PoE switches has the Power over Ethernet functionality built into it. This means you can power devices using network cables.

A PoE switch provides power that can be used to run other devices via the Ethernet cabling. If your network has distributed switches, it’s also possible to get PoE pass-through switches. These are themselves powered by PoE from a central source but can also pass power on to endpoint devices such as cameras or phones.

If you have just one or two PoE devices, they can be powered using injectors. These are small devices that plug into a power source and sit between the Ethernet switch and the device to be powered. They provide power to the IEEE 802.3af standard.

Where there are lots of PoE devices, if you use VoIP phones, for example, using individual injectors becomes cumbersome and complicated. Most normal switches don’t support PoE, so you can’t use injectors to provide power before the switch.

However, there is a solution.

Most PoE switches offer a mix of both powered and non-powered ports so that they can be used in your general network.

More sophisticated models such as those offered by Netgear offer auto-sensing. This detects when a PoE device is present on a port and provides power to it, but turns it off for non-PoE devices. This ensures that you can safely connect any device to any port without the risk of causing damage to your equipment.

Finally, Cackle Telecommunications is proud to provide PoE Switches to NZ businesses. Explore our selection to find the solution that’s right for you.