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Fiber Optic Cable Solution for Security IP cameras

Today, we will mainly focus on the connecting ways by using fiber products from Fastcabling to settle down long distance IP cameras deployment problem. If you are confronting with similar situation or interested in the connecting ways, please keep reading.

As the great execution of IoT, Power over Ethernet is prevalently utilized in various IoT devices. PoE is a technology to transmit power and data simultaneously over single Ethernet cable, which provides steady power and fast network capacity for powered devices without new power and network cabling. However, PoE has a limit of distance with 100m because of energy loss. In other words, if you want to deploy IP camera beyond 100 meters or far more remote, PoE connection can not reach, while fiber optical cable is one solution for dealing with this issue.

To begin with, let’s understand the value of fiber optical system to figure out why utilizes fiber to connect IP camera.

Fiber optic transmission is faster than copper wire. It is easily for fiber optical system to deliver 10G network. The higher speed network such as 40G, 100G, 400G are all employed fiber optical transmission.


Fiber optic transmission is in less attenuation. The signal always decreases as the distance increasing but the fiber optic cable can deliver lower attenuation which means that the transmission creates less signal loss. For example, if you want to deploy a IP camera over 100m, using fiber optic cable only causes 3% signal loss, while on the contrast, copper wire will lose 94% signal of the same distance.


Fiber optic cables are impervious to electromagnetic interference. Copper wire will produce electromagnetic currents that can interfere with other wires and wreak havoc on the network after improper installation. While fiber optic cables are more stable after deploying in the field, which eliminates frequent cable replacement.


The last but not least, since the fiber optical simply transmits the light in the system, which can prevent fire accident since it doesn’t conduct electricity. What’s more, it proves higher security because tapping the data from light is more difficult than electrical copper.

All in all, the fiber optical link is suitable for long term operating. Once the link is setup, it can be used for years without extra maintaining. Therefore, it is a relatively good tool used to connect security IP camera, especially in the long distance deployment.

Now, let’s get to the point. In the following, we will demonstrate 3 main solutions of connecting IP cameras with fiber optical cable.

1.Use a pair of media converters

The Fastcabling’s media converters allow you to deploy IP cameras far away from the main network by using multimode or singlemode fiber optical cables, reaching a maximum distance of 80km. Media converters are useful devices to convert electric signal to fiber optical signal or versed so that the camera’s video can be transported over the fiber cable. Two media converters are needed at both sides to build the fiber link. By using Fastcabling’s media converters, you can gain stable and fast network transmission with low consumption, providing various options of network speed to meet your needs, gigabit network can be accessed. Due to mini compact size, you are able to accomplish installation flexibly and easily.


What if there are more than one cameras that you need to connect in the same area. 5850-51 PoE media converter can help you deal with network and power issue for two PoE IP cameras. 5850-51 PoE media converter equips with 2 PoE RJ45 ports with gigabit data rate and a maximum of 30W output power, which is convenient and saving cost and time on separate cabling as well as provides guarantee on video data streaming with sufficient power for IP devices, especially when the camera image is required high resolution to catch clear details.

How to choose fiber cable and which connector to use depends on the SFP module (SFP transceiver) installed in the media converters. The SFP module is the critical components to generate the optical light. We also offer you various types of SFP modules, which suits for people who demand for different data rates and transmission distances. 

In this media converter solution, power supplying needs to be dealt with separately. The fiber optical technology simply transmits the light which can’t carry the electricity.

2. Fiber with copper wire

The second way is replace the front-end media converter with our Fastcabling fiber PoE extender, which can be considered a special type of media converter.  Except for converting the video stream to fiber signal, the extender also provides PoE to remote IP cameras. As thisfiber PoE extender enables to accept power input and pass through to IP cameras via Ethernet cable. In this case, copper wires and fastcabling pre-terminated fiber optical cables can be employed to send the DC power48V. The connectivity between the fiber PoE switch and the camera stays with convenient Ethernet cable, supplying both gigabit data and 30W output power of each port simultaneously. By using this fiber PoE extender, the maximum distance between the fiber PoE extender and the camera can be 100m. Thanks to PoE technology, the power sources are eliminated, and with no need to be closed to each of the camera. It simplifies network design and saves the total cost. Actually, this is useful for IP camera set up, because cameras deployment locations are always hard to find or install AC outlets for power supply.

If there are several security IP cameras gather around in the same area, fiber PoE extender  is the handy tool. This 5840-524 port fiber PoE extender  in Fastcablingcan provide multiple PoE ports for taking in more than one security IP cameras. Instead of wiring each fiber optical cable to each security IP cameras, one fiber link is enough between the media converter and the fiber PoE extender.

However, there is controversial opinion with this solution. Because one of the fiber link fails to work, it will affect the rest of the cameras. However, using fiber optical cable to connect security cameras is easier than people expected after picking the right components.

 All solutions mentioned above, hope can provide useful information for you. If you have any questions or concerns, welcome to contact us.

Mentioned products listing:

5838-18 Fiber PoE ExtenderSFP transceiver;

5837-26 Fast Ethernet media converter; 5537-42 Gigabit Ethernet Media Converter;

5538-65 4 Port Industrial Hardened PoE Switch; 5838-72 8 Port Industrial Hardened PoE Switch ;

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