In today’s highly digitized business environment, expanding your business IT network is a matter of when and not if. If you are looking for a cost-effective way to expand your networks to support the latest IoT technologies and other devices, consider the Power over Ethernet extender. Because one cable delivers both power and data, a PoE extender is also safe and easy to install with no electrician needed.
What Is a POE?
Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a standard that allows Ethernet cables to transmit both power and data concurrently with one network cable. POE technology enables power and data to be delivered to remote places without installing extra electrical infrastructure such as power outlets used by edge devices. PoE technology uses Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7, and Cat8 Ethernet cables to send Mbps of data and power of various levels to devices located at a maximum distance of 100 m.
What Is a PoE Extender?
Power over Ethernet (PoE) extenders are devices that extend the connection distance between the PoE switch and the PoE edge device. The PoE device is usually installed inline between the PoE switch and the PoE edge device. The PoE extenders supply up to 30 Watts PoE to attached devices while simultaneously transmitting Ethernet data over a PoE network for up to 1.2 km. A PoE network extender is ideal for devices that need power and data but is installed in areas beyond the 100m distance limitation of standard Power over Ethernet.
How Does a PoE Extender Work?
A PoE extender obtains power and data from the PSE connected to it. It passes some of the power to the next PoE device and uses the remaining power for itself to operate. For example, a standard Gigabit PoE extender uses about 4 to 5 watts to operate. Connecting it to an IEEE 802.3at PSE that delivers about 25 watts of PoE means you will get about 20 to 21 watts of available power for the connected PoE device.
How Far Can a PoE Extender Reach?
A PoE extender can reach up to 1200 meters depending on the model being used. With PoE extenders, you can deploy PoE devices up to 2000 ft away from an existing switch using a standard copper twisted pair cabling.
How to Install Your PoE Extender
What you need: Switch, PoE transmitter box, PoE receiver box, and IP powered device
The steps: The following are the steps to deploy your PoE extenders:
- Connect a patch cord from a port on your switch to the “To Switch” port on your PoE transmitter box
- Next, connect an RJ45 terminated horizontal cable from the “To RX” port in your PoE transmitter box to the “To TX” port in the PoE receiver box.
- Connect the patch cord from the “To IP device” port in your PoE transmitter box or your PoE receiver box to the end IP device that needs to be powered.
PoE Installation Requirements
The following are some of the factors to keep in mind when installing PoE networks:
Distance
How far you can extend your PoE connection depends on myriads of factors, including the type of PoE extender you are using. Ideally, the higher the input power of the PoE extender, the further it can extend the signal by cascading more PoE repeaters.
The Type of Cable
Although all Ethernet cables look alike, they have diverse individual performance capabilities. Understanding the standards and specifications used to differentiate the cables is crucial. For example, a Cat5e cable that is 100 meters in length gives you an MHz Range of 100 at 1 Gbps, while Cat 6 of the same length delivers a range of 250 MHz AT 1 to 10 Gbps.
Design for Expansion
Not planning for network expansion during the installation can slow down future reconfigurations to meet rising demand. Determine the number of connected devices and remote access points that your user needs at the moment and in the next 2 to 3 years.
Test Connections at Each Phase
Failure to test an installation in each phase may result in equipment failures and costly mistakes. If you realize nothing is working at the end of the installation, you may be forced to open up the entire wall to ensure all connectors are correctly attached.
Get Quality PoE Extenders from Versa Technology
There is no doubt Ethernet technology and powered devices (PDs) are becoming more sophisticated. A quality Power over Ethernet (PoE) Extender offers a more straightforward and cost-effective way to extend data and power beyond the 100-meter limitation of a traditional PoE switch via standard twisted-pair cabling. There are high-quality PoE extender kits designed to help you extend a network beyond the ethernet’s standard limitation via an RJ11 line. Such extenders are designed to be user-friendly, so you can install and establish high-speed network links between distant locations without needing a technician.