Introduction
The world has changed drastically over the last three decades. Thankfully most of the changes have been for the better. With every passing moment, the world is stepping closer to digital inventions. These inventions are making worldly tasks easier and even more beneficial for humans.
The same signage inventions include surveillance cameras, widely known as IP cameras. They are a key part of most of our security systems—however, the bigger the systems, the more extended wiring complexities.
Does it sound like a tough job? Worry not!
The same signage inventions include PoE which is here to drag you out of the complex wiring methodologies.
Do you want to know HOW? Scroll down the article and learn how to use a PoE Switch for IP Camera.
What Is PoE?
You might be thinking, what’s PoE?
Allow me to break the term for you to make it simpler. PoE – otherwise known as Power Over Ethernet-enables the network cables to carry electrical power.
Even simpler, PoE is the process where the available wires are utilized to run electricity, and the data flows through the same cables. These cables fulfill both purposes. One is to be connecting the device to the network and powering the destination device.
Before PoE – The IP Cameras Installation
An IP camera that is used for security requires two connections. One is to connect it to the network, and the other one around ensures the power supply. Once both the cables are connected, we can call the IP camera completely functional.
The procedure above might sound pretty easy when we talk about a couple of cameras. But what about the systems where the camera requirements rise higher? Maybe 24 cameras, 48 or even higher. It ends up making the system complex to manage and troubleshoot. The process becomes time-consuming, and costs are most likely to increase exponentially.
Benefits of using PoE switches for IP Cameras
All the limitations that the local network and standard switches infuse are considered. However, here are the most prominent features of PoE. These features explain why PoE switches, by far, are the best solution to have for IP camera installation.
- Extended Life Time: There is a common connotation that is associated with PoE Switches. It is that when implementing them for IP Cameras, PoE switches become costly. They indeed might have slightly higher prices than the traditional standard switches. But what people tend to neglect is the fact that they propose better lifetime and durability. Better to invest in something worthy of your money.
- Even Extended Runs: When an IP camera is connected to a PoE switch, it increases its installation runs. A standard switch might not be able to propose the factor. Your IP installation can even run to remote locations. As past statistics suggest, PoE Switches allot an extension of around 100 meters to the IP Camera.
- Multiple Device Operability: A PoE switch comes along with multiple ports. The fact can put as, that a single switch can accommodate multiple cameras, efficiently and promptly. So even if you connect 24, 48, or even a higher number of cameras through one Switch, PoE makes it possible.
- Higher Output: PoE switches are built in a way that can cater to the power input of even the most power-consuming IP cameras. Certain PoE switches hold power to deliver the power of about 30 watts over cables. The average power that is transmitted over a standard switch ranges between 14-15 watts. Thus, higher power output.
- Easier to Troubleshoot: This is one of the many advantages of PoE switches that it tends to help troubleshoot. A type of PoE Switch that goes by the category of managed PoE switches includes a GUI interface. The GUI interface provides a topology view of the network that denotes which systems are down and need to be fixed.
- Lower Expense: If the Switch identifies the trouble, it saves a lot of hustle. It reduces the cost of traveling to the system and checking against the downed IP cameras. The IP cameras are otherwise referred to as systems here. When the PoE Switches identify the trouble, it enables the management to replace or reboot the IP cameras that might be down.
- Lesser Management: The GIU Interface already overwatches the topology. It requires less human interaction and management to take care of it. This process evaluates that less management and less time investment is required.
Uses of a Poe Switch for IP Cameras
IP Cameras have continued to add up to the overall security measure of the places where they are installed. Many IP cameras still continue the use of standard switches for installation. But over time, PoE Switches have proven themselves the best switches for IP cameras. They are by far underuse in most of the places worldwide.
PoE Switches for IP cameras in Residential Areas
PoE Switches have made it super easy to have IP cameras installed at homes. IP cameras have become the basic need of people in almost every corner of the world. People heavily rely on these for security purposes and records of their day-to-day activities.
The use of PoE Switches eliminates the hustle of heavy installation. It reduces the procedures and also reduces wiring complexities.
With the installation of PoE switches, you can install more powerful IP cameras. These cameras add up to the security system of houses and other residential areas.
PoE Switches for IP cameras in Commercial Areas
Just like IP Cameras play a crucial role in the security of residential areas, it is undoubtedly of equal importance for workspaces. Commercial spaces consist of small businesses to bigger firms. Bigger firms have multiple floors and even entire buildings in these scenarios.
IP cameras play a vital role in their security and management. As the firm grows, the more IP cameras it needs to get installed for better surveillance. That is where PoE Switches come in.
Before, PoE switches could accommodate multiple IP cameras and have an overview of the entire topology. A 24-port or 16-ports, managed PoE Switch can prove to be of greater worth under the given circumstance.
How does a PoE Switch for IP Camera work?
The fact is that installing IP cameras through PoE switches is not, after all, though. However, many still might be looking for how this would work in real-time. If your scenario is the latter, consider the example below.
Four various IP cameras, all of the various power consumption, are installed in a space. Considering how the IP cameras work, we would require a couple of things. A network connection first. And then a successful power connection to get these cameras to function.
Then we have a PoE Switch that is capable of performing both these tasks. To have these four cameras installed in the space, we would be utilizing the 8-port managed PoE Switch.
Here are the step by step procedure that is to be followed to get the security system to work;
- Using an Ethernet cable, connect the router placed in your home with the PoE Switch we have just picked up.
- Take the power cable and connect it to the Switch.
- On the PoE Switch, you have ports. Connect these 4 IP cameras to ports 1-8 in the Switch. You can use the Ethernet extension cables for this.
- Now you can add the cameras to NVR to view the connected cameras and enable actions through them.
- Connect the router to the internet to have a complete look at the system remotely.
Limitations
Like any other invention of signage, it is not a hidden secret that there can be limitations to even the best PoE Switches and IP cameras. Since the data travels through the Ethernet cables, the switches carry data as far as 100 meters.
What if the distance exceeds? Will this PoE Switch be able to cater to the needs of these IP cameras and their entire systems?
When the distance increases, there arises a high possibility of data loss. We end up transmitting lesser data by the meter.
The limitation is quite legitimate, but there’s a solution – HoweVision produces extenders that fill in the gap produced due to limitations of these PoE Switches for IP cameras.
They fill those gaps using switch extenders like 800 Meters Long-Distance IEEE802.3af/at PoE+ Extender. You can cater to the needs that are far from the reach of a standard PoE Switch. These extenders promise overall data transmission through meters.
The PoE Switches have helped the IP Cameras Security System perform better over the years. Connecting your IP cameras to PoE switches can be super beneficial from management to cost deduction. You can even scale up your security systems if you use extenders of PoE switches that are available at HoweVision.
