More Power, Fewer Ports

Author: GlenNiece Kutsch

Power over Ethernet has arguably been one of the most significant networking advancements in decades. Commonly known as PoE, it allows the transmission of power along with data over an Ethernet cable.

First introduced in the late 1990s and standardized in the early 2000s, PoE capabilities have increased substantially since that time.

• The original PoE (IEEE 802.3af) allowed sending 15.4W of DC power (Class 1, 2 or 3) over two pairs of twisted pair wires in an Ethernet cable.
• Then came PoE+ (IEEE 802.3at) utilizing four pairs of twisted pair wires to send 15 or 30W of power (Class 3 or 4).
• More recently, capabilities have evolved even further, and PoE++ or "Hi-PoE" (IEEE 802.3bt) can now send 45 or 60W (Class 5 and 6), 75W (Class 7) or 90W (Class 8) of DC power using all four twisted pairs of wire in an Ethernet cable.[1]

So, what's behind PoE's "rise to power"? It is the many benefits that PoE offers!

First, because PoE allows DC power to be passed along with data over a standard Ethernet cable that is already used to network devices, PoE eliminates the need for a nearby power source at the end device location. This is helpful whether you are connecting a single device or many, since installing new electrical outlets can cause time delays and incur extra costs for adding, moving or changing networked devices. In addition, Energy Efficient Ethernet with PoE can offer a greener alternative to AC power due to its power saving features.

It is estimated that globally there are already more than 18 billion connected IoT devices, and this number is growing every day, with a typical household having about 17 "things" connected to the internet[2]. Think about your own household: you probably have computers, tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, gaming consoles…maybe your thermostat, appliances or garage door are even accessible via the internet. PoE removes the requirement for devices to be located near individual AC power outlets by allowing them to be connected to and powered by PoE power sourcing equipment (PSE) such as a PoE switch.

On its own and through its acquisition of Transition Networks, Lantronix has been a pioneer in Ethernet networking and has extensive expertise in PoE switches. We offer a wide assortment of PoE/PoE+/PoE++ switches in a variety of port densities. Our innovative integrated Device Management Software (DMS) reduces installation and operating expense by providing immediate access to devices for remote monitoring and management, reducing troubleshooting time and minimizing service dispatches and disruptions. Lantronix PoE switches are available in port counts from four to forty-eight ports and are ideal for security and surveillance, enterprise networks, smart building and smart cities applications.

But switches are just one type of power sourcing equipment (PSE) available for PoE applications. In some applications, a switch might not be the most cost-effective solution. For example, PD installations may require only one or a few PoE ports, in which case a switch may be a costly solution. Alternatively, the end user might not allow a switch to be added to their network or may allow only a specific switch vendor's equipment, which might be impractical for cost or availability reasons. In these situations, other PSEs like injectors and media converters, may be more suitable options. Lantronix offers some great alternatives for these low port count PoE applications, too!

One option, a PoE Injector, can be used to add PoE to a non-PoE copper network connection. PoE injectors are ideal in situations where you need to power just one IP camera or a single wireless access point (WAP), so a higher port count PoE switch is overkill. They are also cost effective in that they allow power to an end device without having to replace a legacy non-PoE switch.

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Another PSE option, a PoE Media converter, allows extension of the network over fiber cabling and can then add PoE over copper cabling to connect and power an end device. PoE media converters allow IP devices to be placed at the network edge, since they can be connected to a fiber switch via multi-mode or single mode fiber to achieve longer distances. (A power source is still required for the media converter, but this allows for network extension beyond the IEEE 100m distance limitation over UTP copper cabling.) Common uses for PoE media converters include VoIP phones, point-of-sale (POS) systems, gate access/guard shack connectivity, perimeter security cameras and WAPs on light poles or outdoor cabinets.

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Lantronix offers PoE injectors that provide PoE+ (30W) or PoE++ (≤90W). Our specialty PoE injectors for hardened temperature applications (-40 to +70°C) are designed to protect against EMI and heavy electrical surges typical of manufacturing floor environments or curb-side traffic control cabinets. The newest injector to our portfolio (SI-IES-5200-LRT) is a multi-gig injector that supports 10Mbps, 100Mbps, 1Gbps, 2.5Gbps, 5Gbps and 10Gbps data transmission to meet the demands of high bandwidth and high power devices, such as WAPs, multi-lens surveillance cameras, license plate readers and other IP networked devices.

With nearly 40 years of expertise in media converters, Lantronix PoE media converter portfolio is quite broad, with options from PoE (15W), PoE+ (30W) and PoE++ (≤90W) and for both office grade (0 to +40°C) and hardened temperature applications (-40 to +70°C).

• Lantronix is very well known for its SPOEB and SGPAT media converters which provide PoE for VoIP phones in Fiber to the Desk applications.
• For security and surveillance applications, our mini PoE converters (M/GE-PSW-PSE-01) and hardened mini PoE converters (M/GE-ISW Series) are small enough to fit inside some camera mounts or other space-constrained environments.
• Our Class 1 Div 2 PoE converters are very popular for powering security cameras located in hazardous locations, with the newest addition (SI-IES-5x1D-LRT) capable of 10Mbps/100Mbps/1Gbps/2.5Gbps data transmission to accommodate evolving 2.5G WiFi 6 and higher WAPs.
• Most Lantronix converters also offer helpful features like Remote PD Reset (PDR), which enables power cycling of the remote powered device from the switch by disengaging the fiber cable, and Link Pass Through (LPT), which ensures a loss of link on one of the converter is passed through to the other side so upstream equipment can see a fault condition on either the copper or fiber link that would otherwise be hidden by the media converter. Both features help get PDs up quickly and keep the network running effectively.

Beyond power level and port count, another consideration for PoE applications is to ensure both your PSEs and PDs conform to the IEEE 802.3 PoE specifications. This is important to ensure interoperability with multiple devices across vendors. Lantronix follows IEEE 802.3af/at/bt specifications, ensuring compatibility between equipment and protecting your investment, as well as reducing the amount of time spent on troubleshooting incompatibility issues between devices.

For more information about Lantronix low port count PoE solutions, check out these options:

Single-Port Injectors

NEW: https://www.lantronix.com/products/si-ies-5200-lrt/

https://www.lantronix.com/products/si-ies-1200-lrt-2/

1 and 2-Port Media Converters

NEW: https://www.lantronix.com/products/si-ies-5x1d-lrt-series/

https://www.lantronix.com/products/m-ge-psw-pse-01-2/

https://www.lantronix.com/products/sgpat-series-2/

https://www.lantronix.com/products/spoeb-series/

PoE-Powered Media Converters

https://www.lantronix.com/products/m-ge-isw-sfp-01-pd-2/

4-Port Switches

https://www.lantronix.com/products/sistp1040-551-lrt-2/

https://www.lantronix.com/products/sespm1040-541-lt-xx-series-4/

[1]Ethernet Alliance

[2]IoT Analytics