* IMC Networks’ media converter connects PoE and fiber optics
Media converter vendor IMC Networks recently unveiled converters that pair fiber optics with Power over Ethernet.
Normally, of course, you wouldn’t be able to power anything over fiber-optic lines, since they use light to transmit signals, not electricity. But introducing a fiber-to-copper media converter in the midst allows you to take the data signal from a fiber line, transfer it to a copper cable and add a power source.
That’s just what IMC has done. The new converters conform to the IEEE 802.3af PoE standard to supply power on the UTP end of a fiber-to-UTP media converter.
The advantage of PoE is that you only have to run one cable to a networked device. No need to run a separate Category-5 cable and power cord. While PoE is often touted for IP phones, in this case the device at the end of the line is more likely to be a remote security camera or a wireless access point.
With the converter, devices can be located up to 40 kilometers away. Speeds of up to 100M bit/sec are supported.
The new PSE-McBasic is available in two general models – the basic model is for “regular” LAN use, while the PSE-XT-McBasic can handle extended temperature ranges, from -20 degrees Celsius to 65 degrees Celsius. Multimode fiber is supported up to 2 km, while single-mode fiber will carry signals as much as 40 km.
The converters are available immediately. They start at $790 for the multimode units and at $880 for the single-mode variety.
