Outdoor Ethernet Switch

[Donald]

Looking for recommendations/experience with outdoor network switches that are waterproof.

Must handle POE++ so 90W, have 4 output POE ports. Or different models with 2 or 3 or 4 ports.

I would like them to be Unifi managed switches and I have a few Unifi Flex switches but they just don't handle the power.

 

[ka9mnx]

Waterproof outdoor enclosures are the only thing I would trust,

 

[Donald]

Waterproof outdoor enclosures are the only thing I would trust,

There are some waterproof enclosures and others that are waterproof and you carefully put each cable through a waterproof connector screwed into the switch.

 

[ka9mnx]

I was thinking of something like this!

https://www.amazon.com/Weather-Encl...sprefix=outdoor+waterproof+en,aps,205&sr=8-43

 

[Pew]

You can try the ubiquiti flex as a layer 2, but you will need to purchase the power brick separately for poe++.

Mikrotik has a few outdoor poe+ switches but I do not believe they provide poe++ if all the ports are taken. They come installed with their SwitchOS which is layer 2.5 and the more expensive products can do layer 3 and routing efficiently when you switch to their RouterOS.

 

[Rand]

Must handle POE++ so 90W, have 4 output POE ports. Or different models with 2 or 3 or 4 ports.

can we get more details. POE++ out? ,In , both? poe++ can be 60 or 90 watts.
60 ?90w total? per port ?!

powered by poe?

and in general more details = better responses..
so maybe a few sentences of background?

 

[Donald]

can we get more details. POE++ out? ,In , both? poe++ can be 60 or 90 watts.
60 ?90w total? per port ?!

powered by poe?

and in general more details = better responses..
so maybe a few sentences of background?

Well the entire network is Unifi. That won't change.

This section is 4 telephone poles about 125' apart I think. One run of CAT6 cable running to the first pole. First pole will be 2 cameras and 1 access point. The next 3 poles will only have access points. The access points take 10 watts, maybe a little more. The cameras take 4 watts maybe a little more.

Only power will come from the initial run of CAT6 going to the first pole. I can put in a 90W POE injector if needed. I think I have a 45 or 60 watt now.

I know I will need a switch on poles 2 or 3 or both. Switch takes maybe 5 watts.

Prefer not to run more than one CAT6 cable between any 2 poles but I could.

 

[Rand]

with that length of run even a 90w would have 70w available after a few hundred feet.
I'd also be worried about ESD with that long an antenna outdoors.



600ft of cat6 with 4 switches, 2 cameras and 4 waps.. That is abit much it needs a redesign IMO.
is there any way to get a poe injector powered somewhere on the run?

Cat 6 is usually 23gauge.

 

[Donald]

with that length of run even a 90w would have 70w available after a few hundred feet.
I'd also be worried about ESD with that long an antenna outdoors.



600ft of cat6 with 4 switches, 2 cameras and 4 waps.. That is abit much it needs a redesign IMO.
is there any way to get a poe injector powered somewhere on the run?

Cat 6 is usually 23gauge.

This is 23 gauge pure copper. The problem has always been there is no power always along this run.

I think I can do it with only 2 switches. There are various Unifi WIFI 7 access points. Some require more power than others. I may have to go with WIFI 7 access points that are a step or two back from the best outdoor ones.

 

[Rand]

right but at 300ft cat 6 is losing 20% of the wattage to heat along the wire.(or at least that is what my research says)

Are there no lights on these poles or anything?

 

[Donald]

I am looking at this switch. Maybe stay away from MokerLink. Not so good reviews.

 

[mk378]

Run 48 volts on two-conductor low voltage wire between the poles. 14 gauge should be sufficient but that needs to be backed with an exact calculation. Since the cat 6 is now only carrying data, you could consider using fiber.

 

[Donald]

I swapped my Unifi Flew switch for a waterproof unmanaged switch that will handle 60W in and each out at 30W. I put it in an outdoor network enclosure.

The issue is the outdoor enclosure has all wires entering from the bottom. And the waterproof switch has the input on one end and outputs on other. And the CAT6 is heavy duty solid outdoor cable. Not very flexible and a bend is needed.

The Unifi Flex switch has all cables entering on the bottom.

I am thinking to add some outdoor surge protectors and run the outdoor solid wire into them and then stranded outdoor cable to the switch.