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PoE stands for power over Ethernet. PoE is a system used for carrying electric power and data over copper Ethernet cabling—meaning just one cable is needed per camera. If you have hundreds or thousands of cameras, PoE can help reduce the complexity of installation and allow for more flexible camera placement since there is no need for separate power cords or outlets.
The security cameras receiving power from PoE technology are internet protocol (IP) cameras. These digital video cameras send and receive data over the internet, like a webcam. But, unlike basic webcams, IP cameras have standalone IP addresses. You connect them to networks like you would computers and printers.
Not every IP camera is a PoE camera. Some IP cameras need to be plugged into wall outlets. PoE only describes how certain IP cameras receive power.
PoE camera systems only need a few things to get up and running: PoE cameras, a PoE NVR, Ethernet cables, such as Cat 5 or Cat 6, and a network PoE switch. In analog camera setups, the cameras transmit video, and the DVR encodes and processes the video for viewing. IP cameras are the opposite. Instead, they do the heavy-lifting by processing images and then streaming it to the NVR, where it’s stored or viewed elsewhere.
Simply connect a camera to an on-premise network PoE switch with an Ethernet cable, and plug the NVR into a network switch. Network switches come with multiple PoE ports, enabling you to set up and power four or more cameras from one device. PoE camera systems reduce cabling and streamline operations.
To view video footage, you have several options. For example, you can connect a monitor directly to an on-premise NVR using a VGA or HDMI cable and a mouse via a USB port. Or, for remote viewing, you need to connect your NVR to the internet via a network router. Many of today’s NVRs also have WiFi support built-in, so you can easily connect the NVR to your existing WiFi network.
If you have a cloud-based NVR (also sometimes called a network gateway), you can connect multiple cameras to a PoE switch or injector to distribute power and network connections. Then, you activate and connect your cameras and gateway through cloud-based software. Using viewing software, video management software (VMS), or mobile apps on Apple or Android devices, you can access and stream video feeds from anywhere.