Wire Routing

You most likely will probably end up having to supply the switch like the NETGEAR GS105 (or 😎 gigabit ethernet switch. 

BUT...

I think there will be traffic problems putting both the tv's and the computers on the same switch.  Are those tv's so far away that they too can't use wireless receivers?  Or is it the extra $20/month ($10 per receiver) you are trying to save? But even then I see problems with the configuration.

• The gateway only has 4 ports.  It handles wifi if you need it but not for wireless receivers.
• The dvr should be connected to one of them.  (count that as 1 port in use)
• If you do have wireless receivers the WAP (wireless access point - what you referred to as "wifi gateway" I think) should be plugged into one of the gateway ports. (count that as 2 ports in use).   Problem is newer models can handle only 2 receivers max (older WAPs only 1).   So if tv 1 is on the dvr and 2 tv's on a WAP what do you do with that fourth tv?
• You can plug the switch into the next free gateway port (now 3 ports in use).  Put all the internet computer access on it.
• So one port left.  But you still have that phone and one tv left to connect.

Here's questions I don't know the answers for:

• Can the tv's be put on their own separate switch without interfering with one another?  If so that would solve all your extra tv connection problems.
• Does that phone have to be plugged into the gateway or could it just be another internet connection like your computers and put on the switch they are connected to?

@_xyzzy_ - Thanks for your input.

- Distance is not an issue for not using more wireless receivers, it is a cost based decision.

- When I say wifi gateway I am referring to WAP which I assume is required for the wireless receiver.  If the RG wifi will work that could free up a port.

- For your question on putting the TVs on a separate switch are you suggesting the following configuration?

 RG Port 1 - DVR (TV1)

 RG Port 2 - WAP (TV2)

 RG Port 3 - Switch #1 to TV3 and TV4

 RG Port 4 - Switch #2 to PCs and Phone

I am not sure this would work, I have found a lot of people have issues with the OOMA phone device on a switch.  I would prefer to have it plugged into the gateway.

TV 4 is a rarely used, if it helps I can eliminate it, or would there still be problems with 1 TV on the same switch as the PCs?

Would there be issues if I put the WAP on a switch?

Thanks again for you help.

- For your question on putting the TVs on a separate switch are you suggesting the following configuration?

 RG Port 1 - DVR (TV1)

 RG Port 2 - WAP (TV2)

 RG Port 3 - Switch #1 to TV3 and TV4

 RG Port 4 - Switch #2 to PCs and Phone

 

I am not sure this would work, I have found a lot of people have issues with the OOMA phone device on a switch.  I would prefer to have it plugged into the gateway.

That is what I was suggesting but as I also said I am not sure tv's on their own switch works or whether hooking the phone up that way works either and you are saying the phone doesn't.

As for the WAP I do believe it needs to be plugged into the gateway.

You got a lot of stuff to juggle unfortunately.

Your setup should be fine. The IPTV service will pass through a switch just fine. The STB's look no different than a typical PC at least as far as the networking is concerned. I also recommend the Netgear GS105 switch. Or since you specified 6 connections from the switch go with the GS108. Either way just make sure you get a gigabit switch. It'll be able to handle the throughput of anything you throw at it.

Actually the STB is different.  It passes multicast IP traffic which may not play nice with some other internet devices on the same switch (maybe when all the ports are in use, I don't know).  That's why I recommended a separate switch.  I guess the only real way of knowing for sure is to try it and see what happens.   

AT&T used to provide a switch when necessary to connect the desired number of TV Receivers and a PC (when it did so, it was the GS105 or GS108).  I do not know what current policy is.  

However, it looks like your configuration is fine, as long as the switch is a decent Gigabit switch like the GS10x series.  What you do not want to do is to connect the TV Receivers on the same Gateway port as a Wireless Router or Access Point.  Since you've got the Access Point on port 3, by itself, you look good to me.  Unless the PCs have trouble minding their own business and having to process all the multicast packets (not normally a problem), you shouldn't have any issues there.

@JefferMC- Is there much of a difference between the GS10x and GS30x series switches?  The GS30x is newer and much cheaper.  I did not see any difference in the specs.

The only thing that gives me any pause about the GS305 is the "Auto Power Down" feature (probably related to the "802.3az" standard support).  Probably okay, but if you have any sketchy behavior where things don't work after being idle, or some such, I'd probably start my troubleshooting there.

Thank for the input,  it looks like the auto power down is common to both GS105 and GS305. 

GS105 Data Sheet

For half the price, I think I will try GS305. 

 The biggest difference is likely the warranty terms (GS105 lifetime, GS305 3 year US).