High Power & Long Reach POE (Power over Ethernet) Transmission Technology

   When PoE (Power over Ethernet) is firstly ratified by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) in 2003 as 802.3af, it provides capability of 15.4W power to remote PD (power device). In 2009, IEEE ratified another high power version as 802.3at which provides 25.5W. These two standards let PoE applications becoming popular and promising. Since then, many interesting and novel PoE applications have been developed.

   The PoE applications include security and access control such as PoE network camera, IP telephone, wireless LAN access point, RF ID reader, computing and where Ethernet device has been applied. However, more and more people find out higher power and longer distance (larger than 100m) will be needed when they apply PoE on their products. Taking IP camera as example, in most cases, it is enough to power stand-alone IP camera by using 7W power. But, if IR light and heater are used, at least 30W is needed. In addition, some PD devices are installed in outdoor environment and the distance is over 100m. For example, when wireless AP (access point) of WiFi or WiMax is installed in outdoor, wireless AP is able to be powered by solar energy companied with battery and PoE back up. Also the power feeding line is over 100m sometimes. If there is a solution providing longer reach, the power layout will be much easier for system providers.

   EnConn has developed a breakthrough technology based on coaxial cable to deliver high power (>30W) and long reach up to 300m to feed remote PD device. This new technology is using an external 40W PSE which is compatible with 802.3at or pre-at version or even non-standard 802.3af, a pair of eco-power130T and 130R as extended PoE transmitter and receiver, and coaxial cable with low DC resistance. The resistances of RG6 and RG11 with low DC resistance are around 3.7 and 2.4 ohm per 100m. Comparing to normal Cat5e copper cable with 10 ohm per 100m, the low resistance coaxial cable only consume about 1/3 power under the same current load. In addition, eco-power130T/R can transmit and receive Ethernet signal companied with high power up to 300m. Therefore, the EnConn’s eco-power130 series solution can provide 30W and Ethernet transmission to remote PD device. As we know, this is the first technology in the world to deliver PoE for such long reach and high power. Not like other PoE extender technology, EnConn’s PoE extender over coax cable is “true” PoE extender and is not “repeater” type of “extender”. This means there is no device but cable between PSE (power sourcing equipment, PoE term) and PD.

fig.1 eco-power130 application

   EnConn’s PoE extender over coax technology allows IP surveillance or other PoE application to be able to use PoE technology up to 300m and to provide high power throughput of >30W at PD equipment in the same time. The concept of simple PoE connection is kept in EnConn’s PoE extender over coax technology. This will let the advantage of low maintenance cost of PoE network to extend into longer distance and higher power consumption areas.