Do I need a new switch?

Fiber goes to my router. A cat5 cable goes from the router to a 10 year old Netgear 8 port switch and then to my A/V equipment and a WiFi repeater. It all worked well for a while. Now, there are intermittent outages from the WiFi and a slowdown in my FireTV. Both are connected to the 8 port switch.

I can't decide if the problem is in the switch, in the router, or somewhere else. If it is the switch (which is my main suspect), what type of switch should I replace it with?

I lack expertise in this area and would appreciate any advice or help you could offer on tracking the culprit and replacing it. Thanks in advance.

I'd think most any new Gigabit Switch would work, my year-old Netgear Firehawk works fine with my 10-year-old WDC Gigabit Switch. I use PoE Wireless DSL with a Modem plugged into the Router. Might be a good time switch up to CAT6 Ethernet cables.

The cat5 is probably causing a bottleneck on your network. Get a cat6.

I wish I could. A cat5 is all there will ever be, due to the locations involved.

What's with the locations? CAT 6 should work wherever CAT 5 works, usually the only limit is 100M or a bit over 300 ft and not routed over fluorescent light fixtures or electric motors, etc.

Basically, fiber to cat5 is a waste of money. You might want to consider downgrading if you can't use cat6.

Hi,
Equipment don't last forever sadly
Power to the switches/ routers and the actual cord of the device is most important part of this loop way more than cat5 or 6 being used
Cutting off monetarily can often be activity on the same electrical circuit and just not noticing it

Best thing to do is map what all is using the same wall outlets/ circuits in the rooms where the devices are located
Then move some large stuff like printer/ t.v's/ .. to a different locations
Other than than battery backup system can rule out a lot of this.
Then it's down to devices and the cord they use as issue or not.

Here is a highly rated switch at a great price.

www.amazon.com/dp/B00A128S24/?coliid=IZZZGWLRDI61Y&colid=YRENUSX9RDSA&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it