Difference Between Active vs. Passive PoE

Difference Between Active vs. Passive PoE 

Power over Ethernet or PoE for short can be a new and potentially confusing term to a lot of people searching for security cameras. PoE connectivity simplifies cabling needed to connect a device by allowing power and data delivery over a single network cable such as CAT5e or CAT6. It makes it easy to connect devices such as IP security cameras, or office phones; a separate power supply or electrical outlet for each device is not needed. However, it is important to know the nuances about PoE equipment to avoid damaging your equipment. There are two types of PoE connections - active and passive. While one may think active is with power and passive is without power, that's not correct.

Active Power over Ethernet (PoE) uses an automatic negotiation handshake to safely deliver dynamic power levels based on device requirements, whereas passive PoE sends a constant, fixed voltage without any communication or safety check.

Active PoE

802.3af/at Compliant PoE - Good for IP cameras

Active PoE means that a device is rated to be 802.3af or 802.3at compliant. These are regulated specifications that require a device and power supply to do a “handshake” or verification. The PoE power supply tests the connection to the device and ensures that the power is compatible. If it isn’t, then the device simply will not power up, preventing any potential damage.

Active PoE Standards (IEEE 802.3)

The IEEE defines several Active PoE standards that determine how much power can safely be delivered.

Standard	Name	Max Power	Voltage Range
802.3af	PoE	Up to 15.5W	44–57V DC
802.3at	PoE+	Up to 30W	50–57V DC
802.3bt	PoE++	60–90W	52–57V DC

Passive PoE

Raw unnegotiated power - Bad for IP cameras

Passive PoE refers to any device that does not follow the 802.3af or 802.3at specifications. Passive PoE does not do any sort of power check so it simply supplies power regardless of what it is plugged into. This can damage any equipment not rated to accept the passive PoE power input. It is extremely important to understand the requirements and specifications of your equipment before plugging anything in.

Unfortunately, we see it too often that a customer damages their newly purchased IP security cameras when using a PoE switch such as a Unifi Switch that can output Passive PoE Power. If you choose to use your own PoE switch, we recommend use of reputable manufacturers such as Cisco, Netgear, or TP-Link that manufacture 802.3af/at compliant PoE hardware.

Calculating Passive PoE Power

If a device requires 12W and supports 12–30V, and you are using a 24V Passive PoE injector, you will need at least 0.5A to meet the power requirement:

24V x 0.5A = 12W.

Practical Limits for Passive PoE

·        24V Systems: Typically limited to about 50 metres due to higher voltage drop at lower voltages.

·        48V Systems: More efficient for longer runs, as higher voltage reduces the current needed for the same power, thereby minimizing heat loss (I²R).

·        Wiring: Passive PoE often uses Mode B, sending power over the "spare" pairs: pins 4/5 (+) and pins 7/8 (-)

Now question is How to access a PoE Security Camera from a Computer

We’re often asked how to modify an IP camera’s video settings once you already have it up and running on your NVR. This process can be difficult without any knowledge of computer networking or setting up a standalone IP camera. In this article we explain the technical details of taking a camera from the back of your NVR and connecting to it with either a direct connection or through your network.

The first steps include understanding how a camera and PoE NVR work together, noting the IP address the camera is configured to and finally physically removing the camera from the NVR.

After having a grasp on the basics and noting the IP address of your camera you can then proceed to the next steps. There are two ways that you can connect to a camera’s web interface:

·       The first is through a direct connection into your Windows desktop or laptop that has an ethernet port.

·       The second involves going over your computer network by configuring the camera to communicate on the network.

Be sure to note the IP address of the camera before disconnecting it from the NVR, you will need it later.

A) Direct connection between IP camera and Computer

The easiest way to access an IP camera is by connecting to it directly from a computer. This method requires you have the following:

1.   The IP address of your camera from the NVR registration page

2.   PoE Injector or 12VDC 1A Power Adapter. It is very important to use a CCTV Camera World approved device or you risk frying the camera due to incorrect voltage

3.   Two Ethernet cables (one if using a power adapter)

4.   Windows 11 pro based PC

1. Use a PoE injector to supply power and data

A PoE injector will have two ports, one labeled for PoE or P+D/Out (power and data) and one labeled LAN or Data/In. Connect the PoE injector to a power outlet. Connect an ethernet cable from your PC's network port to the Data/In on the PoE injector. Connect a second ethernet cable from the network camera's RJ45 network jack to the port labeled PoE or P+D/Out. To check if everything is connected properly refer to the lights on the PoE injector and the port on your computer. If you do not see any indication lights you may have a bad cable or do not have the wires connected properly.

2. Use a 12VDC 1A power adapter

A correct power adapter will have a label stating it is 12VDC 1000mA. Connect an ethernet cable from the camera directly to your computer’s ethernet port. A good way to check if the camera is receiving power and communicating with your computer is to look at the lights on your computer’s port. If you have no lights it is important to test that your cable and power supply work with another device.

3. Configure your PC's network port to communicate with the camera

For your computer to "speak" to your camera, you need to set its network port to the same IP address scheme as the camera. Before we disconnected the camera from the back of the NVR, we noted what the IP address of the camera was.

Login to your Windows PC, change your computer's ethernet adapter to communicate with the camera. Use the Network & Internet settings which contains an Ethernet section. Using the change adapter settings set an IP address for your computer that matches the network for the camera. If you do not know how to do this refer to the video above for this step.

4. Test the connection with the Ping command

After powering the camera and configuring your computer to talk with it, it is good practice to test the connection using the Ping command. Simply open the Command Prompt and type Ping with the address of the camera. In our case we used the following command: ping 10.1.1.65 -t press enter key.

5. Access the camera using Internet Explorer

It is important to use Internet Explorer as it is the most compatible browser for accessing security cameras. Type the IP address of your camera into the address bar in Internet Explorer. Some cameras may require initialization and it is recommended to uncheck the Easy4IP and auto-update options when proceeding through the prompts. The password can be admin, or may be printed on the label found on the box of the camera. Note: the customer is responsible for any password change beyond the defaults. There is no master reset password.

After successfully logging into the camera you need to install a plugin to view the camera. Click the link in the center of the page to download the plugin. Make sure to Run and do not save the plugin download. Internet Explorer will prompt you to allow the plugin to run. Once the plugin is installed, you will be required to log back into the camera. You should now see video from your camera and can modify the settings of the camera in the Setting tab within your browser. Make sure when you are done modifying your camera(s) that you change your network settings back to “Obtain IP address automatically” in your network settings, this is demonstrated in the video above.

B) Accessing the camera over your network

Besides direct connection to a computer, the other method to connect to a PoE security camera is over the network. This method requires the following pre-requisites:

1.   A home or business network with router

2.   Windows PC with ConfigTool installed

3.   PoE Injector or 12VDC 1A power adapter

4.   A network cable to connect to your router

5.   The IP address of your camera

1. Power the camera

You can use a PoE injector or 12V DC 1amp power adapter to power the camera and connect to your network router or switch. The process is simple. It is very important to use a CCTV Camera World approved device or you risk frying the camera due to incorrect voltage.

2. Connect the camera to your network router

Instead of connecting the camera directly to your computer, you will connect it to your network router so the computer can communicate with the camera over the network. When following this guide, it is important to connect the camera and computer to the same router or switch. We suggest using a hardwired connection between the computer and the router to prevent a situation where your WiFi network is different from the wired network. If you are knowledgeable about your network setup, feel free to use a WiFi laptop.

3. Use the ConfigTool to find the camera and change its IP address

Using the ConfigTool to find the camera on your network is fairly easy. It is imperative that you turn off any firewall or antivirus program on your computer that may prevent the program from sniffing your network.

4. Access the camera's web interface using Internet Explorer

The steps are similar to method A because the web interface will be the same regardless of how you connect to the camera.

Method for Identifying a PoE Power Supply Failure Caused by High Network Cable Resistance

If network cables can be removed from the switch at the local site, use below method to measure the resistance.

·        Measurement tool: Multimeter

·        Measurement contents and procedure: Use the multimeter to measure the DC resistance of each cable wire and take down the measured values as R1, R2,…R8.

·        Measurement results:

Network cable resistance:

R = (R1 + R2 + R3 + R6)/4 (when the switch uses the wires 1, 2, 3, and 6 to supply power.)

Or:

R = (R4 + R5 + R7 + R8)/4 (when the switch uses the wires 4, 5, 7, and 8 to supply power.)

Usually, the AC and PoE switch use wires 1, 2, 3, and 6 for power supply, and the PoE adapter uses wires 4, 5, 7, and 8 for power supply.

Key Takeaways

The primary difference between Active and Passive Power over Ethernet (PoE) is how they deliver power: Active PoE communicates with a device to ensure it is safe to power, while Passive PoE sends electricity immediately without checking compatibility.

Active PoE (The "Smart" Choice)

Active PoE is the industry standard for most modern business networks.

·        Intelligent Handshake: The power source (PSE) sends a low-voltage signal to detect if the connected device is PoE-compatible and determines exactly how much power it needs.

·        Protection: If you plug in a laptop or a non-PoE device, the switch detects it and sends only data, preventing electrical damage.

·        Common Standards:

o   PoE (802.3af): Up to 15.4W per port.

o   PoE+ (802.3at): Up to 30W per port.

o   PoE++ (802.3bt): Up to 60W or 100W for high-power devices.

Passive PoE (The "Always-On" Choice)

Passive PoE is common in specific setups like outdoor wireless bridges or legacy equipment.

·        No Communication: It does not check the device's needs; it simply pushes a fixed voltage over specific pins in the Ethernet cable.

·        High Risk: If you plug a device into a passive port that doesn't match its required voltage (e.g., 48V into a 24V device), it can cause permanent electrical failure.

·        Manual Matching: You must manually verify that your injector or switch matches the exact voltage and pinout required by your device.

Which should you choose?

·        Choose Active PoE for almost all standard office or home office uses (IP cameras, VoIP phones, modern Access Points) to ensure safety and future-proofing.

·        Choose Passive PoE only if you have specific legacy hardware or budget-constrained outdoor installations where you are certain the power specs match perfectly

How to Find Your Model's Requirements

1.   Check the Physical Label: Look for a sticker on the back or bottom of the device. It will often list "802.3af," "802.3at," or a specific voltage like "24V DC".

2.   Consult the Datasheet: Search for your model number + "technical specs" online. Look specifically for the "Power Method" field.

3.   Check the Box: If you still have the original packaging, the required PoE standard is usually printed on the side near the serial number.

 

Gaming PC with Home Video Surveillance

 How to Integrate Your Gaming PC with Home Surveillance CCTV

Suppose you are deep into your gaming zone with headphones on. The sound of a knock on the door or someone breaking into your home is impossible to hear. Well, you need a home surveillance CCTV system. Simply install and incorporate  cameras into your existing gaming PC setup to make your home secure.

Protecting your gaming setup and improving alertness about the surroundings can put a lot of gamers’ minds at ease. Gaming is a strict business. You must put in skill and concentration to take your game account to new heights.

A simple task such as ordering a pizza can engage your mind in constantly hearing the doorbell or ringing phone.  A gamer can easily avoid constant loss of concentration through overlay video of a  camera. To learn more about integrating your gaming PC with CCTV, read on!

Integrating Gaming PC with CCTV

Let’s start with the basics. We will use an offline setup for gamers to emphasize the concept of a closed-circuit system. In addition, we will mention methods gamers can use to broadcast their camera feed to the internet. It will make it accessible from anywhere in the world. To start the integration process, you will need a set of items. Let’s move step-by-step:

Step 1: Choose the Right CCTV Cameras

CCTV cameras come in various shapes, sizes, and technical capabilities. We typically recommend an IP CCTV camera for gamers in a home configuration. It will provide a crisp video with details ideal for a small-scale setup. There are wireless versions of IP CCTV cameras, but they are prone to interference, which can cause stuttering video or audio. In a surveillance setup, having a wired connection alongside an on-camera SD card recording is the best option.

Connecting an IP CCTV camera with the internet and offline setup is easy. They can provide up to 4K resolution depending on the requirement. Furthermore, users can opt for a camera with a microphone to receive live audio. They only need a RJ45 ethernet connection for data and a power source. However, you will not need two cables running throughout the house for the camera. A single RJ45 cable will suffice. We will explain how to achieve that in the next step.

Step 2: Collecting Necessary CCTV Surveillance Items

After you decide which camera is best for your setup, we can move on to the other items. Here is a list of things for a home surveillance CCTV setup:

·        Cameras: The number of cameras will depend on the number of places you want to perform surveillance. It will serve as a basis for the items next in line.

·        PoE Switch: After deciding the number of cameras, you need a PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch. It will serve as the basis for providing power and transmitting your video to the gaming PC. Usually, people set it up near the computer, and its ports should equal the number of cameras plus one port for computer/router connection.

·        PoE Injector and Splitter: A typical IP CCTV camera requires coaxial power and network cable. A PoE injector and splitter will convert a simple ethernet cable to a coaxial power cable and data transmitting connection. Just ensure that they are IEEE 802.3at/aft compatible.

·        Ethernet Cable: The whole system communicates using the ethernet cable. Calculate the distance between the camera and the PoE switch after routing. There are various categories of ethernet cable available. Their price depends on the quality. We recommend using a Cat5e for its price/performance ratio. Anything above the Cat5e grade is also compatible.

**Note: A typical setup will have a line running underneath the carpet alongside the edges of the wall. Make sure to take proper measurements.

·        Router: You will need a router to connect the complete setup to the internet and ensure your PC remains connected. If you are an online gamer, then you own one. We will explain how to connect all the pieces and make them start working.

Step 3: Camera Placement

Strategically placing your  camera is essential. Ensure it is not easily accessible, and you can route the wire hidden away from eyesight. Following are some of the areas where you can place your camera for surveillance:

·        Front Door Entrance

·        Back Door Entrance

·        Vulnerable Windows

·        Garage

·        Drive Way

·        Hallway

·        Common Rooms

The areas might not relate to your setup, but be sure to cover maximum entrances. Observe where you can mount the camera for complete and precise coverage.

Step 4: Complete the CCTV Setup

Let’s start connecting all the puzzles. Before we mount the camera in their respective location, check connections and equipment healthiness by performing a test. Complete the following process to complete your CCTC setup.

1.   Connect your PoE switch to the power outlet and ensure the lights are on.

2.   Now connect the ethernet cable in one of the ports of the PoE switch and connect the other end to a PoE injector and splitter.

3.   Now take a camera and connect its wires with the PoE injector and splitter. Your camera will now have power.

4.   Take a new ethernet cable, insert it into one of the ports on the PoE switch, and connect the other end with the computer router. Make sure you plug in your gaming PC to the same router.

5.   Download and install the  software from the camera manufacturer’s website. Follow the instruction to access your camera live feed.

6.   You have successfully tested your equipment if you can see the live feed.

7.   As the last step, install your CCTV cameras at their designated location, route the cable, and complete the setup.

Step 5: Start Monitoring CCTV with Gaming PC

Now that you have connected all your equipment let’s obtain the live video feed from your cameras and place an overlay on your favorite game. You will need a decent graphics card and Windows or MacOS computer.

1.   We will be using the VLC media player. Download and install the latest version. It is free to use.

2.   You will be accessing the camera through its IP address. It is usually written and provided by the manufacturer. Check the website or instruction manual.

3.   Start VLC media player.

4.   Navigate to Media > Open Network Stream

5.   Now type the address to your camera with the following settings

rtsp://admin:a1B2c4@192.168.1.5

·        Note that in the address given above, the camera username is (admin), the password is (a1B2c4), and the IP address is (192.168.1.5). Everything else will remain the same.

·        After you enter, you will start streaming your IP CCTV camera.

·        Now, right-click on the live stream, navigate to view, and always click on top.

·        Right-click on the live stream and navigate to view. Now click minimal interface.

·        Now you will have a constant stream on top of all your games.

Note: To view your surveillance streams live from anywhere around the world. Follow the camera manufacturer’s guidelines to enable the online setup. The process is easy to follow once you connect the PC to the internet router.

Conclusion:

There are tons of benefits of having a live stream over your gaming sessions. It improves spatial awareness and helps gamers concentrate on their gaming ventures. The gaming industry has reached a whopping $385 billion and still growing. It is logical to find your share within the broad field. A home surveillance CCTV can provide the comfort of security for gamers. What better than having a live view of your surroundings while gaming?

The process is easy, and anyone with a basic knowledge of computers can put a system together. To save time, you can order a pre-configured setup from an online website to immediately set up your surveillance. At last, we hope you find value in our article. So set up your watch and get gaming!

Difference between Hub and Switch

Difference between Hub and Switch 

Network devices, or networking hardware, are physical devices that are required for communication and interaction between hardware on a TCP/IP network.

Here is the common network device list:

·        Hub

·        Switch

·        Router

·        Bridge

·        Gateway

·        Modem

·        Repeater

·        Access Point

In 2006 The Network Hub is invented at Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. A hub is a device that connects multiple Ethernet devices on one network and makes them act together as a single network. A hub does not gather information and input in one port results as an output in all ports on the network. A switch is a networking device that performs the same job as the hub but are considered as a more intelligent hub as it gathers information about the data packets it receives and forwards it to only the network that it was intended for. A Hub is a layer-1 device and operates only in the physical network of the OSI Model.

Hubs and switches are devices that are used in data networking on the internet. These devices are used in order to connect two or more networking ports in order to transfer data along the connection. Though the primary job of hubs and switches are the same, to forward data to different networks, they work in different ways.

A hub, also known as Ethernet hub, active hub, network hub, repeater hub or multiport repeater, is a device that connects multiple Ethernet devices on one network and makes them act together as a single network. A hub has multiple input/output (I/O) ports, in which an input in one port results in it being an output in all the other ports, except the port where it was input. In layman’s terms, a hub connects many networks into one, where a data packet that is sent by one networks, is copied and pasted to all network ports, making it so that every port can see that data packet. A hub works on the physical layer or layer 1 of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model. It also works as a data collision detector, sending a jamming signal to all ports if it detects collisions at one port.

It is a simple device that does not examine the data it receives or sends, while just duplicating the data and making it visible for all. The receiving port that has to decide if the data packet is actually intended for it by checking the address on the packet, before passing it on further. Since hubs only have one collision domain, constant collisions occur. Unnecessary traffic is sent to all devices on the network. Originally hubs were popular due to the high price of switches, but switches are not so expensive these days. Hubs are slowly becoming obsolete in many practices, but are still used in special circumstances.

A switch is a networking device that performs the same job as the hub; it connects network segments or devices making them act as a single network. Switches are commonly referred to as a multi-port network bridge that process and routes data on a data link layer or layer of the OSI model. Switches can also process data at the network layer (layer 3) or higher layers and are known as multilayer switches.

Switches are considered as a more intelligent hub as it gathers information about the data packets it receives and forwards it to only the network that it was intended for. When a switch receives a data packet, it examines the data address, the sender and the receiver and stores the memory, after which it then sends the data to the device that the data is meant for.

Most modern Ethernet Local Area Networks (LANs) operate on switches. Small offices and residential devices commonly use single layer switch, while bigger applications require multilayer switches. The switches use a bridge or a router in order to split a larger collision domain to smaller collision domains, resulting in lesser collisions.  Each port has an individual collision domain, allowing computers to maintain dedicated bandwidth.

	Hub	Switch
Definition	A hub is a connection point for different segments of a LAN. It contains multiple ports and when it receives a packet of information at one port, it copies this packet to all segments of the LAN so that it can be viewed by all ports.	A switch is multi-port networking device that connects network devices together. A switch operates at the data link layer (layer 2) of the OSI model. A switch filters and then forwards data packets between networks.
Layer	Physical Layer (Layer 1)	Data Link Layer (Layer 2)
Spanning-Tree	No Spanning-Tree	It allows many Spanning-Trees to take place.
Type of Transmission	Broadcast	Broadcast, Uni-cast & Multicast.
Table	No MAC table. Hubs cannot learn MAC address.	Stores MAC address and maintains address.
Used in	LAN (Local Area Networks)	LAN (Local Area Networks)
No of Ports	4	24-48 depending on type of switch.
Collision	Occurs	No collision occurs
Collision Domain	One collision domain	Every port has its own collision domain.
Transmission Mode	Half duplex	Full duplex

Types of Hub

There are three types of the hub that are given below:

1.  Passive Hub

2.  Active Hub

3.  Intelligent Hub

Passive Hub: The passive hubs are the connection point for wires that helps to make the physical network. It is capable of determining the bugs and faulty hardware. Simply, it accepts the packet over a port and circulates it to all ports. It includes connectors (10base-2 port and RJ-45) that can be applied as a standard in your network. This connector is connected to all local area network (LAN) devices. Additionally, the advanced passive hubs have AUI ports, which are connected as the transceiver according to the network design.

Active Hub: As compared to a passive hub, it includes some additional features. It is able to monitor the data sent to the connected devices. It plays an important role between the connected devices with the help of store technology, where it checks the data to be sent and decides which packet to send first.

It has the ability to fix the damaged packets when packets are sending, and also able to hold the direction of the rest of the packets and distribute them. If a port receives a weak signal, but still it is readable, then the active hub reconstructs the weak signal into a stronger signal before its sending to other ports. It can boost the signal if any connecting device is not working in the network. Therefore, it helps to make the continuity of services in LAN.

Intelligent Hub: It is a little smarter than passive and active hubs. These hubs have some kinds of management software that help to analyze the problem in the network and resolve them. It is beneficial to expend the business in networking; the management can assign users that help to work more quickly and share a common pool efficiently by using intelligent hubs. However, it offers better performance for the local area network. Furthermore, with any physical device, if any problem is detected, it is able to detect this problem easily.

The important applications of a hub are given below:

·        Hub is used to create small home networks.

·        It is used for network monitoring.

·        They are also used in organizations to provide connectivity.

·        It can be used to create a device that is available thought out of the network.

Advantages of Hub

1. It provides support for different types of Network Media.

2.  It can be used by anyone as it is very cheap.

3.  It can easily connect many different media types.

4.  The use of a hub does not impact on the network performance.

5.  Additionally, it can expand the total distance of the network.

Disadvantages of Hub

1. It has no ability to choose the best path of the network.

2.  It does not include mechanisms such as collision detection.

3.  It does not operate in full-duplex mode and cannot be divided into the Segment.

4.  It cannot reduce the network traffic as it has no mechanism.

5.  It is not able to filter the information as it transmits packets to all the connected segments.

6.  Furthermore, it is not capable of connecting various network architectures like a ring, token, and ethernet, and more.