How To Fit CCTV Right
#479
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Can I use one cable for several IP cameras?
A
Absolutely. You can power them this way too.
You may often have a number of cameras close together, covering different angles.
Why spend time and money running one cable for each camera back to your NVR recorder when you don't have to?
Instead use a network switch close to the cameras and run short cables from each camera to it. Then a single long cable from the switch to your NVR carries all the cameras' data.
We always recommend opting for a quality PoE switch – for example System Q's ScatterBox range – for an easier installation.
8MP (4K) cameras use around 16Mbps per camera. So it doesn't take many to overwhelm a 100Mbps switch.
Therefore, paying a little extra extra for a gigabit (1000Mbps) switch is usually a good idea.
Your PoE switch is powered with a mains plug.
The attached cameras are then powered by the switch via the network lead – hence 'Power of Ethernet'.
Here’s how it to connect it all together:
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Each camera is connected to one of the switch's downlink ports. This provides power and allows data (video, audio, commands) to be sent to and from them.
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A single cable from the switch's uplink port runs back to the WAN socket of your NVR - or a downlink port on a second switch.
Why a second switch?
A second switch closer to your recorder is vital to remotely view your NVR using the mobile app.
In this case your router is also connected to one of the downlink ports on the second switch. And one of the switch’s uplink ports is then connected to the NVR’s WAN socket.
Sometimes there may not be power - or easily accessible power - where the cameras are to be installed.
A PoE switch and extender is basically a PoE switch which is itself powered via PoE
- usually from a PoE switch or, if close to it, direct from the NVR.
Being so useful, many installers “keep one on the van”.
Here’s how it works:
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Each camera is connected to one of the PoE outputs on the PoE extender. This provides power and allows data (video, audio, commands) to be sent to and from them.
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A single cable from the PoE input on the PoE extender runs to a downlink port on a PoE switch near the recorder. The PoE extender draws its power from here and passes it on to the connected cameras.
If you want to remotely view your NVR using the mobile app, you also connect your router to one of the downlink ports on the switch. One of the switch’s uplink ports is then connected to the NVR’s WAN socket.
Things to Note!
- PoE cable runs are limited to 100m maximum.
- Some PoE switches have “VLAN” or “LAN Boost” which extends the maximum PoE cable run to 250m. However, the bandwidth reduces to 10Mbps per port - not enough for 5MP or 8MP (4K) cameras.
- To avoid problems, network engineers don’t recommend having any more than two levels of switches or extenders in the network. For CCTV you could have a switch (1 level) connected to an NVR. Then additional switches and extenders connected to this switch (level 2). But do not connect further switches or extenders into these.
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