Overcoming the Limitations of Copper UTP Cabling to Wi-Fi Access Points

Wi-Fi has become omnipresent with the ever-growing bandwidth demand from smart phones and tablets. Wi-Fi is in office buildings, retail stores, stadiums, airports, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and schools. Wi-Fi hotspots are deployed by business owners, government entities (municipalities and education), and Service Providers for offloading internet data from cellular networks.

One of the challenges with any access network is the 100 meter distance limitation of UTP cabling. Fiber access networks overcome this distance challenge, but Wi-Fi Access Points typically do not have fiber ports. In addition, many Wi-Fi Access Points are powered using Power over Ethernet (PoE), which provides flexibility in placing and installing devices, but this requires UTP copper cabling.

The maximum transmission distance of copper UTP cable is 100 meters (328 feet).  The challenge is installing Powered Devices (PD) like PoE Wi-Fi access points more than 100 meters from the Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE).

The maximum transmission distance of fiber optic cable is over 100 kilometers (this varies by data rate and optical equipment). Fiber optic cabling overcomes the distance and bandwidth limitations of UTP, but fiber does not carry electric DC current.

Extending Distances to Wi-Fi Access Points

OmniConverter PoE Media Converters and OmniConverter PoE Fiber Switches are installed near AC or DC power sources at the end of fiber runs, where they convert fiber to copper, and function as PoE Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) to send DC power to the Powered Device (PD) over the UTP cabling.

In this application example, a municipality is partnering with a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) to deploy Wi-Fi throughout the city. The municipality provides Wi-Fi access to its citizens and businesses, and the MNO uses the Wi-Fi hot spots for offloading 3G and 4G data, as well as to offer value added services to subscribers.

W-Fi networks deployed across a municipality require fiber connectivity to meet the distance requirements. Wireless Access Points typically do not have fiber ports, and can require Power over Ethernet (PoE) which cannot be provided over fiber.

The Mobile Network Operator provides network connectivity at a Point of Presence, where fiber is distributed from a fiber switch.

Across the top of the diagram, a point-to-point fiber link runs to an OmniConverter PoE Fiber Switch with one fiber port that terminates the fiber run, and four RJ-45 ports that provides data and PoE+ power to four Wireless Access Points. The PoE Fiber Switch is installed near an AC or DC power source, where it converts the fiber to copper and inject PoE or PoE+ over the UTP cables that are connected to Wireless Access Points installed up to 100 meters from the converters. OmniConverter PoE Fiber Switches can provide full PoE+ power on up to eight RJ-45 ports.

At the bottom of the diagram, OmniConverter PoE Media Converters with two fiber ports are deployed in NEMA enclosures installed on light poles in a fiber daisy-chain that runs down a street. Each OmniConverter can power one or two Wireless Access Points. OmniConverter PoE Media Converters and PoE Fiber Switches support multiple-port configurations for a variety of flexible network architecture options. OmniConverter media converters are temperature hardened for all-weather outdoor deployments.

>> Learn more about Carrier Wi-Fi and Voice over Wi-Fi

Deploying Hotspots in an Office Building

Dozens of Wireless Access Points are required for larger office buildings, and the distance from the service provider point of presence or network data closet often exceeds the distance limitations of copper cable. Fiber is required to provide connectivity to the Wireless Access Points, which typically do not have fiber ports, and can require Power over Ethernet (PoE).

On the Ground Floor, the Mobile Network Operator hands off services to a copper switch. Fiber is distributed from the copper switch using iConverter managed media converters installed in high-density rack-mount chassis to provide a managed demarcation point for the Mobile Network Operator.

Fiber runs extend up the building, and each point-to-point fiber link is terminated with a PoE Fiber Switch or PoE Media Converter.

On the 10th Floor, an OmniConverter PoE Media Converter is installed near an AC or DC power source. The PoE media converter provides fiber to copper media conversion, and injects PoE, PoE+, or HPoE (60W and 100W) over the UTP cables that are connected to Wireless Access Points.  OmniConverter PoE Media Converters can power one or two Wireless Access Points.

On the 11th and 12th Floors, four PoE Wireless Access Points are deployed. An OmniConverter PoE Fiber Switch is installed near an AC or DC power source. The OmniConverter PoE Fiber Switch terminates the fiber link, and injects PoE/PoE+/PoE++ over the UTP cables that are connected to the Wireless Access Points. OmniConverter PoE Fiber Switches can power four or eight Wireless Access Points.

OmniConverter PoE Media Converters and PoE Fiber Switches provide a reliable and cost effective method to provide fiber connectivity and PoE/PoE+ power to Wireless Access Points distributed throughout an office building or campus.

Industrial Manufacturing Application with PoE Fiber Switches

In this industrial manufacturing application example, RuggedNet Industrial PoE Fiber Switches are installed on a DIN-rail along an assembly line. Gigabit fiber is distributed from a fiber switch at a network hub location to RuggedNet PoE Switches with dual
fiber ports that enable a fiber daisy chain with multiple locations. Each RuggedNet PoE Switch provides fiber data connectivity
and 30W PoE+ power per port for four Wi-Fi access points at each location.

How to Extend Distances to WiFi Access Points with PoE Extenders

PoE Extenders provide cost-effective distance extension and connectivity to WiFi Access Points where external power is not available or hard to provision, or when replacing copper with fiber becomes cost prohibitive.   This example shows an OmniConverter PoE Extender powering PoE-power WiFi, and achieving a distance of 200 meters (656 feet) between the OmniConverter PoE+ switch and the camera.

In this next example, three OmniConverter PoE Extenders are deployed in a daisy chain that is powered by an OmniConverter GHPoEBT/S 60W PoE PSE switch.  WiFi Access Points are dropped off at the first and second PoE Extender locations using models with one RJ-45 PoE/PD port and two RJ-45 PoE/PSE ports.

The daisy chain continues to the third PoE Extender, and to the final WiFi Access Point for a distance of 400 meters (1,312 feet).

Omnitron Systems and Aruba Networks

Omnitron PoE media converters and switches have been certified by Aruba Networks as interoperable with Aruba Wireless Access Points and AirMesh Routers. Omnitron Systems and Aruba have collaborated to ensure that integrators and network operators have access to a wide range of power sourcing media converters for indoor (0 to +50 ºC) and outdoor (-40 to +60ºC) deployment scenarios.

Download the Aruba Solution Guide:
Deploying Omnitron PoE Media Converters with Aruba Access Points

Omnitron PoE Media Converters, PoE Switches and PoE Extenders