PoE technology can deliver better connectivity, simpler and safer wiring, and streamlined operations to just about any business or industrial network. But navigating the world of Power over Ethernet can be confusing. 

Here’s what businesses like yours need to know about PoE devices and how they can improve your network operations. 

It’s a wireless world— at least that’s how it feels for most people. In cities and towns of all sizes, wherever someone goes, devices work by connecting effortlessly to a wireless network. Even when a WiFi network isn’t available, most people can use their smartphone as a hotspot that their devices can connect to.

Of course, in many remote and rural locations, this isn’t exactly the case. And even where wireless seems effortless, even magical, dig just a little deeper and there’s a whole lot of effort powering that effortless experience. It all works thanks to wireless access points connected to a wired or cellular Wide Area Network (WAN). These industrial-grade and outdoor-rated Wi-Fi access points enable “consumer connectivity,” and they also make possible a new generation of secure smart devices, such as surveillance cameras, license plate readers, and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors.

Most people don’t give a second thought to network connectivity at work. They just show up, power on their computers, and start working: the internet is omnipresent and invisible for office-dwellers and work-from-home employees.

But for many others, it’s a different conversation. Setting up stable internet can be a challenge and frustration for people who work in the field, whose work takes them to remote locations, or who need the ability to create their connectivity in seconds.

For organizations and teams where work often takes them outside the confines of the office, a rugged portable WiFi hotspot is the innovative answer to the question of how to establish network connectivity. Construction sites, remote locations, and on-the-ground emergencies.

It’s not just routers and gateways anymore: today’s businesses rely on growing fleets of connected devices to work smarter and accomplish more. However, as a business adds more and more smart devices (often across multiple locations), managing those devices effectively becomes challenging: devices crash or lock up, need firmware updates, and sometimes just need manual user input. 

Managing a handful of these types of devices isn’t so difficult, but what about dozens? Hundreds? Thousands? Also, more traditional network devices (like routers and gateways) need to be managed, too.

For many businesses, a remote management system is the right solution for managing connected devices at scale and across distances.

WiFi networks make up integral communication infrastructure for countless businesses in many
industries. As organizations grow, WiFi must expand to accommodate more users and clients. When
designing and maintaining networks, several choices may be deployed. A common choice pits a WiFi
bridge against a WiFi repeater.

Which is right for any given scenario?

The answer is found in understanding the technical differences between the two. While many WiFi
networking devices offer both functions, which is best for forward-thinking and efficiently solving
networking challenges? 

It starts with a concise breakdown of each type of technology.

Emergency vehicles utilize a variety of antennas for effective communication and operational purposes. Tucking companies use GPS to track their fleets. RV owners install mobile routers to stay connected to the Internet while traveling and camping in remote sites. Mobile connectivity is increasing as well as the proliferation of wireless devices. Selecting the best mobile antennas for your vehicle is crucial for ensuring reliability and performance.

When it comes to network management, outdoor applications present numerous challenges. It forces you to seek innovative technology in areas lacking connectivity or infrastructure. One powerful solution to poor connectivity is a rugged outdoor WiFi gateway. It connects remote WiFi devices to the Internet using the cellular network when wired Internet or access to public WiFi is unavailable. You can use them for continuous remote connectivity or short-term deployment. They are ideal for connecting WiFi-enabled devices like irrigation controllers, IoT sensors, and camera streams to the Internet.

Power over Ethernet, or PoE, is a popular Ethernet technology that transfers data and electrical power simultaneously over a single cable. Standard Ethernet can only transfer data and is ubiquitous in all networks from home, business, and data centers.

A single fiber optic cable is capable of carrying a signal for approximately 60 miles before a repeater is needed to amplify the signal. Standard Ethernet cables, though, are not nearly so efficient. In most cases, an Ethernet cable can transmit a signal about 100 meters before you run into issues. This situation is where an Ethernet extender comes into the equation.

Power over Ethernet, or PoE, has been around since the first standards were published, dating back to 1997. The technology has taken giant strides since those days.  An industrial PoE switch represents one of the easiest and most efficient ways to expand network capacity and range on demand. 

By running power through the Ethernet communication cables, you can skip laying costly power lines and significantly reduce cable management.

Antennas have various wireless applications, from vehicle fleets to control cabinets, machinery, base stations, and mobile hotspots. So, finding the best antenna for your network is critical. 

However, a high-performance antenna will only be effective if mounted correctly. Hence, it would be best to have a reliable antenna mount. 

Nowadays, many types of mounts exist, each designed for a specific need. Hence, it is essential to know about each type.

As our use of interconnected devices increases, cost and complexity rise too. If you find your equipment set up in a space that doesn’t have ample outlets or network connections, PoE (Power over Ethernet) technology may be a convenient solution. Power over Ethernet technology transmits electric power and data simultaneously over a single network cable. This helps teams to install devices in places that lack power.