Splitting 1 Cat5 to run 2 Poe cameras

[Dasstrum]

So I am installing a camera system on a house that had cat5 cable run from a walk-in media closet to each bedroom in the house during construction. This is a tri level house and is impossible to run new cabling from what I've seen so far without removing facia panels or drywall to look for a conduit channel.

In the back 2 rooms there is a cat5 jack where I am looking to put 2 cameras. Here is the question:

My poe switches are mode-a and use pins 1,2,3,6. I tested out a config using only 4 of the 8 wires of 1 cat5 cable. So basically 2 rj45 connections for 1 wire and everything is working fine in my testing. Is there any long term concerns for doing this?

 

[Kpog]

This topic is relative to my interests.

 

[Jeff DeWolfe]

I would personally never do this. The "proper" way to do this would be to get a small PoE switch. There is no right way to split RJ45/cat 5 other than using a switch. Another reason not to do this is now you have all of that wire exposed and not properly twisted to prevent interference, cross talk, etc.

 

[giomania]

Check out the ~$38 Odiysurveil 1x4 PoE switch in my PoE switch suggestion list. The input requires PoE+, but it works great.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Fastb]

1 to 4 PoE Extender
Very descriptive review by well regarded expert.

Personally, I've double-upped some cat 5 cables to carry two channels. I also combine e-net and telephone on a single cat5 cable. I was in a real pinch, it was expedient. I worried about crosstalk, esp considering the telco line uses 90V to make the phone ring. Fortunately, I didn't experience any problem. The e-net traffic was minimal, considering our internet connection was through a dial-up modem, LOL!

I wouldn't double-up on cat 5 or cat6 these days....

 

[Kpog]

Check out the ~$38 Odiysurveil 1x4 PoE switch in my PoE switch suggestion list. The input requires PoE+, but it works great.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thank you! Just picked one up to use outside my house in a nema enclosure. I have been researching the best way to do this. Since I only wired up a limited amount of cable runs, this will help me add coverage in a couple spots.

 

[Ford]

I use plenty of these:
10/100M 4 Ports PoE Extender Up to For Network AP IP Camera Telephone Equipment | eBay


and when I need gigabit, this is the go to product (weather proof and managed):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0723B2SDZ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Both work great. I wouldn't even consider trying to split the cat 5.

 

[tigerwillow1]

Just reporting info while staying out of any debate over what's right and wrong. I have used a few cat6 cables split for two cameras and never had a lick of trouble with it. Like always, there are pros and cons. Running 2 cameras on one cable still needs 2 ports on your POE switch. The POE extender saves a port on your switch, but the power from that port has to be split to power the extender and the two cameras. If you're not driving the cable with a POE+ port, you'll most likely overload the port when the IR lights come on. I build the splitter cables, but there's a commercial one that looks to me like it does the job: WT-MMF-RJ45.

 

[giomania]

1 to 4 PoE Extender
Very descriptive review by well regarded expert.

Personally, I've double-upped some cat 5 cables to carry two channels. I also combine e-net and telephone on a single cat5 cable. I was in a real pinch, it was expedient. I worried about crosstalk, esp considering the telco line uses 90V to make the phone ring. Fortunately, I didn't experience any problem. The e-net traffic was minimal, considering our internet connection was through a dial-up modem, LOL!

I wouldn't double-up on cat 5 or cat6 these days....

Same thing I posted earlier, but just to clarify I did not mean to suggest I found this device. The credit goes to @nayr for bringing it to my attention, as is noted in the cliff notes.

Mark

 

[c hris527]

Just reporting info while staying out of any debate over what's right and wrong. I have used a few cat6 cables split for two cameras and never had a lick of trouble with it. Like always, there are pros and cons. Running 2 cameras on one cable still needs 2 ports on your POE switch. The POE extender saves a port on your switch, but the power from that port has to be split to power the extender and the two cameras. If you're not driving the cable with a POE+ port, you'll most likely overload the port when the IR lights come on. I build the splitter cables, but there's a commercial one that looks to me like it does the job: WT-MMF-RJ45.

If I had to go that route working in somebody's house, that would look way better.

 

[giomania]

So I am installing a camera system on a house that had cat5 cable run from a walk-in media closet to each bedroom in the house during construction. This is a tri level house and is impossible to run new cabling from what I've seen so far without removing facia panels or drywall to look for a conduit channel.

In the back 2 rooms there is a cat5 jack where I am looking to put 2 cameras. Here is the question:

My poe switches are mode-a and use pins 1,2,3,6. I tested out a config using only 4 of the 8 wires of 1 cat5 cable. So basically 2 rj45 connections for 1 wire and everything is working fine in my testing. Is there any long term concerns for doing this?

Apparently, most PoE switches are Mode-A, but I assume this should be confirmed by viewing the specifications?

What is PoE Mode A and Mode B?

 

[Dasstrum]

Thanks for all the input. I'm going to buy the splitter and hide it in the porch ceiling soffit. Seems like the best option anyways.