Four LAN sockets on a home router run out fast, and the TP-Link TL-SF1005D 5-port 10/100Mbps desktop switch fixes that for KSh 2,000 at Mascom International. Each unit arrives brand new and sealed, with auto MDI/MDIX on every port and a fanless case measuring just 103.5 × 70 × 22 mm. Collect yours at Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD, or order it for pay-on-arrival delivery. The TP-Link TL-SF1005D needs no app, no password and no settings page. One cable from your router plus one power plug, and five working ports appear on your desk straight away.
The TP-Link TL-SF1005D is built for small, fixed spaces where every device wants a wire. Picture a TV cabinet holding a smart TV, a decoder, a PS5 and a streaming box, all fighting over one router cable. Picture a Kilimani bedsitter where the router sits by the door but the work desk sits by the window. Picture a reception desk with a PC, a receipt printer and a biometric clock-in terminal. Buffering and dropped Wi-Fi behind thick stone walls stop being a daily fight once each device gets its own cable. The TP-Link TL-SF1005D turns one cable run into five sockets exactly where the devices live.
Where most Nairobi electronics shops push a bigger 8-port or 16-port unit, Mascom International sizes the switch to the job. A household or front desk with four wired devices gains nothing from extra ports, only extra plastic and cost. The TP-Link TL-SF1005D draws at most 1.87W, so it can run all day beside the router without any visible change to your electricity bill. Buyers throughout Kenya tell us the small footprint is what sold them, since it hides behind a TV or under a monitor stand. Call, WhatsApp or walk in, and Nairobi buyers can have the TP-Link TL-SF1005D the same day.
Common Questions About the TP-Link TL-SF1005D
Is the TP-Link TL-SF1005D worth KSh 2,000 in Kenya?
Yes, for anyone who needs three or four extra wired sockets and nothing more. The TP-Link TL-SF1005D costs KSh 2,000 at Mascom International and fixes the most common home networking problem, a router with too few LAN ports. Spread across one year of daily use, that works out to under KSh 6 a day. You also get non-blocking switching, IEEE 802.3x flow control and a fanless build with no moving parts to wear out. For a single room, spending more only buys ports you will never fill.
How many extra devices can the TL-SF1005D add to a Safaricom Home Fibre or Zuku router?
It adds three net ports to a typical four-port router. One router LAN port feeds the TP-Link TL-SF1005D, and one switch port receives that cable, leaving four switch ports free. A router with four LAN sockets therefore goes from four wired devices to seven. The switch behaves the same way behind Faiba or Airtel home routers, since it does not care which provider sits upstream. It passes traffic along without touching your router's settings, Wi-Fi name or password.
TP-Link TL-SF1005D vs a gigabit switch like the TP-Link LS1005G: which should you buy?
Choose the TL-SF1005D if every device on it is a TV, decoder, console, printer or everyday office PC. Choose a gigabit model like the LS1005G if your internet plan runs faster than 100Mbps, or if you copy large files between computers often. Each TL-SF1005D port tops out at 100Mbps, about 12.5 megabytes a second. At that rate a 4GB film copies between two PCs in roughly 5 minutes 20 seconds, while gigabit ports finish in well under a minute.
Will the TL-SF1005D slow down my internet?
Not unless your internet plan is faster than 100Mbps per device. The TP-Link TL-SF1005D uses a non-blocking design, meaning all five ports can run at full speed at the same moment without queueing. In full duplex each port sends and receives 100Mbps at once, so the whole switch can move 1Gbps of traffic in total. Streaming, video calls, online gaming and KRA iTax filing on a desktop use only a small slice of that. Your speed stays whatever your provider delivers.
What happens to the TL-SF1005D during a KPLC power cut?
It switches off with the power and comes straight back when the lights return, with no settings to restore. Because the TP-Link TL-SF1005D draws at most 1.87W from a 5V, 0.6A adapter, it adds almost nothing to a small UPS. If your router already sits on a UPS, plug the switch adapter into the same unit. A laptop on its own battery then stays connected through short outages. A full year of round-the-clock use consumes about 16.4 kWh.
Can the TL-SF1005D connect a smart TV, decoder and PS5 inside a TV cabinet?
Yes, and that is one of the best jobs for it. Run one cable from the router to the TP-Link TL-SF1005D, then connect the smart TV, a DStv Explora decoder, a PS5 and an Android TV box to the four free ports. Its 103.5 × 70 × 22 mm body fits on a cabinet shelf or behind the TV. Wired links cut the buffering and lag spikes Wi-Fi suffers through walls and furniture. Keep it clear of the console's hot exhaust, because its rated operating range tops out at 40°C.
Does the TP-Link TL-SF1005D power IP phones or CCTV cameras?
No, the TL-SF1005D does not supply Power over Ethernet, so every connected device needs its own power source. Desk IP phones with their own adapters work on it, and so do CCTV recorders. PoE cameras and PoE phones that expect power through the cable will stay dark. At a reception counter, that usually means one port each for the PC, the phone and the printer. Ask Mascom International about a PoE option if your cameras depend on cable power.
Who should buy the TL-SF1005D, and who should skip it?
Buy the TP-Link TL-SF1005D if you have up to four wired devices in one spot, such as a TV corner, a bedsitter desk, one reception counter or a home office. Skip it if you need to wire five or more devices, because the TP-Link TL-SF1008D gives you eight ports from the same family. Small offices wiring ten or more desks should look at the TL-SF1016D instead. Anyone on a plan above 100Mbps, or moving big video files daily, needs a gigabit switch.
Does the TL-SF1005D need setup, drivers or software?
None at all. The TP-Link TL-SF1005D is an unmanaged, plug-and-play switch, so it has no web page, app or password. Auto-negotiation matches each port's speed to the connected device, and auto MDI/MDIX accepts straight or crossover cables without you checking the wiring. Windows, macOS, Linux, Android TV and games consoles all see it simply as a network connection. If a device shows no link, try a different cable first, because there is no switch setting to get wrong.
Technical Specifications
Switching Performance and Traffic Handling
- Five 10/100Mbps RJ45 ports auto-negotiate speed, so older printers and newer TVs both link correctly.
- Non-blocking architecture lets all five ports run at full speed together without traffic waiting in line.
- Full-duplex links send and receive 100Mbps at once, giving the switch 1Gbps of total capacity.
- Store-and-forward transmission checks each data packet before passing it on, so damaged packets get dropped.
- IEEE 802.3x flow control on full-duplex links prevents data loss when one device sends faster than another.
- Backpressure handles half-duplex devices, which stops ageing equipment from flooding the connection.
- Traffic between two devices on the switch stays local, so a PC printing never touches your router.
Port Layout and Device Compatibility
- Auto MDI/MDIX on every port accepts straight-through or crossover cables with no manual checking needed.
- Any of the five ports can serve as the uplink to your router, keeping cable routing flexible.
- Works behind any home or office router, whatever internet provider sits upstream, with no configuration.
- Connects smart TVs, decoders, consoles, desktop PCs, laptops, network printers and CCTV recorders alike.
- Operating-system independent, so Windows, macOS, Linux and Android TV devices need no drivers at all.
- No Power over Ethernet output, so desk phones and cameras need their own power adapters.
Power Supply and Energy Use
- External 5.0VDC 0.6A adapter keeps heat-producing power parts outside the switch body itself.
- Peak draw of 1.87W, measured by TP-Link at 220V 50Hz, makes round-the-clock running cheap.
- A full day of continuous use consumes about 45 watt-hours, roughly 16.4 kWh across a whole year.
- TP-Link Green Technology design keeps energy use low during everyday home or office traffic.
- Low draw lets the adapter share a small UPS with the router without noticeably shortening backup time.
Build Quality and Placement
- Plastic desktop casing measures 103.5 × 70 × 22 mm, small enough to hide behind a monitor.
- Fanless cooling means completely silent operation, suited to bedrooms, lounges and quiet reception areas.
- No fan to clog with dust, so the switch needs no internal cleaning over its working life.
- Light plastic body rests on a shelf, cabinet floor or desk corner without brackets or screws.
- Just 22 mm tall, it slides under most monitor stands and inside slim TV cabinets.
- All five sockets face one direction, so cables leave in a single tidy bundle toward the devices.
Operating Conditions and Reliability
- Operating temperature of 0°C to 40°C covers ordinary indoor rooms, provided the switch stays out of direct sun.
- Operating humidity of 10% to 90% non-condensing handles damp rooms, as long as water never settles on it.
- Storage temperature from -40°C to 60°C means spare units survive a hot storeroom between installations.
- Storage humidity rating of 5% to 90% non-condensing protects boxed units kept aside for later use.
- Leave a few centimetres of space around it near consoles or decoders, which vent warm air.
- Solid-state switching with no fan or motor means fewer parts that can fail over years of use.
Standards and Certifications
- FCC certification confirms the switch meets US limits on electromagnetic emissions from electronic devices.
- CE marking shows compliance with European safety, health and environmental protection requirements.
- RoHS compliance keeps restricted hazardous substances such as lead within legal limits inside the hardware.
- Standard RJ45 sockets accept ordinary Cat5e or Cat6 patch cables, both of which carry 100Mbps easily.
- Unmanaged design means no firmware updates, no admin password and nothing for an intruder to log into.
Package Contents
The TP-Link TL-SF1005D ships from Mascom International in its sealed TP-Link retail box with:
- TP-Link TL-SF1005D 5-port switch
- 5.0VDC 0.6A power adapter
- Installation guide
Ethernet cables are not included. Count one cable for the router link plus one for each device, then ask on WhatsApp about adding patch cables to the same order so everything arrives together.
Warranty
The TP-Link TL-SF1005D carries a 6-month Mascom International warranty on manufacturing defects. If a port stops working or the adapter fails under normal use, bring the switch and adapter to our Nairobi CBD service desk, or arrange collection through WhatsApp. Our team tests the unit and handles the claim directly.
Buying the TP-Link TL-SF1005D from Mascom International
Mascom International stocks the TP-Link TL-SF1005D at Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. Walk in Monday through Saturday between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM to see how small it looks beside your router. The switch comes in a single standard TP-Link finish, and the 8-port TL-SF1008D and 16-port TL-SF1016D sit on the same shelf if you need more sockets.
Three ways to order:
- Call/WhatsApp +254 708 852 521
- Email info@mascomintl.com
- Order through www.mascomintl.com
Pay-on-arrival delivery reaches every one of Kenya's 47 counties. Nairobi and its environs receive the TP-Link TL-SF1005D the same day. Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu, Mombasa and every other major town receive it within 1 business day. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days. You check the switch and pay only when it arrives.
The TP-Link TL-SF1005D comes with the 6-month Mascom warranty stated above.
Not sure whether five ports are enough? Send a photo of your router's back panel on WhatsApp and our team will count the free sockets with you. Mascom International serves homes and front desks nationwide with honest sizing advice, fair prices and after-sales help from a real Nairobi CBD store.
