Increasing Your Power Over the Network
Originally published by Ronnie Pennington in Security Today
Networked devices have made all the difference in giving security and communication systems far more ubiquity, capabilities, and performance than anyone could have dreamed of when the IP was invented in 1974. By the late 1980s, IP standards had improved to the point that devices could be reliably connected over distances up to 328 feet using Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cables – and these cables could also carry power in the form of PoE (Power Over Ethernet), allowing for cost-efficient system installations with only a minimal need for electricians. To really deliver on the promises of the rapidly developing network technologies, however, fast and reliable connectivity was needed that could span even greater distances.
Today, the combination of upgraded PoE standards that allow for increased power levels and composite cables that include both copper conductors and fiber optics has revolutionized the breadth of potential system deployments while delivering higher performance and controlling installation costs.
