but with a few key differences.

Features

The EXT1106 has five gigabit Ethernet ports and an SFP port. It can be powered by the first port, which is PoE++ (IEEE 802.3bt), or by USB-C. This makes it a versatile option for small businesses that may not have had a network planned and rolled out from the ground up.

Network Switch

Beyond its power options, the EXT1106 also features zero-touch provisioning, centralized cloud configuration, and visualized monitoring to improve the efficiency of network installation and management. It also has a voice VLAN function to ensure the security and quality of VoIP traffic.

Performance

I ran the EnGenius EXT1106 in my office for a week, connecting a couple of miniPCs and my main work PC to it. The EXT1106 performed reliably throughout the week with no noticeable downtime and consistent gigabit throughput when I transferred files to my Unraid NAS.

Price and Alternative Options

The EnGenius EXT1106 switch extender is available from the EnGenius Store for just $59. There is currently no UK availability, but the USD price works out as £46.50.

The EXT1105P, which I previously reviewed, is $119 and has a 30W PoE output but lacks the USB-C power input. The EXT1109P is available for $155 and has the gigabit PoE input port, then an additional four gigabit PoE output ports, 3 gigabit Ethernet ports, and a SFP port.

Network Cables

Switch extenders are quite a niche networking device, and the only products that I am aware of are from Unifi. The Unifi USW Flex Mini, which is described as a switch extender, but is actually a normal switch, is attractively priced at £27.60/$29. It lacks the SFP port but can take power from the single POE port or via USB-C.

They then have the USW-Ultra (42W), which has 1GbE PoE++ input port and 7x GbE PoE+ output ports, which can provide 42W PoE availability with PoE++ input. This costs £94.80/$129.

The USW-Flex (46W) is designed for indoor and outdoor use and has 1x PoE++ input and 5x PoE+ outputs. It is also priced at £94.80/$129.

Overall

The EnGenius EXT1106 switch extender is a handy little switch that could be useful in many scenarios. While the price is higher than competing products from Unifi, you can’t really complain at $59, it is excellent value for money.

The EnGenius EXT1106 switch extender is a handy little switch that could be useful in many scenarios.