Introduction: Meet the Reyee RG-ES118FGS-LP and its key features
Reyee RG-ES118FGS-LPis a practical, cost-conscious unmanaged PoE/PoE+ switch built for small business and security-focused networks. With 16 10/100 Mbps PoE-capable downlink ports, two Gigabit RJ45/SFP combo uplinks and a 120 W total PoE budget, the RG-ES118FGS-LP aims to strike a balance between affordability, power delivery and deployment flexibility. Its fanless metal chassis supports quiet desktop or 19" rack-mounted installations, and intelligent PoE features such as PoE Watchdog and PoE Extend simplify powering cameras and access points in real-world environments.
Detailed description of specifications and benefits
The RG-ES118FGS-LP is straightforward in design but careful in specification. Below are the main hardware and functional highlights, followed by the benefits these specs deliver in deployment.
- Ports:16 × 10/100BASE-T downlink ports with 802.3af/at PoE/PoE+ support.
- Uplinks:2 × 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ45 / SFP combo ports for flexible Gigabit connections to core switches or routers.
- PoE budget:120 W total PoE power across all ports; typical per-port capability up to ~30 W depending on power distribution and mode.
- PoE features:PoE Watchdog (power-cycle problem devices), PoE Extend/Extended mode (longer reach at lower speeds), port isolation and energy-saving modes.
- Performance:Switching capacity approx. 7.2 Gbps, forwarding rate ~5.35 Mpps, 8K MAC table, approx. 4 Mbit buffer.
- Build & protection:Fanless metal housing for silent operation; desktop or 19" rack mountable; built-in surge protection (~4 kV).
- Management:Unmanaged plug-and-play operation with optional visibility via Ruijie Cloud for simple site monitoring (visibility only; not a fully managed feature set).
- Safety & warranty:Typical certifications such as CE and RoHS; approximate 3-year reseller warranty.
- Power for cameras and APs:The 120 W PoE budget means you can power many 802.3af devices simultaneously (IP cameras, VoIP phones, many APs). For higher-draw cameras or multiple PoE+ devices, plan power distribution so the total stays within the 120 W budget.
- Flexible uplinks:The Gigabit RJ45/SFP combo ports let you connect to a 1 Gbps core switch or use fibre SFP modules for longer backbone links—useful in campus or multi-room deployments.
- Silent and robust:Fanless metal chassis provides reliable passive cooling and quiet operation—important in offices, retail stores or recording environments.
- Resilience and safety:Built-in surge protection and recommended earthing practices reduce the risk when connecting outdoor cameras or running long cable runs.
- Simple deployment with visibility:As an unmanaged switch it’s plug-and-play, but optional Ruijie Cloud sighting adds a lightweight monitoring option to check device status across sites without complex configuration.
Use cases and scenarios where the RG-ES118FGS-LP excels
This switch is tailored for deployments that need reliable PoE power and simple networking without the overhead of full management. Typical scenarios include:
- IP cameras often require PoE or PoE+; the 16 PoE ports let installers feed dozens of cameras from a single device (subject to the 120 W budget), keeping cabling tidy and centralised.
- PoE Watchdog can automatically reboot a hung camera by power-cycling its port—reducing site visits for common issues.
- Surge protection and proper earthing help protect cameras connected outdoors or across long cable runs.
- Deploy multiple Wi‑Fi APs in a small office or retail environment: APs can be powered directly from the switch and linked into the network backbone via the Gigabit uplinks.
- PoE Extend allows powering APs further away from the switch where short runs aren’t possible.
- Small businesses benefit from a simple, low-touch switch that provides PoE to phones, cameras and APs while linking to an upstream router at Gigabit speed.
- Fanless operation means it can sit in a front office or retail stockroom without creating noise nuisance.
Comparisons with similar products on the market
When evaluating the RG-ES118FGS-LP, it’s helpful to compare it to other common choices: unmanaged Gigabit PoE switches, fully managed PoE switches, and value-centred 10/100 PoE options.
- Many competitors offer full Gigabit on all ports (1000 Mbps). The RG-ES118FGS-LP offers 10/100 on downlink ports and Gigabit uplinks—this is a trade-off: lower per-port speed but often sufficient for cameras and APs where the device’s own uplink is the limiting factor.
- If you need full Gigabit throughput for every powered device (for example, high-resolution cameras streaming at heavy bitrates or local server link aggregation), an all-Gigabit PoE switch may be preferable.
- However, the RG-ES118FGS-LP tends to be more cost-effective per PoE port and adequate for many IP camera and AP deployments where 100 Mbps is enough.
- Managed switches (VLANs, QoS, SNMP, ACLs) offer granular control and monitoring. The Reyee is unmanaged, aiming at simple plug-and-play installs.
- If you need advanced network segmentation, traffic shaping for VoIP, or enterprise-grade monitoring, a managed switch is required. If you prioritise simplicity, lower cost and easy setup, the RG-ES118FGS-LP is an attractive option.
- At a suggested price around USD 160, the RG-ES118FGS-LP positions itself as a budget-friendly PoE solution with useful features (PoE Watchdog, Extended mode, surge protection) that add real-world value to installers and small IT teams.
Customer feedback and reviews
While formal customer quotes are site-dependent, aggregated feedback from installers and small-business purchasers typically highlights a few recurring positives:
- Quiet operation:Many customers appreciate the fanless metal chassis—ideal where noise matters.
- Price-to-port ratio:The mix of 16 PoE ports and a 120 W budget at the device’s price point is often cited as a strong value.
- Sensible PoE features:Users frequently call out PoE Watchdog and Extend mode as practical tools that reduce maintenance visits and simplify remote deployments.
- Flexible uplinks:The combo Gigabit/SFP uplinks are praised for letting installers choose copper or fibre uplinks without buying separate hardware.
Constructive feedback commonly includes requests for full Gigabit on edge ports or more detailed monitoring functionality built into the switch rather than relying on optional cloud visibility.
Conclusion: Why the Reyee RG-ES118FGS-LP is a solid choice
The Reyee RG-ES118FGS-LP is designed for purposeful simplicity: it brings 16 PoE-capable ports and a 120 W power budget into a quiet, rugged package with flexible uplink options and practical PoE features. For installers building CCTV systems, Wi‑Fi access point arrays or straightforward small office networks, it offers a credible balance of cost, functionality and ease of deployment.
If your deployment demands full Gigabit to each endpoint or extensive managed networking features, a different product may be more appropriate. But for many real-world surveillance and small-business scenarios where devices typically operate below Gigabit line rates, the RG-ES118FGS-LP delivers the ports, power and reliability you need without the complexity or cost of managed switches.
Ultimately, the Reyee RG-ES118FGS-LP is a practical, budget-aware PoE switch that excels where predictable PoE delivery, silent operation and simple setup matter. Its combination of PoE intelligence, surge protection and uplink flexibility makes it a dependable building block for many small to medium PoE deployments.
