Combining data and power on the same cable brings more uses and greater efficiency.

last step in number-of-cables reduction. Analog cameras need not only coaxial cable, to carry the video signal and coax, according to Vance Kozik, director of Product Marketing, IP Surveillance, DLink, is a lot more expensive than Ethernet. A PTZ camera would also need an additional, separate cable for control information; if there’s audio involved, yet more cable for that… plus electrical wiring to provide power. With PoE (or PoE+), one Ethernet cable can replace two, three or four cables, carrying video signal, control commands, audio… and even power.

This makes PoE good not just for A/V and IT deployments, but also for Facilities and Security. And while PoE can reduce the need for electrical power wiring, electricical contractors handling or considering network and security projects should become PoE-savvy.

Lastly, Microsemi’s Feldman points out, using PoE to provide the power can give facilities and IT remote power management capabilities: the ability to shut down power or do power-cycling remotely.

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