Ubiquiti N-SW Outdoor 4-Port Gigabit PoE Switch
Overview
The Ubiquiti N-SW is a compact outdoor Gigabit switch engineered for remote infrastructure where power and space are constraints. It accepts 21.6–30V passive PoE input via 2-pair wiring and distributes power across three PoE passthrough ports — a practical design for wireless network deployments where you need to consolidate power injection and port distribution without running multiple power sources or injectors. The N-SW delivers 4 Gbps non-blocking line rate in a weather-resistant polycarbonate enclosure measuring just 196 × 93 × 32 mm (7.7 × 3.7 × 1.3 inches) and weighing 269 g. Typical power consumption is only 1.5W, which means the unit itself draws negligible current from your power budget — nearly all injected power flows through to connected devices.
Key Features
- Four Gigabit RJ45 ports with 4 Gbps non-blocking throughput: No bottleneck between ports; simultaneous multi-device traffic doesn't degrade performance. Critical when feeding multiple radios or access points simultaneously from a single injection point.
- Passive PoE input (21.6–30V) and three passthrough PoE outputs: Single injector feeds the switch and then distributes power to three downstream devices (up to 1A per port, 24W total). Reduces the number of separate power injectors you need to install in the field, lowering cable runs and failure points.
- Ultra-low 1.5W operating power consumption: The switch itself consumes almost no power; you're not losing headroom on a constrained 24V DC budget. Practical for solar or battery-backed remote sites.
- Operating temperature range −30 to 70°C with 5–95% humidity (noncondensing): Handles snow, desert heat, and coastal salt spray environments. Not sealed for submersion, but passive PoE and minimal internal power dissipation mean thermal stress is minimal compared to active managed switches.
- ESD/EMP protection to ±24 kV (air and contact): Lightning and electrical transients won't destroy ports or PoE circuits during nearby strikes. Standard safeguard for outdoor installations exposed to weather risk.
- NDAA compliant: Meets U.S. Federal acquisition requirements if your deployment includes government or defense-adjacent projects. Verification available upon request.
Integration and Compatibility
The N-SW integrates with Ubiquiti outdoor infrastructure deployments — primarily wireless radio and access point installations requiring distributed PoE from a single injection point. Use with the Ubiquiti POE-24-30W-G adapter (sold separately) or any compatible 24V passive PoE injector. Because the N-SW passes power transparently via 2-pair wiring, it's agnostic to specific device types as long as they accept passive PoE in the 21.6–30V range. This makes it useful for mixed-vendor deployments (e.g., Ubiquiti radios alongside other PoE-powered outdoor gear), though Ubiquiti's own ecosystem integration is tightest.
Wire the N-SW in-line between your PoE injector and up to three endpoint devices. One port serves as the PoE input (connect from the injector); the other three ports are PoE passthrough outputs. No configuration required — it's a dumb switch, which means no management overhead and no single point of software failure.
When to Choose a Different Model
If you need managed switching (VLAN tagging, port mirroring, remote monitoring), the N-SW is not a candidate — it's passive only. If your outdoor devices draw more than 1A per port or you need to power more than three endpoints from one injector, consider stacking multiple N-SW units or moving to a powered Ubiquiti switch with higher per-port budgets. For non-passive-PoE deployments, choose an injector+switch combo designed for 802.3af or 802.3at power standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I daisy-chain multiple N-SW units?
A: Yes. One port on each switch receives PoE input; the remaining three ports output power. You can cascade units to expand downstream outlets, but each additional switch consumes 1.5W and reduces available power per port slightly due to voltage drop over cable runs.
Q: Does the N-SW support any management or monitoring?
A: No. It is a passive PoE switch with no IP address, web interface, or SNMP capability. It operates purely at Layer 1—no configuration, no firmware updates, no management overhead.
Q: What passive PoE injector do you recommend?
A: Ubiquiti's POE-24-30W-G is the designed match. Any 24V passive PoE injector (2-pair or 4-pair compatible) within the 21.6–30V input range will work, but test voltage under load before full deployment.
Q: Is the N-SW weatherproof enough for coastal or high-humidity environments?
A: The polycarbonate enclosure and ±24 kV ESD/EMP protection handle rain, salt spray, and condensation risk up to 95% humidity (noncondensing). If you need full submersion or constant water immersion, specify an IP67-rated alternative.
Q: What's the warranty on the Ubiquiti N-SW?
A: Refer to the manufacturer's documentation or contact Ubiquiti directly for current warranty terms. Typical Ubiquiti infrastructure products carry a 1-year limited hardware warranty.
Q: Can I use the N-SW with non-Ubiquiti radios or access points?
A: Yes, provided they accept passive PoE in the 21.6–30V range. Check endpoint device specs to confirm passive PoE compatibility before deployment.
James EverettPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
The N-SW fills a genuine gap in outdoor passive-PoE deployments where you need to consolidate injected power across multiple endpoints without introducing active switching overhead. Most integrators overlook passive PoE for remote wireless sites — they assume they need a full-featured managed switch — but the N-SW's transparent 4 Gbps throughput and ultra-low 1.5W power draw make it ideal for solar-backed or battery-assisted tower installations where every watt counts.
Technical Highlights:
- 21.6–30V passive PoE input with three passthrough outputs at up to 1A (24W total): A single injector powers the switch and then distributes across three devices. For comparison, running three separate injectors would triple cable runs and failure points. The pass-through design means voltage drop accumulates over distance, so keep cable runs under 100m per hop for stable 24V delivery.
- 4 Gbps non-blocking line rate: All four ports can forward simultaneously without congestion. Matters if you're feeding multiple high-throughput radios from one injection point; no backplane bottleneck.
- −30 to 70°C operating range with ±24 kV ESD protection: Handles freeze-thaw cycles and direct lightning exposure better than most unprotected outdoor gear. The polycarbonate enclosure isn't sealed (IP67), so it's not submersible, but passive PoE means minimal heat dissipation — thermal stress is negligible.
Deployment Considerations:
- This is a dumb switch — zero management capability. If you need to monitor switch health, VLAN traffic, or remotely reboot a port, look elsewhere. It's fit-and-forget, which is a feature for remote sites with poor out-of-band connectivity, but a limitation if you require visibility.
- Voltage drop accumulates across passive PoE chains. If you daisy-chain two N-SW units or run long cable runs to endpoint devices, measure input voltage at the final device under load. 21.6V minimum means you have only 2.4V of headroom from the typical 24V injector output — long runs (150m+) risk dropping below the device minimum.
- Three passthrough ports and one input port means the N-SW maxes out at feeding three endpoints per injector. If you need more capacity, buy a second injector + N-SW pair rather than trying to cascade.
Best fit: remote wireless bridges, distributed antenna systems, and tower-mounted radio clusters where passive PoE simplicity, minimal power draw, and NDAA compliance are priorities. Skip this if you're installing in a managed data center or anywhere you need active switching intelligence.
