Why use POE?nSpecifying Power over Ethernet brings many advantages to an installation:n
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- Time and cost savings – by reducing the time and expense of having electrical power cabling installed. Network cables do not require a qualified electrician to fit them, and can be located anywhere.nFlexibility – without being tethered to an electrical outlet, devices such as IP cameras and wireless access points can be located wherever they are needed most, and repositioned easily if required.nSafety – POE delivery is intelligent, and designed to protect network equipment from overload, underpowering, or incorrect installation.nReliability – POE power comes from a central and universally compatible source, rather than a collection of distributed wall adapters. It can be backed-up by an uninterruptible power supply, or controlled to easily disable or reset devices.nScalability – having power available on the network means that installation and distribution of network connections is simple and effective.
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nDevices that use Power over EthernetnPOE has many applications, but the three key areas are:n
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- VoIP phones – the original POE application. Using POE means phones have a single connection to a wall socket, and can be remotely powered down, just like with the older analog systems.nIP cameras – POE is now ubiquitous on networked surveillance cameras, where it enables fast deployment and easy repositioning.nWireless – Wifi and Bluetooth APs and RFID readers are commonly PoE-compatible, to allow remote location away from AC outlets, and relocation following site surveys.
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