Power Over Ethernet: A Game-Changer for Remote Devices

In today's world, where cables seem to take up every nook and cranny, it's easy to get frustrated with having to run multiple cords just to power a device. But what if you could have both power and data transmitted over a single cable? Enter Power Over Ethernet (PoE), a technology that allows devices to receive power and data via an Ethernet connection.

The Basics of PoE

At its core, PoE is about sending power over the same cable as data. This is made possible by the use of differential signaling, which uses two signals with opposite polarities to transmit data. Essentially, this means that the same voltage can be used for both data and power transmission without affecting each other. The PoE standard has evolved over time, with newer versions delivering higher wattages than their predecessors.

PoE Switches: A Cost-Effective Solution

One of the biggest advantages of PoE is its cost-effectiveness. PoE switches are designed to provide power to devices connected to them, eliminating the need for separate power cords. This not only saves space but also reduces clutter and makes it easier to manage cables. Additionally, PoE switches are often less expensive than traditional switches with separate power outlets.

Wireless Access Points: A Big beneficiary of PoE

Wireless access points (WAPs) are a perfect example of how PoE can improve network performance. By providing power over Ethernet, WAPs can receive a stable and consistent power supply, even in areas with limited power availability. This leads to better Wi-Fi performance, as the device is less likely to experience power-related issues that can disrupt connectivity.

PoE Clocks: More than Just Timekeeping

PoE clocks may seem like a novelty item, but they also offer practical benefits for businesses and organizations. These devices can provide a reliable time source for devices connected to them, eliminating the need for manual time adjustments. This is particularly useful in environments where devices need to stay synchronized with each other.

VoIP and PoE: A Winning Combination

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems rely on Ethernet connections to transmit voice data. By using PoE, VoIP devices can receive power and data simultaneously, ensuring that calls are always clear and uninterrupted. This is especially important for businesses that operate 24/7, as a dropped call can lead to significant losses.

Intercoms, Smart Door Locks, and Surveillance Cameras: The Many Uses of PoE

PoE is not just limited to Wi-Fi routers and VoIP devices. Intercom systems, smart door locks, and surveillance cameras are all examples of devices that can benefit from Power Over Ethernet. These devices often require a stable power source, which PoE provides.

The Limitations of PoE: A Reality Check

While PoE offers many benefits, it's essential to acknowledge its limitations. One of the main challenges is ensuring that your network infrastructure is capable of supporting PoE devices. This may involve upgrading existing switches or installing new ones that support the required power output.

PoE Injectors: The Bridge Between PoE and Non-PoE Devices

In some cases, it's not possible to use a PoE switch directly with non-PoE devices. In these situations, an Ethernet injector is used as a bridge between the two. These injectors plug into a standard outlet and provide power over Ethernet to devices connected to them.

The Future of PoE: A Promising Road Ahead

As technology continues to evolve, it's likely that we'll see even more innovative applications for Power Over Ethernet. With the increasing demand for wireless connectivity and smart home devices, PoE is poised to play a significant role in shaping the future of networking.

In conclusion, Power Over Ethernet offers a convenient solution for remote devices that require both power and data transmission over an Ethernet connection. By understanding its basics, benefits, and limitations, you can make informed decisions about when and how to use PoE in your network infrastructure.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhate Tangled messes of cables sick of always having to stay close to an outlet well there's actually a way to power certain devices without having an outlet anywhere nearby and I'm not talking about a battery I'm talking about power over Ethernet or Poe not to be confused with the Raven guy the basic idea is simple a single ethernet cord carries both power and data allowing you to say never more to a separate power cable and you don't even need any special ethernet cable most of us use Cat5e or Cat6 these days for internet and either one of these will work just fine but unfortunately you can't just connect any two gadgets with an ethernet port and expect power delivery the client device and the router or switch you're connecting it to both have to support Poe the good news here though is that Poe switches typically don't cost that much more than regular ones but what kinds of things really benefit from having Poe to begin with one big one is wireless access points you can often get better wi-fi performance by using a standalone access point instead of the one built into your off-the-shelf router and many of these access points support power over ethernet this can be useful at home but it's especially common in larger commercial or high density environments that need multiple access points across far-flung distances where it would be impractical to run both ethernet and power cables there are also Poe clocks available in both analog and digital a single ethernet cable both provides power and connects the clock to an internet time server so you'll never have to worry about setting the clock or changing the battery and yet more applications include VoIP where one ethernet cable going to your desk phone gives you voice capabilities and power intercoms smart door locks and surveillance cameras can all also use Poe basically anything that needs a constant data connection but doesn't have massive power requirements can benefit but hold on a second how the heck does a regular ethernet cable carry both data and power I will tell you right after we thank our sponsor freshbooks the invoicing and accounting Solution that's built for owners and clients freshbooks users save 11 hours a week that they used to spend sorting through invoices and financials plus 94 of freshbooks users say it's super easy to get up and running and with award-winning support you're never alone switch to freshbooks today and join over 24 million people who love it and you can try it for free for 30 days no credit card required so go to freshbooks.com techwiki to get started so you can send data and Power on the same cable because the ethernet protocol moves data using something called differential signaling basically two signals are sent that have the same voltage but one is positive and one is negative the orientation of the positive and negative signals determine if the bit is a one or a zero power over ethernet just applies a larger voltage to the wiring inside the ethernet cable it doesn't affect the positive negative difference of each bit so data transmission is unimpeded but speaking of larger voltages just how much power can Poe deliver well there are actually a few different versions of the standard that deliver different wattages which we've summarized here on this chart those higher wattage versions are useful for devices like high powered wireless access points or rotating cameras that need the extra wattage to turn a motor so yeah all this sounds pretty cool but before you rush out to buy a bunch of Poe enabled stuff like their Pokemon cards keep this caveat in mind many Poe devices don't even have a regular power port and so can only be powered via Poe and if you don't have a switch or router with a Poe Port you'll need to pick up something called a Poe injector her and don't worry this isn't some kind of weird cyber syringe rather it's a little wall wart that plugs into a standard outlet but also features a pair of ethernet ports one connects to the client and the other to your router or switch just make sure the standards supported by the injector is at least the same as what your client device needs to ensure it gets adequate power you can even combine an injector with a Poe splitter and power a non-poe client as well also remember that Poe has a maximum range of 100 meters without a repeater and while that's a fairly long way you can eat through that fast if your cable run has lots of twists and turns speaking of twists that's the end of this episode I bet you didn't see that coming guys thanks for watching the video like it if you liked it dislike it if you disliked it check out our other videos comment below with video suggestions and don't forget to subscribe to techwiki and follow techwiki we're making these actually all the time this wasn't the only one we ever made there's a there's so many there's so many other ones and they're coming morehate Tangled messes of cables sick of always having to stay close to an outlet well there's actually a way to power certain devices without having an outlet anywhere nearby and I'm not talking about a battery I'm talking about power over Ethernet or Poe not to be confused with the Raven guy the basic idea is simple a single ethernet cord carries both power and data allowing you to say never more to a separate power cable and you don't even need any special ethernet cable most of us use Cat5e or Cat6 these days for internet and either one of these will work just fine but unfortunately you can't just connect any two gadgets with an ethernet port and expect power delivery the client device and the router or switch you're connecting it to both have to support Poe the good news here though is that Poe switches typically don't cost that much more than regular ones but what kinds of things really benefit from having Poe to begin with one big one is wireless access points you can often get better wi-fi performance by using a standalone access point instead of the one built into your off-the-shelf router and many of these access points support power over ethernet this can be useful at home but it's especially common in larger commercial or high density environments that need multiple access points across far-flung distances where it would be impractical to run both ethernet and power cables there are also Poe clocks available in both analog and digital a single ethernet cable both provides power and connects the clock to an internet time server so you'll never have to worry about setting the clock or changing the battery and yet more applications include VoIP where one ethernet cable going to your desk phone gives you voice capabilities and power intercoms smart door locks and surveillance cameras can all also use Poe basically anything that needs a constant data connection but doesn't have massive power requirements can benefit but hold on a second how the heck does a regular ethernet cable carry both data and power I will tell you right after we thank our sponsor freshbooks the invoicing and accounting Solution that's built for owners and clients freshbooks users save 11 hours a week that they used to spend sorting through invoices and financials plus 94 of freshbooks users say it's super easy to get up and running and with award-winning support you're never alone switch to freshbooks today and join over 24 million people who love it and you can try it for free for 30 days no credit card required so go to freshbooks.com techwiki to get started so you can send data and Power on the same cable because the ethernet protocol moves data using something called differential signaling basically two signals are sent that have the same voltage but one is positive and one is negative the orientation of the positive and negative signals determine if the bit is a one or a zero power over ethernet just applies a larger voltage to the wiring inside the ethernet cable it doesn't affect the positive negative difference of each bit so data transmission is unimpeded but speaking of larger voltages just how much power can Poe deliver well there are actually a few different versions of the standard that deliver different wattages which we've summarized here on this chart those higher wattage versions are useful for devices like high powered wireless access points or rotating cameras that need the extra wattage to turn a motor so yeah all this sounds pretty cool but before you rush out to buy a bunch of Poe enabled stuff like their Pokemon cards keep this caveat in mind many Poe devices don't even have a regular power port and so can only be powered via Poe and if you don't have a switch or router with a Poe Port you'll need to pick up something called a Poe injector her and don't worry this isn't some kind of weird cyber syringe rather it's a little wall wart that plugs into a standard outlet but also features a pair of ethernet ports one connects to the client and the other to your router or switch just make sure the standards supported by the injector is at least the same as what your client device needs to ensure it gets adequate power you can even combine an injector with a Poe splitter and power a non-poe client as well also remember that Poe has a maximum range of 100 meters without a repeater and while that's a fairly long way you can eat through that fast if your cable run has lots of twists and turns speaking of twists that's the end of this episode I bet you didn't see that coming guys thanks for watching the video like it if you liked it dislike it if you disliked it check out our other videos comment below with video suggestions and don't forget to subscribe to techwiki and follow techwiki we're making these actually all the time this wasn't the only one we ever made there's a there's so many there's so many other ones and they're coming more\n"