Axis T8504-E vs Ubiquiti N-SW: Specification Comparison
Both products are 4-port outdoor Gigabit PoE switches designed for field-deployed surveillance and wireless networks, making them a legitimate cross-shop for installers evaluating edge switching at remote poles or enclosures. The Axis T8504-E is a managed PoE+ switch with fiber uplink and full SNMP/VLAN management, while the Ubiquiti N-SW is an unmanaged passive PoE passthrough switch targeting UISP/airMAX deployments. The comparison centers on power delivery capability, environmental ruggedization, and management depth.
In This Guide
Which switch delivers more usable PoE power to connected devices?
The Axis T8504-E provides a 150W total PoE+ budget across four ports under IEEE 802.3at (Type 2, Class 4), with an asymmetric allocation of 60W on ports 1 and 2 and 30W on ports 3 and 4. This supports simultaneous powering of high-draw devices such as PTZ cameras, pan-tilt-zoom dome units, or multi-radio access points on the first two ports without budget contention.
The Ubiquiti N-SW operates on a fundamentally different power model: it accepts a single passive 24V PoE input (specified as 21.6–30V, 2-pair) and passes power through to three downstream ports at up to 24W total, with 1A per port as the per-port ceiling. The switch itself draws 1.5W typical, leaving roughly 22.5W for downstream devices. This passthrough design means the N-SW has no onboard PSU — it relies entirely on an external injector (the POE-24-30W-G-W adapter is listed as not included). For any device requiring IEEE 802.3af (15.4W) or 802.3at (30W) standard PoE, compatibility depends on whether the device accepts passive 24V — a non-trivial interoperability consideration.
How do the two switches compare in physical durability and operating environment?
The T8504-E is housed in an aluminum enclosure rated NEMA 250 Type 4X and carries a specified operating range of -40°C to 60°C (the datasheet field lists -40°C to 50°C; both values appear in the provided specs — the more conservative -40°C to 50°C should be used for design margin). It includes 6kV surge protection on all four RJ45 network ports and on AC input lines, and its storage temperature extends to 85°C. Regulatory approvals include UL/IEC 60950-1 and IEC 62368-1 in addition to EMC marks.
The N-SW uses a weatherproof polycarbonate enclosure rated for 5–95% non-condensing humidity with an operating range of -30°C to 70°C. It specifies ±24 kV ESD/EMP protection (air and contact), which exceeds the T8504-E's 6kV surge figure on that single metric. However, polycarbonate vs. aluminum and the absence of a NEMA or IP rating in the provided N-SW specs means direct enclosure comparison beyond temperature range is not fully supported by the available data. The T8504-E's lower cold-limit (-40°C vs. -30°C) is a relevant delta for arctic or high-altitude installations.
Weight and dimensions also diverge significantly: the T8504-E is 2.9 kg in an aluminum body (240 × 166 × 72 mm); the N-SW is approximately 0.54 kg. Note: the N-SW's listed dimensions of 196.4" × 93.5" × 32.4" appear to be a data entry error (likely millimeters mis-labeled as inches) and cannot be used as specified.
What management, protocol, and platform integration does each switch offer?
The T8504-E is a fully managed switch supporting IPv4, IPv6, HTTP, HTTPS, SSH, SNMP (v1/v2c/v3 per datasheet field), RADIUS/TACACS authentication, and 802.1Q VLAN. It integrates with AXIS Device Manager for centralized configuration and monitoring within Axis surveillance ecosystems. The SFP fiber uplink enables fiber-to-copper aggregation at the edge, extending reach to a head-end without copper distance limitations. MAC table size is 8,000 entries; jumbo frame support is listed at 10 KB.
The N-SW provides no management plane. It is an unmanaged switch with no web interface, CLI, SNMP, or VLAN capability specified. It is positioned within the UISP Accessory Tech product family, making it purpose-built as an infrastructure accessory for Ubiquiti airMAX or UISP radio deployments that already supply passive 24V PoE. There is no SFP uplink; all five ports (1 input + 4 RJ45) are copper. Certifications listed are CE, FCC, and IC — no UL or IEC 62368-1 listed in provided specs.
For installers requiring VLAN segmentation between camera VLANs and management VLANs, or who need SNMP trap integration into a network management system, the N-SW cannot fulfill those requirements as specified. The T8504-E addresses all of those use cases.
Which should you choose: the T8504-E or the N-SW?
Our take: The T8504-E is the stronger choice when the deployment demands managed switching, standard IEEE PoE, or fiber uplink capability; the N-SW is appropriate only as a passive power-distribution accessory within a Ubiquiti passive-24V ecosystem. Three concrete spec deltas define this gap: PoE budget is 150W (802.3at) on the T8504-E versus 24W passthrough (passive 24V, non-standard) on the N-SW — a 6:1 ratio that makes the N-SW unsuitable for PTZ cameras or multi-radio units drawing over 8W each; operating low-temperature range extends to -40°C on the T8504-E versus -30°C on the N-SW, a meaningful margin for northern or high-altitude pole mounts; and the T8504-E adds SNMP, VLAN, SSH, RADIUS/TACACS, and AXIS Device Manager integration that the unmanaged N-SW entirely lacks. Specify the N-SW only for compact Ubiquiti airMAX link extensions where passive 24V is already present and total downstream power stays under 24W.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Spec-for-spec, from manufacturer data.
| Specification | Axis T8504-E | Ubiquiti N-SW |
|---|---|---|
| Switch Type | Managed | Unmanaged |
| PoE Standard | IEEE 802.3at (PoE+) | Passive 24V (non-IEEE) |
| Total PoE Power Budget | 150W | 24W passthrough |
| Per-Port PoE (Max) | 60W (ports 1–2) / 30W (ports 3–4) | ~8W per port (1A @ 24V, 3 ports) |
| Switching Capacity | 10 Gbps | 4 Gbps non-blocking |
| Throughput | 7.44 Mpps | Not specified |
| Uplink / Fiber Port | 1× SFP fiber uplink | — |
| RJ45 Ports | 4× Gigabit PoE+ | 4× Gigabit (1 PoE in, 3 PoE out) |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to 60°C (datasheet: -40°C to 50°C) | -30°C to 70°C |
| Surge / ESD Protection | 6kV (all network ports and AC input) | ±24 kV ESD/EMP (air/contact) |
| Enclosure Material | Aluminum | Polycarbonate (weatherproof) |
| NEMA / IP Rating | NEMA 250 Type 4X | Not specified |
| VLAN Support | Yes (802.1Q) | — |
| SNMP | Yes (v1/v2c/v3) | — |
| Management Software | AXIS Device Manager | — |
| Warranty | 5 years | Manufacturer warranty (duration not specified) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which should you choose: the T8504-E or the N-SW?
The T8504-E is the stronger choice when the deployment demands managed switching, standard IEEE PoE, or fiber uplink capability; the N-SW is appropriate only as a passive power-distribution accessory within a Ubiquiti passive-24V ecosystem. Three concrete spec deltas define this gap: PoE budget is 150W (802.3at) on the T8504-E versus 24W passthrough (passive 24V, non-standard) on the N-SW — a 6:1 ratio that makes the N-SW unsuitable for PTZ cameras or multi-radio units drawing over 8W each; operating low-temperature range extends to -40°C on the T8504-E versus -30°C on the N-SW, a meaningful margin for northern or high-altitude pole mounts; and the T8504-E adds SNMP, VLAN, SSH, RADIUS/TACACS, and AXIS Device Manager integration that the unmanaged N-SW entirely lacks. Specify the N-SW only for compact Ubiquiti airMAX link extensions where passive 24V is already present and total downstream power stays under 24W.
Can the Ubiquiti N-SW power standard IP cameras that expect IEEE 802.3af or 802.3at PoE?
Not reliably as specified. The N-SW supplies passive 24V PoE (2-pair, 21.6–30V input), which is not the same as IEEE 802.3af or 802.3at. Many IP cameras and access points require 802.3af/at-compliant negotiation. Cameras that accept passive 24V (primarily Ubiquiti's own UniFi/airMAX line) will work; standard IEEE PoE cameras from Axis, Hanwha, Vivotek, or similar vendors may not, and connecting incompatible devices to a passive PoE source can damage them. The T8504-E is fully IEEE 802.3at compliant and compatible with any standard PoE or PoE+ device.
Is the Axis T8504-E or the Ubiquiti N-SW better suited for a pole-mount installation in a cold climate?
The T8504-E is specified to operate from -40°C, versus -30°C for the N-SW, giving it a 10°C advantage at the low end — relevant for outdoor pole mounts in northern regions or high-altitude sites where ambient temperatures can drop below -30°C. The T8504-E also carries a NEMA 250 Type 4X rating and an aluminum enclosure with 6kV surge protection on all ports and AC input, providing documented environmental protection levels. The N-SW's enclosure is described as weatherproof polycarbonate, but no NEMA or IP ingress rating is stated in the available specs.
Does the Ubiquiti N-SW support VLAN segmentation for separating camera traffic from management traffic?
No. The N-SW is an unmanaged switch; no VLAN, SNMP, SSH, or any management protocol is specified for it. If VLAN segmentation is required — for example, to isolate camera traffic on a dedicated VLAN or to meet a network security policy — the T8504-E supports 802.1Q VLAN, SNMP v1/v2c/v3, SSH, and RADIUS/TACACS as specified. The N-SW is not a substitute for a managed switch in any architecture requiring Layer 2 segmentation or centralized network monitoring.
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