A camera on the corner of the house or a Wi-Fi point on the ceiling, where there is no power socket. Normally you would have to run both electricity and a network cable there. PoE solves this with a single cable, which is exactly why it has become the standard for cameras and networks.

What PoE is

PoE (Power over Ethernet) means that a single network cable carries both data and electrical power at once. The device at the end of the cable therefore needs no socket or adapter of its own; power reaches it over the same cable as the internet.

Where it fits

You appreciate PoE everywhere it is hard or expensive to bring power:

  • IP cameras on a facade, under a roof or on a pole,
  • Wi-Fi access points on a ceiling or wall (the basis of good mesh coverage),
  • IP phones and other network devices.

One cable is enough and you place the device practically anywhere you can run it to.

What the benefits are

  • One cable instead of two and no socket right next to the device.
  • Freedom of placement up to 100 metres from the switch.
  • Convenient management: you can turn the device off and on (restart it) remotely from the switch, without walking over to it.

What you need for it

Something has to supply the power into the cable. Either a PoE switch (a hub that powers all connected devices), or a small PoE injector that adds power to a single cable. The device at the other end must support PoE, which cameras and access points commonly do today.

PoE has several power levels for different devices, from ordinary cameras to more powerful access points. For everything to work reliably, the switch and the devices need to be matched on power, and that is exactly what we can help with.

Planning cameras or proper Wi-Fi coverage? Get in touch and we will design the wiring so that one cable is enough and everything works the first time.