Revolutionizing the Security Industry with PoE Technology

Installing video surveillance is an effective way to maintain the security of your business. Dealing with complex wiring, however, can make it less efficient. Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology (often referred to as a PoE Switch or PoE Injector) is revolutionizing video surveillance systems because it is cost-effective, easy to maintain, simplifies installation, and reduces cable clutter.

PoE technology is designed for end-point devices that require data and power. There are two inputs to these devices: data and electrical. The data allows the device to communicate with the network while the electrical powers the device. Although this may seem justifiable for one device, power availability and physical site limitations will impact the addition of multiple devices. For example, a location may not have enough outlets to support multiple devices.

PoE technology can be used to receive both power and data through an Ethernet cable on a local area network (LAN). It then converts the power and data into a single PoE output and can be added to non-PoE network links. In other words, both PoE and regular devices can be connected to it.

Installing PoE technology is simple. It functions on minimal wiring and equipment, so it can be mounted anywhere without making any significant changes to existing infrastructure. This eliminates the need to be in proximity to a nearby outlet and makes diagnosing an issue easier as you don’t have to sort through multiple cables to find the problem.

An example of how PoE technology increases flexibility and convenience for a business is with Small Business Security from Smithville. Small Business Security features video surveillance, intrusion detection, access control, and energy monitoring. For these individual products to run, they need both a power and data cable connection for each device. Without PoE technology, that would require two cables per device, creating cable clutter.

Using PoE technology with Small Business Security makes it easy to customize your solution to your building. Our customers don’t have to worry about making significant structural changes, installing devices near outlets, or running additional wiring. Plus, it ensures seamless scalability for when your business’s need for safety grows. The plug-and-play intelligence makes it easy to install and deploy.

With traditional cameras, you have to:

• Limit the addition of new devices due to structural restrictions
• Make structural changes to accommodate new electrical wiring
• Run additional wiring when adding new devices
• Ensure devices are installed near an outlet
• Sort through multiple wires to diagnose an issue

With PoE Cameras, you can:

• Scale your system easily as your business grows
• Quickly install devices without changing current infrastructure
• Add devices without running additional wiring
• Install devices anywhere without worrying about proximity to a power source
• Easily diagnose and troubleshoot issues without sorting through cluttered cables