Compatible SFP Module and Patch Cable for Ubiquiti UniFi USW-16-PoE Switch

Ubiquiti UniFi USW-16-PoE is a 16-port Gigabit PoE+ managed switch designed for small and medium-sized enterprises and high-end home users. From a hardware perspective, the core features of this switch include 8 PoE+ ports and a fanless, silent design. It has 16 RJ45 ports and 2 Gigabit SFP ports. It can provide fiber-optic or copper-cable uplink connections, supporting 1 Gbps. Ubiquiti’s official 1G SFP adapters include UF-MM-1G, UF-SM-1G-S, and UF-RJ45-1G. In this article, we will introduce the compatible SFP modules and patch cable from OPTCORE for the Ubiquiti UniFi USW-16-PoE Switch.

Key Features of Ubiquiti UniFi USW-16-PoE

This switch is based on a mature Layer 2 switching architecture, with a core switch chip that provides a total switching capacity of 36 Gbps. The switch has 16 Gigabit RJ45 ports, all of which support 10/100/1000 Mbps adaptive speeds. It also has 2 Gigabit SFP upstream ports that support fiber or copper connections and 1Gbps speeds. Its total non-blocking throughput is 18Gbps. This means the switch backplane can support all 18 ports operating in full duplex at line speed without packet loss.

For a minimum Ethernet frame size of 64 bytes, the line-speed forwarding rate for each gigabit port is approximately 1.488 Mpps. The theoretical value of the bus speed forwarding rate for 18 ports is 26.784 Mpps (1.488 Mpps * 18). The nominal 26.78 Mpps of USW-16-PoE is basically consistent with this theoretical value. Thanks to its efficient hardware forwarding architecture, this switch offers low latency in gigabit networks and supports Jumbo Frames, which efficiently process large packets and improve the transmission efficiency of large data blocks.

Limitations of Ubiquiti UniFi USW-16-PoE

This switch is commendable for its quietness and speed. However, it has received some different evaluations in other aspects. Firstly, regarding power, some users have noted that its power budget is relatively low and that it does not support high-power PoE standards. There are also hardware flaws in the specifications. For example, this switch lacks 10 Gigabit and multi-Gigabit ports. This cannot fully utilize the bandwidth of high-speed servers. It also cannot meet the demand for a bandwidth upgrade.

Additionally, due to its fanless design, this switch does not support physical stacking. This imposes stricter requirements on cabinet space and heat-dissipation design. If your device has low power consumption and a small footprint, these drawbacks may be acceptable; conversely, if there are higher requirements for power supply, port speed, or scalability, its shortcomings may become a bottleneck for future network expansion. It cannot be used in situations where high-power PoE devices are required for centralized deployment, 10 Gigabit intranet, or mixed use of traditional network devices.

Compared to other switches of the same type, the USW-16-PoE Switch is priced lower, but its cost-effectiveness is also lower due to some drawbacks. In addition, the product’s warranty period is 12 months, which is relatively short for enterprise-level equipment. A longer warranty period requires additional payment. If a component is damaged, Ubiquiti provides replacement parts at a relatively high per-unit price. Choosing third-party accessories compatible with the USW-16-PoE SFP can help reduce costs.

Figure 1: Ubiquiti UniFi USW-16-PoE Switch (Source from UniFi)

Compatible Fiber Channel SFP Module and Patch Cable for Ubiquiti UniFi USW-16-PoE Switch

Since the OEM only provides a few models of optical modules and patch cables, if you want to choose more options at an affordable price, you may consider third-party SFPs. In some cases, user feedback indicates compatibility issues between this switch and third-party accessories. Here, OPTCORE provides you with compatibility references for some of our branded SFP modules and patch cables. These solutions are widely used in projects where users want stable performance without relying solely on original vendor optics.

Part Number	Description
1G SFP Module	1G SFP Module
UF-MM-1G-C	Ubiquiti Networks UF-MM-1G Compatible 1000BASE-SX Multi-Mode Fiber SFP Module
UF-SM-1G-C	Ubiquiti Networks UF-SM-1G Compatible 1000BASE-LX Single Mode Fiber SFP Module
UF-SM-1G-S-U	Ubiquiti Networks UF-SM-10G-S Compatible 1000BASE-BX-U Single Mode Fiber SFP Module
UF-SM-1G-S-D	Ubiquiti Networks UF-SM-10G-S Compatible 1000BASE-BX-D Single Mode Fiber SFP Module
Fiber Patch Cables	Fiber Patch Cables
FC-SM-100-C	Ubiquiti Networks FC-SM-100 Compatible 30m / 100ft Single-Mode LC Fiber Patch Cable
FC-SM-200-C	Ubiquiti Networks FC-SM-200 Compatible 60m / 200ft Single-Mode LC Fiber Patch Cable
FC-SM-300-C	Ubiquiti Networks FC-SM-300 Compatible 90m / 300ft Single-Mode LC Fiber Patch Cable
Part Number	Description
1G SFP Module	1G SFP Module
UF-MM-1G-C	Ubiquiti Networks UF-MM-1G Compatible 1000BASE-SX Multi-Mode Fiber SFP Module
UF-SM-1G-C	Ubiquiti Networks UF-SM-1G Compatible 1000BASE-LX Single Mode Fiber SFP Module
UF-SM-1G-S-U	Ubiquiti Networks UF-SM-10G-S Compatible 1000BASE-BX-U Single Mode Fiber SFP Module
UF-SM-1G-S-D	Ubiquiti Networks UF-SM-10G-S Compatible 1000BASE-BX-D Single Mode Fiber SFP Module
Fiber Patch Cables	Fiber Patch Cables
FC-SM-100-C	Ubiquiti Networks FC-SM-100 Compatible 30m / 100ft Single-Mode LC Fiber Patch Cable
FC-SM-200-C	Ubiquiti Networks FC-SM-200 Compatible 60m / 200ft Single-Mode LC Fiber Patch Cable
FC-SM-300-C	Ubiquiti Networks FC-SM-300 Compatible 90m / 300ft Single-Mode LC Fiber Patch Cable

Conclusion

This switch has two 1G SFP upstream ports. When we face long-distance connections or other influential situations across floors or buildings, these two SFP ports become critical paths. Choosing third-party optical modules that are not compatible with USW-16-PoE can easily lead to some issues. To ensure your UniFi network maintains zero packet-loss stability over long distances, we offer 1G SFP optical modules and patch cables that have undergone rigorous compatibility testing. This can ensure that USW-16-PoE performs at its expected level.

In summary, Ubiquiti UniFi USW-16-PoE is a layer 2 access switch with distinct advantages and disadvantages. As we have analyzed in depth, its limited 42W PoE budget and pure-gigabit port specifications indicate that it is better suited as a dedicated device for low-power terminals and short-range copper cable access.

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