What is the transmission distance of PoE?
Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology allows both data and power to be delivered concurrently through standard Ethernet cables. Generally, the transmission range for PoE is limited to 100 meters (330 feet) when using Cat5e or Cat6 cables. This limitation arises because Ethernet signals weaken over distance, with 100 meters being the maximum effective range for reliable transmission.
Are there some methods to extend PoE transmission over 100 meters? Here are the solutions.
1.Enable PoE Extend mode
2.Use PoE Extenders
Also known as PoE repeater, PoE Extenders receives data and power from the source (such as a PoE switch or injector) and actively boosts the signal to ensure it can travel further without degradation.
Unlike PoE Extend mode, which reduces bandwidth to 10 Mbps, active PoE extenders can maintain bandwidth levels of 100 Mbps or even 1,000 Mbps.
A single PoE extender typically adds an additional 100 meters (330 feet) to the transmission range. Multiple extenders can sometimes be daisy-chained, allowing for even greater distances, though the number of extenders that can be used depends on the total power budget and device requirements.
Please note that the extender consumes some of the power it receives to operate itself, only the remaining power will be passed to the next device.
For a scenario with 2 levels of PoE extender cascade deployment, the max transmission distance is 300 meters (990ft).
3.PoE UltraReach Technology
The PoE Extend mode or an active PoE Extender allows a maximum PoE transmission distance of up to 300 meters. But can PoE be transmitted over even longer distances?
The answer is yes. A cutting-edge long-reach PoE technology, known as UltraReach PoE, surpasses this limitation.
It requires a transmitter and a receiver and works in paired mode. It utilizes proprietary signal modulation technology between the transmitter and receiver, enabling PoE and high-speed data transmission over distances of up to 1,000 meters (3,300 feet).
Another remarkable feature of this technology is its ability to transmit PoE power and data across various cable types, including coaxial cables, 2-pin twisted pair cables, and UTP network cables.
(1) UltraReach PoE over Coax
A coaxial cable is a type of electrical cable used for transmitting signals, commonly found in television and analog CCTV camera systems. It consists of a central conductor for carrying the signal, surrounded by an insulating layer, a shielding layer to reduce interference, and an outer protective jacket.
UltraReach PoE over Coax technology is super useful to upgrade analog coaxial camera system to IP surveillance system without replacing coaxial cables, and enjoy max. 1,000 meters transmission.
(2) UltraReach PoE over 2-pin Twisted Pair Cable
A 2-pin twisted pair cable is a type of cable consisting of two insulated copper wires twisted together to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) and crosstalk from nearby cables or devices. It is commonly used in telecommunications and elevator signal transmsision.
(3) UltraReach PoE over UTP Cable
UTP cable, or Unshielded Twisted Pair cable, is a type of copper cable used for networking that is made up of two or four pairs of twisted wires. The most common UTP cable is Cat5E or Cat6 network cable.
UltraReach PoE technology can transmit PoE power and data over 2,600ft over regular Cat5E or Cat6 cables.
Conclusion
The standard PoE transmission distance is typically 100 meters. The built-in PoE Extend mode in PoE switch can extend PoE transmission to max. 250 meters with reduced bandwidth of 10Mbps. PoE Extender is used to actively extend PoE distance at extra 100 meters without reducing bandwidth. The max distance can be 300 meters in two levels of cascade deployment. Long reach PoE or UltraReach PoE is the most powerful solution in the market to extend PoE transmission to max. 1,000 meters.
Please refer to the table below for the PoE transmission comparison between different technologies.
| Regular PoE Switch | Extend Mode | PoE Extender | UltraReach PoE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission distance | 100 meters (330ft) | 250 meters (820ft) | 300 meters (990ft) | 1,000 meters (3,300ft) |
| Bandwidth | 10M/100/1000Mbps | 10Mbps | 10M/100M/1000Mbps | 100Mbps (<300 meters) 10Mbps (>300 meters) |
| Cable Medium | Cat5e/Cat6/Cat7 network cable | Cat5e/Cat6/Cat7 network cable | Cat5e/Cat6/Cat7 network cable | Cat5e/Cat6/Cat7 network cable Coaxial cable Twisted pair cable Power line |
| Hardware required | / | / | PoE Extender (single or cascade) | One Transmitter and one Receiver |
| Recommended products |
POE-SW304G POE-SW308G POE-SW324 POE-SW508G POE-SWR608G |
POE-SW304G POE-SW308G POE-SW324 |
POE-Extender02 POE-EXT04 POE-EXT9004G POE-EXT6002GP |
EOC-Converter (PoE over coax or twisted pair) POE-EXT3001LP (PoE over UTP) |