Distance Challenges with Power over Ethernet

Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a useful technology in powering remote devices, but as we see with any copper network cable, the challenge lies in the limited distances of UTP cabling. The maximum distance for Power over Ethernet (or any network data transmission) is 100 meters or 328 feet. 

In the diagram below, an Ethernet switch with PoE Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) capabilities sends data and power over the UTP cable. The Wi-Fi access point is a PoE Powered Device (PD), and must be located within 100m of the Endspan PoE switch.

Omnitron manufactures PoE Power Sourcing Equipment to overcome this 100 meter distance limitation of UTP cabling, and meet your unique network requirements.

• • PoE Media Converters and PoE Switches that use fiber to extend the data beyond 100 meters
  • PoE Extenders that use UTP to extend the data and power beyond 100m

How to Extend Distances to PoE Devices with PoE Media Converters and Switches

On the left side of the application is a fiber switch that distributes multiple fiber links to remote locations. This could also be a copper switch with RJ-45 ports with media converters used to convert the copper cabling from the switch to fiber optic cabling. The fiber links can extend up to 140 kilometers, depending on the fiber type, data rate and optical power of the equipment.

At the remote end of the fiber links, the fiber is terminated by a PoE Fiber Switch or PoE Media Converter located near a convenient AC or DC power source. These devices convert the fiber to copper, and function as PoE Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) that injects PoE power (DC power) over the RJ-45 port to the UTP cable. A PoE Powered Device (PD) is connected to the other end of the UTP cable, and can be installed up to 100m away from the PoE Fiber Switch or PoE Media Converter.

How PoE Port Configurations Enable Flexible Architecture Options

All OmniConverter and RuggedNet products support one or two fiber ports. OmniConverter PoE Media Converters feature one or two RJ-45 ports that support PoE, PoE+ or HPoE. OmniConverter PoE Switches and RuggedNet Industrial PoE Switches feature four or eight RJ-45 ports that support PoE, PoE+ or HPoE.

Up to Eight RJ-45 Ports

Multiple PoE RJ-45 ports allows for connecting up to eight different Powered Devices at the end of the fiber run. Copper UTP cables support distances up to 100 meters, so the Powered Devices can be up to 200 meters apart.

Dual Fiber Ports

PoE Media Converters and PoE Fiber Switches that support dual fiber ports enable daisy chaining multiple Powered Devices (PD) along a fiber route. Applications for daisy chain devices include surveillance cameras along border fences and pipelines, and traffic monitoring cameras and wireless devices along highways and train routes.

Dual fiber ports also provide protection with redundant fiber links. This architecture option provides redundancy with failure switchover in less than 50ms for critical applications requiring fiber protection. One fiber port is the active fiber port, the other is the protect fiber port.

How to Extend Distances to PoE Devices with PoE Extenders

PoE Extenders provide cost-effective distance extension and connectivity to remote PoE devices where external power is not available or hard to provision, or when replacing copper with fiber becomes cost prohibitive. They feature one PoE/PD port and one or two PoE/PSE ports, and can be powered by an IEEE 802.3at or High-Power (HPoE) 60W power source, such as an OmniConverter or RuggedNet GHPoEBT/Sx or GHPoEBT/M PSE switch.

On the left, an Omnitron or 3^rd party PoE PSE switch is sending Gigabit Ethernet and PoE power to a PoE Extender located within 100m of UTP cable from the switch.  The PoE Extender is powered by PoE (PD), and then automatically negotiates with the connected PoE Camera or WiFi Access Point to deliver the power level required.

Omnitron PoE Extenders have smart voltage-boosting technology to maintain the required standard compliant PoE voltage levels between hops.  Utilizing data regeneration and voltage level boosting capabilities, Omnitron PoE Extenders can be daisy chained to break through the Ethernet copper distance barrier and deliver 10/100/1000 data and power to multiple PoE powered devices.

Omnitron PoE Fiber Switches and Media Converters