Mikrotik CRS328-24P-4S+RM – Glue Equipment

The CRS328-24P-4S is a Layer 3 managed switch with 24 Gigabit Ethernet ports and 4 SFP slots, making it capable of handling ST 2110 transport. However, verify with your Mikrotik distributor that the firmware and feature set support full ST 2110 PTP clock synchronization, VLAN segmentation, and QoS policies required for professional video. Confirm SFP module compatibility (10G, 25G) for your specific media gateway or router uplink requirements.

The unit provides 4 SFP ports for fiber or direct copper uplinks. These support variable data rates depending on transceiver type (typically 1G to 25G per port). For a broadcast facility, use these for redundant links to your core router or to cascade multiple CRS units. Confirm SFP compatibility with your existing fiber infrastructure (MMF/SMF, wavelength) before deployment. Gigabit ports themselves are also available for copper uplinks if needed.

Mikrotik CRS units support SNMP v2/v3 and RouterOS API for monitoring and control. REST API availability depends on RouterOS firmware version—verify compatibility with your control system or NMS before purchase. For broadcast automation, confirm that critical functions (port enable/disable, VLAN changes, QoS adjustments) are accessible through your chosen protocol. Test in a non-production environment first.

Exact power draw specifications are not provided in available documentation—request a datasheet from your distributor. For critical broadcast environments, plan dual PSU input or UPS backup since the unit is non-redundant. Deploy two CRS328-24P-4S units in active-active or active-standby configuration with VRRP or similar failover to eliminate single points of failure. Verify thermal management in confined OB van cabinets.

The CRS328-24P-4S supports 802.1Q VLAN tagging and per-port/per-queue QoS policies via RouterOS. Configure separate VLANs for video (PTP, essential streams) and management (SNMP, SSH). Assign priority queues and rate-limiting to prevent congestion. Firmware version affects available QoS granularity—confirm your version supports the traffic classes and priority levels required by your ST 2110 workflow before deployment.

Yes, the CRS328-24P-4S supports IGMP snooping and multicast routing (PIM), enabling coexistence of legacy broadcast protocols and modern IP video. Configure multicast groups separately for traditional SDI-over-IP and ST 2110 streams. Verify firmware version includes stable IGMP and PIM support for your firmware release. Test multicast performance and group convergence time in your lab before live deployment to confirm no stream disruption.

The CRS328-24P-4S provides line-rate switching across its 24 Gigabit ports and SFP interfaces. Switching latency is typically sub-microsecond (refer to current datasheet). Total backplane capacity should be verified with Mikrotik for your firmware version. When deploying multiple ST 2110 streams, stress-test with your actual video bitrates and frame rates in a pre-production environment to confirm no packet loss or jitter that could affect downstream decoders or mixers.

Keep a second CRS328-24P-4S as a hot spare and maintain documented firmware versions for both units. Subscribe to Mikrotik security advisories and test firmware updates in a test network before production deployment. Stock SFP transceiver modules matching your fiber plant. Establish a documented rollback procedure for firmware. Configure backup of running configuration to external storage. Schedule firmware updates during planned maintenance windows to avoid live broadcast impact.

Deploy multiple CRS328-24P-4S units, one per room or aggregation point, and interconnect via SFP uplinks to a core switch or router. Use VLAN trunking across these uplinks to isolate studio traffic while maintaining facility-wide multicast capability. Implement Layer 3 routing (static routes or OSPF) for cross-studio communication. Plan IP address schema carefully. Test failover scenarios (uplink loss) to confirm rapid convergence and minimal stream interruption.

Yes. Our used and ex-demo units undergo a full functional inspection — sensors, video outputs, control signals, optics and mechanics — including a colorimetry and sensitivity test. Each product is tested by our technicians and comes with a 90-day warranty. Contact us for the specific warranty terms of the unit you are interested in.