Surveillance Cameras

Check the power budget required by each camera; this will tell you the minimum PoE budget required for each port on the switch. When looking at corresponding PoE switches, it is vital to understand the difference between PoE and PoE+ and how it will affect your overall installation.

PoE (802.3af) is the original standard and offers 15.4W of power to the Ethernet port which equates to 12.95W that can be delivered up to 100 meters from the switch.

PoE+ (802.3at) almost doubles the available budget, providing 30W of power to the Ethernet port, of which 25.5W can be delivered up to 100 meters from the switch.

In other words, PoE+ enables you to pick cameras with a higher power budget and future proof your network with the latest backwards compatible power over Ethernet standards.

Check whether your chosen IP Camera is PoE or PoE+ compatible. A PoE+ compatible device requires a PoE+ switch to operate correctly. It is also essential to check the power budget needed for each device and ensure the corresponding switch has sufficient PoE budget per port.

With sensitive solutions like security, there is no room for downtime, which makes your PoE switch mission-critical. Unless you have the budget and space to hold switches in stock in case of failure, look for brands that offer extensive local pre and post-sales support. With a well-established operation in the UK, TP-Link provides a Limited Lifetime warranty on its entire business range, so you benefit from rapid replacements.