Alta Labs Route10 Review: Affordable 10G and PoE+ Gateway for Homelabs

The Alta Labs Route10 presents an intriguing proposition for network enthusiasts: two 10G SFP+ ports and four 2.5GbE RJ45 ports (including two PoE+ capable ports) in a $199 compact gateway. We purchased one to validate its performance claims and examine its hardware implementation.

Hardware Teardown: Qualcomm Power in a Plastic Chassis

Measuring 180×110×29.8mm (7.09×4.33×1.17″) and weighing 0.46kg (1lb), the Route10 features:

• Front panel: Four 2.5GbE ports (middle two support 802.3at PoE+)
• Right side: Two SFP+ 10G ports
• Rear: 54V/1.3A DC input (sufficient for PoE+ budget)
• Top: Illuminated Alta Labs logo
• Bottom: Wall-mount points with rubber feet

Our PoE+ validation using Fluke testers confirmed 25.5W output per PoE+ port - matching 802.3at specifications. The plastic chassis with metal baseplate provides adequate cooling for the internal components.

Component Analysis: Enterprise-Grade Silicon

Disassembly revealed a surprisingly robust hardware stack:

Component	Model	Functionality
Primary SoC	Qualcomm IPQ9570	Quad-core Arm CPU, 10G acceleration
PHY Controller	Qualcomm QCA8084	2.5GbE port management
DRAM	1GB DDR4	System memory
Storage	4GB eMMC	Firmware storage

The IPQ9570 - typically found in WiFi 7 routers - provides hardware acceleration for NAT, VPN, and firewall functions. The SFP+ cages include copper heatsinks with thermal pads connecting to the chassis for passive cooling.

Performance Benchmarks: 10G Throughput Under Load

We tested using CyPerf with the following configurations:

Baseline (No Security):

• 10G Line Rate: 9.94Gbps bidirectional
• Latency: 3.2μs @ 64B packets
• Packet Loss: 0% at 14.88Mpps

Security Enabled (DPI + IPS):

• Throughput: 3.2Gbps bidirectional
• Latency Increase: 18.7μs @ 64B packets
• CPU Utilization: 92% across all cores

The performance hit when enabling deep packet inspection matches expectations for an Arm-based system without dedicated security accelerators. For basic firewall/NAT operations, it maintains line-rate 10G performance.

Power Consumption Analysis

Using a Yocto-Watt power meter, we recorded:

Scenario	Power Draw	Notes
Idle (No PoE)	8.4W	Minimal background processes
10G SFP+ Traffic	12.1W	9.94Gbps iPerf3 test
PoE+ Active (25.5Wx2)	61.3W	Powering two WAPs at max load

These figures confirm the 70W power supply provides adequate headroom for simultaneous 10G routing and PoE+ device operation.

Build Recommendations

1. Homelab Core Router: Pair with MikroTik S+RJ10 SFP+ modules for 10G copper connectivity
2. PoE Camera Controller: Use PoE+ ports to power 4K IP cameras without separate injectors
3. Branch Office Gateway: Combine with OPNsense for advanced firewall features (requires CLI configuration)

Avoid these use cases:

• High-security environments requiring DPI/IPS above 3Gbps
• Networks requiring redundant power supplies
• Environments needing 10GBase-T native ports

Conclusion

The Route10 delivers exceptional value at $199, particularly for:

• Homelabs needing 10G connectivity
• Small offices requiring PoE+ without separate switches
• Edge computing deployments needing compact form factor

Its limitations in security processing throughput and plastic construction are reasonable trade-offs at this price point. For basic 10G routing with PoE+ capabilities, it outperforms alternatives costing 2-3x more.

Pro Tip: The reset button doubles as a boot mode selector - hold for 15 seconds during boot to access recovery mode for firmware updates or configuration resets.