I have just set up a dedicated Ubuntu 9.04 Zoneminder box for home security.
Networking is through a dynamic IP which is updated using www.no-ip.com
I used a usb Webcam Pro 9000 for testing ... works great provided the images are not moving otherwise I get blurred images of people walking past. As a newbie, that is my experience perhaps different settings for this camera may work better (I have 5fps, PAL, YUYV, 649x480).
My next step is to test a better camera and have now have ordered an Axis M1011 (possibly 3 more to come if all goes well). Just noticed from the Axis website that the camera requires a PoE splitter. This PoE thing is all a bit fuzzy to me I originally thought I just had to plug it in the router.
Do I need an injector as well?
Would I need a PoE splitter for every camera or would one do for 4 cameras?
Would it go before or after a router?
I really need a basic wiring diagram to help get my mind around this.
Can anyone help or offer any suggestions?
Wiring diagram for router and PoE splitter for IP cameras
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macca_dacca
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2010 3:26 am
Do you need an injector? Yes. Either something like the Buffalo ( http://www.ciao.co.uk/Buffalo_AirStatio ... r__5819772 ) that sits between your router and the camera and sticks 48v down the line.
Or, a PoE router that puts the voltage down the line regardless. If your router does not have PoE written on it, and all or some of its ports clearly marked PoE, 99% chance it does not support it and you need an injector.
What's nice about this standard is not just that you don't need to get mains power out there (and in a commercial situation, that means an electrician and $$$) , but it won't hurt non-poe equipment.
On the camera end - yep, great if you have a camera that supports PoE (which are expensive), but if it's 5v or 12v, you can get a splitter that takes the power back out and into a normal fly lead. I use this a lot with Y-Cam's and Axis 20x's to great success.
Can't do you a diagram, but here's a list, in order.
PC ->
Cat5 ->
PoE Router OR Router and PoE Injector ->
cat5 ->
Poe Camera OR non PoE Camera AND PoE Splitter.
On connection, if you got it right, the camera's power light will turn on.
Or, a PoE router that puts the voltage down the line regardless. If your router does not have PoE written on it, and all or some of its ports clearly marked PoE, 99% chance it does not support it and you need an injector.
What's nice about this standard is not just that you don't need to get mains power out there (and in a commercial situation, that means an electrician and $$$) , but it won't hurt non-poe equipment.
On the camera end - yep, great if you have a camera that supports PoE (which are expensive), but if it's 5v or 12v, you can get a splitter that takes the power back out and into a normal fly lead. I use this a lot with Y-Cam's and Axis 20x's to great success.
Can't do you a diagram, but here's a list, in order.
PC ->
Cat5 ->
PoE Router OR Router and PoE Injector ->
cat5 ->
Poe Camera OR non PoE Camera AND PoE Splitter.
On connection, if you got it right, the camera's power light will turn on.
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macca_dacca
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2010 3:26 am
Thanks Flasheart
OK got it.
PoE IP Cam ......................................PoE injector------Router-----ZM PC
OR
Non PoE IP Cam =====PoE splitter....PoE injector------Router-----ZM PC
OR
Non PoE IP Cam --------------------------------------------Router -----ZM PC
OR
Analog Cam ----------------------------------------------analog card in ZM PC
where
---- CAT5
..... CAT5 with power
== CAT5 and separate DC power
As Flasheart mentioned a PoE injector is not needed with a PoE router.
Instead of buying a single PoE injector for every CAT5 cable one box may do several CAT5. From what I understand (and please correct me):
These boxes are sometimes called a PoE injector, midspan or a PoE HUB.
A PoE injector has one '---CAT5' for every '....CAT5' output. ??
Now here is where I am getting confused again. Is a PoE splitter the same as a midspan. As a cheaper alternative to the Axis midspan I am looking at something like this:
http:/www.megabuy.com.au/repotec-16-p-fast-et ... 44563.html
but am not too sure if the repotec box will work as a midspan. Any comments from out there?
OK got it.
PoE IP Cam ......................................PoE injector------Router-----ZM PC
OR
Non PoE IP Cam =====PoE splitter....PoE injector------Router-----ZM PC
OR
Non PoE IP Cam --------------------------------------------Router -----ZM PC
OR
Analog Cam ----------------------------------------------analog card in ZM PC
where
---- CAT5
..... CAT5 with power
== CAT5 and separate DC power
As Flasheart mentioned a PoE injector is not needed with a PoE router.
Instead of buying a single PoE injector for every CAT5 cable one box may do several CAT5. From what I understand (and please correct me):
These boxes are sometimes called a PoE injector, midspan or a PoE HUB.
A PoE injector has one '---CAT5' for every '....CAT5' output. ??
Now here is where I am getting confused again. Is a PoE splitter the same as a midspan. As a cheaper alternative to the Axis midspan I am looking at something like this:
http:/www.megabuy.com.au/repotec-16-p-fast-et ... 44563.html
but am not too sure if the repotec box will work as a midspan. Any comments from out there?
save some serious $ and built your own PoE - here's what i did:
make your own wiring:
use strands 1,2,3,6 for the network - that's enough for half duplex 100 Mb operation - still fast enough for high res IP cams (do the math and you'll see why!)
use strands 4 and 8 for the "minus" power (ground), strands 5 and 7 for "plus" (eg 12V or whatever your cam needs)
if you use the 586B wiring scheme this way the 'white' strands are positive and the single colored ones are negative -> easy to remember
use the original power supplies next to the ZM server, and route only the CAT 5 to the cams. since you use two strands for each plus and minus usually you don't have to worry about the amperage
voltage drop is below 1V for each 100 feet, that is usually no issue cause the powerbrick has a higher output than needed and the cams have their own circuit inside (opened up mine to confirm) - but since you're operating with a tiny bit lower voltage than normal there's no damage - worst case is the cam doesn't get enough and stops working
requires some soldering of course - you need to cut the power plug etc - after the first ones it took me only 5 min for each cable to splice, solder and crimp
much much cheaper since you use existing routers/hardware/power supplies
of course label your wires carefully, and check with a voltmeter before you plug anything in
make your own wiring:
use strands 1,2,3,6 for the network - that's enough for half duplex 100 Mb operation - still fast enough for high res IP cams (do the math and you'll see why!)
use strands 4 and 8 for the "minus" power (ground), strands 5 and 7 for "plus" (eg 12V or whatever your cam needs)
if you use the 586B wiring scheme this way the 'white' strands are positive and the single colored ones are negative -> easy to remember
use the original power supplies next to the ZM server, and route only the CAT 5 to the cams. since you use two strands for each plus and minus usually you don't have to worry about the amperage
voltage drop is below 1V for each 100 feet, that is usually no issue cause the powerbrick has a higher output than needed and the cams have their own circuit inside (opened up mine to confirm) - but since you're operating with a tiny bit lower voltage than normal there's no damage - worst case is the cam doesn't get enough and stops working
requires some soldering of course - you need to cut the power plug etc - after the first ones it took me only 5 min for each cable to splice, solder and crimp
much much cheaper since you use existing routers/hardware/power supplies
of course label your wires carefully, and check with a voltmeter before you plug anything in
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curtishall
- Posts: 440
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 12:45 am
- Location: Fulton, MO
Or you could use something like this:jfkastner wrote:save some serious $ and built your own PoE - here's what i did:
http://store.bluecherry.net/POE_2P_Pass ... poe-2p.htm
Example of a PoE switch; http://www.ebuyer.com/product/99755 Come in 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32 and 48 port versions, though check description as some "Poe" switches will have, say, 16 ports but only 8 of them PoE.
Sometimes find them on Ebay, but tend not to be super cheap as the bigger PoE switches are being used extensively on VOIP systems to power the phones and are in demand.
Sometimes find them on Ebay, but tend not to be super cheap as the bigger PoE switches are being used extensively on VOIP systems to power the phones and are in demand.