Vivotek FGT-180P-250 vs Hanwha SKY-SW20G-001: Specification Comparison
Both the Vivotek AW-FGT-180P-250 and the Hanwha SKY-SW20G-001 are 1U rack-mount, 18-port PoE network switches targeting IP surveillance deployments, each with a 250W PoE budget. The Vivotek is an unmanaged plug-and-play unit supporting 802.3af/at, while the Hanwha is a fully managed switch with VLAN, QoS, fiber uplink options, and native Wisenet SKY VMS integration. This comparison evaluates port architecture and throughput, power and environmental specifications, and management capabilities and platform fit.
In This Guide
- How do the port counts, uplink options, and switching throughput compare?
- How do PoE budget, per-port power delivery, operating temperature, and power consumption compare?
- Which switch offers more network management capability and surveillance platform integration?
- Which should you choose: the FGT-180P-250 or the SKY-SW20G-001?
- Side-by-Side Specs
- FAQ
How do the port counts, uplink options, and switching throughput compare?
The Vivotek AW-FGT-180P-250 provides 18 PoE-capable ports (802.3af/at). No uplink port breakdown or switching capacity is disclosed in the provided specifications beyond a forwarding rate of 5.4 Mpps. The spec does not state whether any ports are designated non-PoE uplinks or whether fiber uplinks are available.
The Hanwha SKY-SW20G-001 allocates its 18 ports as 16 PoE+ Gigabit ports plus 2 Gigabit RJ-45 uplinks and 2 SFP fiber uplink slots, giving the installer four potential uplink paths. Its switching fabric is rated at 40 Gbps non-blocking, a figure absent from the Vivotek spec sheet. The SFP slots add fiber connectivity not present on the Vivotek.
How do PoE budget, per-port power delivery, operating temperature, and power consumption compare?
Both switches share a 250W total PoE budget. The Vivotek AW-FGT-180P-250 supports 802.3af/at across all 18 ports; per-port maximum wattage is not stated in the provided specs. Total power consumption is listed at 260W. Operating temperature is rated 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F), with storage rated to -20°C to 70°C (-4°F to 158°F).
The Hanwha SKY-SW20G-001 explicitly rates each PoE+ port at up to 30W (802.3at), enabling high-power devices such as PTZ cameras or multi-sensor units. Its operating temperature range extends to 50°C (122°F), 5°C wider than the Vivotek, which may matter in unconditioned closets or warmer climates. Storage temperature matches at -20°C to 70°C. Total power consumption for the Hanwha is not specified in the provided data.
Which switch offers more network management capability and surveillance platform integration?
The Vivotek AW-FGT-180P-250 is explicitly unmanaged—plug-and-play with no configuration required. There is no documented support for VLANs, QoS, SNMP, or any VMS-level integration in the provided specifications. This simplifies installation but removes the ability to segment traffic or prioritize video streams.
The Hanwha SKY-SW20G-001 is a managed switch with documented VLAN and QoS support, enabling traffic segmentation and video-stream prioritization. It also carries native integration with Wisenet SKY Cloud VMS. No equivalent VMS integration or management feature set is listed for the Vivotek. The Hanwha's warranty is 5 years versus Vivotek's 1 year—a meaningful operational cost difference over a typical surveillance system lifecycle.
Which should you choose: the FGT-180P-250 or the SKY-SW20G-001?
Our take: The SKY-SW20G-001 is the stronger choice when the deployment requires managed networking, platform integration, or higher-power per-port delivery. Concretely: it supports up to 30W per PoE+ port (per-port maximum not stated for the Vivotek), adds 2 SFP fiber uplink slots absent on the Vivotek, and carries a 5-year warranty versus 1 year. Its 40 Gbps non-blocking switching fabric is documented; the Vivotek discloses only a 5.4 Mpps forwarding rate with no switching-capacity figure for direct comparison. The Vivotek AW-FGT-180P-250 is the appropriate choice when simplicity and zero-configuration installation are the priority—particularly for smaller, camera-only deployments on a single flat network where VLAN segmentation and VMS-level switch management add unnecessary complexity. Platform matters: the Hanwha's value proposition is strongest in Wisenet SKY environments.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Spec-for-spec, from manufacturer data.
| Specification | Vivotek FGT-180P-250 | Hanwha SKY-SW20G-001 |
|---|---|---|
| Product Type | Unmanaged PoE Switch | Managed PoE+ Switch |
| Total PoE Ports | 18 (802.3af/at) | 16 (802.3at PoE+) |
| Dedicated Uplink Ports | — | 2× Gigabit RJ-45 + 2× SFP Fiber |
| PoE Standard | 802.3af/at | 802.3at (PoE+) |
| PoE Budget | 250W | 250W |
| Max Per-Port PoE Power | — | 30W |
| Switching Capacity | — | 40 Gbps non-blocking |
| Forwarding Rate | 5.4 Mpps | — |
| Management | Unmanaged (plug-and-play) | Managed (VLAN, QoS) |
| VMS Integration | — | Wisenet SKY Cloud VMS |
| Power Consumption | 260W | — |
| Operating Temperature | 0–45°C (32–113°F) | 0–50°C (32–122°F) |
| Storage Temperature | -20–70°C (-4–158°F) | -20–70°C (-4–158°F) |
| Mount Type | Rack | Rack and Wall |
| Warranty | 1 Year | 5 Years |
| Form Factor / Dimensions (mm) | 440 × 210 × 44 | 440 × 200 × 44 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which should you choose: the FGT-180P-250 or the SKY-SW20G-001?
The SKY-SW20G-001 is the stronger choice when the deployment requires managed networking, platform integration, or higher-power per-port delivery. Concretely: it supports up to 30W per PoE+ port (per-port maximum not stated for the Vivotek), adds 2 SFP fiber uplink slots absent on the Vivotek, and carries a 5-year warranty versus 1 year. Its 40 Gbps non-blocking switching fabric is documented; the Vivotek discloses only a 5.4 Mpps forwarding rate with no switching-capacity figure for direct comparison. The Vivotek AW-FGT-180P-250 is the appropriate choice when simplicity and zero-configuration installation are the priority—particularly for smaller, camera-only deployments on a single flat network where VLAN segmentation and VMS-level switch management add unnecessary complexity. Platform matters: the Hanwha's value proposition is strongest in Wisenet SKY environments.
Is the AW-FGT-180P-250 or SKY-SW20G-001 better for a deployment with high-wattage PTZ cameras?
The SKY-SW20G-001 is better suited. It explicitly rates each PoE+ port at up to 30W (802.3at), which supports high-draw devices such as PTZ cameras. The AW-FGT-180P-250 supports 802.3af/at as well, but its per-port maximum wattage is not stated in the provided specifications, making it impossible to confirm 30W per-port delivery from the available data.
Which switch should I choose if I need to segment camera traffic with VLANs?
The SKY-SW20G-001 is the only option here. It is a fully managed switch with documented VLAN and QoS support. The AW-FGT-180P-250 is unmanaged and has no VLAN or QoS capability listed in its specifications.
Does the longer warranty on the SKY-SW20G-001 make a practical difference for a surveillance install?
Yes, in most commercial installations it does. The SKY-SW20G-001 carries a 5-year warranty versus the AW-FGT-180P-250's 1-year warranty. Switches in surveillance closets typically run continuously for 5–10 years; a longer warranty reduces out-of-pocket replacement risk during that window. No other warranty terms (on-site vs. depot, advance replacement) are specified for either model in the provided data.
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