Subscriber Discussion

Should I Use An Inexpensive Switch As A Cable Extender?

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Feb 17, 2018

There is a small project of 1km long, we’re planning to install 20 2MP IP cameras, each 50 m distance in between.

We are planning to install a 4 port switch at every 100 m, then cascading each switch to the next one, till we reach the last one, then ending with a 8 Port Giga switch.

(NB : Fiber Optic or network cable extenders are not easy applicable for that project.)

What are the recommendations for using such edge switches solution ?

JH
Jay Hobdy
Feb 17, 2018
IPVMU Certified

We have used switches to extend the network several times. But you are looking at 20 switches, and I believe you may have some latency issues.

 

I would look at Veracity. SOme camera manufacturers such as Dahua are offering extended PoE solutions, and there are various switch manufacturers that have extended PoE solutions.

I would also consider skipping every other location. Have 1,3,5,7,9 and 10 connected. Then have 2,4,6,8,10 connected with 10 being the head end. That way the cameras are going through fewer switches. 

 

If you are running Cat5 why can't you run fiber?

 

 

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Feb 17, 2018

I am going to use only 10 switches not 20.

It may help to use gigabit switch !

The cost to use fiberoptic in that area is very costive, and is not easy to find the professional splicing tools.

PB
Peter Baayens
Feb 18, 2018

Yes - proper splicing tools are expensive but you can buy an awful of pre-terminated single mode fiber for the price of a splicing tool.  You are pulling cables anyway so there's no huge difference pulling an extra fiber cable, and it sounds like you know how long each run is already.  I order mine with hauling socks fitted so they are ready for site installation. Six cores usually suffice for these sort of jobs, using LC connectors means you can usually connect direct into a fiber port.

The only minor issue is that you need switches with fiber SFPs or ports for the fibre runs but they are cheap these days.

If you ran even just one fiber cable direct to the middle of the run rather than for each hop, you halve any latency issues and make fault finding one step easier.

I have no idea where you are installing this, but it sounds like you are installing a 1km long lightning antenna. Having a potential difference between the earthing of nearby buildings due to a strike is good enough reason to link separate buildings with fiber, but having what are essentially 100m long "lightning antennas" between switches all connected metallically in a 1000m string doesn't sound ideal unless you love changing out switches (if you are lucky just one port each end gets vaporised when struck rather than the whole switch, so you might get away with moving to spare ports a few times).    

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Feb 19, 2018

Thanks Peter for your advise, I'll take it in my consideration.

U
Undisclosed #4
Feb 19, 2018

Lightening Rod!

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MM
Michael Miller
Feb 17, 2018

That sounds like a service nightmare.   Do it right with fiber or wireless link. 

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U
Undisclosed #2
Feb 17, 2018
IPVMU Certified

We are planning to install a 4 port switch at every 100 m, then cascading each switch to the next one, till we reach the last one, then ending with a 8 Port Giga switch.

I did this, but I didn’t enjoy it ;)

Undisclosed Vs Undisclosed Ethernet Challenge - Who Will Go The Distance?

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CK
Carl Kristoffersen
Feb 17, 2018

I don't see any issues if you use quality switches.
2 cameras per switch, 10 switches, the last one having the heaviest load of all 20 cameras at less than 200Mbps.

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DR
Dennis Ruban
Feb 18, 2018

Totally agreed. Just go with unifi us-8-60w. What about getting power to those switches?

i’d think about connecting the first and last switches to use STP for redundancy.

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U
Undisclosed #2
Feb 18, 2018
IPVMU Certified

i’d think about connecting the first and last switches to use STP for redundancy.

How would you do that exactly?

Won’t they be 1 km apart?

DR
Dennis Ruban
Feb 19, 2018

Maybe wireless shot

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Feb 19, 2018

The fence is 1000 m long (in one way one direction), I'll use the fence lighting as the power source. All are supplied with one single phase.

 

NB: not possible to connect the first switch with the last one , the distance is 900 m between them.

U
Undisclosed #4
Feb 19, 2018

Unifi is not hardened.

U
Undisclosed #3
Feb 17, 2018

Can you use coax cable? You may want to look at the Cleerswitch by Phybridge/NVT. 

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U
Undisclosed #4
Feb 19, 2018

Dude, no.

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #5
Feb 20, 2018

Is there line of sight between the two points? If so, I would use a couple of Mikrotik SXT devices. You could easily span that distance for less than $150 in parts. I have one installation such as yours with three 2mp cameras that has been performing flawlessly for over 3 years. 

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #5
Feb 20, 2018

Never mind, I just reread the original post and it will take much more equipment than a couple of Mikrotiks. 

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