Altronix NETWAY16 16-Port Midspan PoE Injector
Overview
The Altronix NETWAY16 is a 16-port IEEE 802.3af/at midspan PoE injector built for security integrators who need to add Power over Ethernet to an existing non-PoE switch without replacing the core infrastructure. Rated at 300W total budget and 30W per port, the NETWAY16 handles the full 802.3at (PoE+) envelope — enough headroom for PTZ cameras, dual-band access points, or high-draw IP intercoms. It ships in a 1U rack form factor (1.625" x 19.125" x 8.5") so it drops cleanly into any standard 19-inch rack beside your existing switch stack.
UL/cUL and CE listed, the NETWAY16 is appropriate for commercial and enterprise environments where insurance carriers, AHJs, or enterprise IT policies require listed power equipment. If you're specifying an Altronix power solution into a mid-size surveillance deployment and already have a managed switch you want to keep, this unit solves the PoE gap without a forklift upgrade.
Key Features
- 300W Total / 30W Per Port (IEEE 802.3af/at): With 300W across 16 ports and a 30W-per-port ceiling, you can run a full rack of PoE+ devices simultaneously — no port throttling, no shared-budget surprises. The 30W ceiling covers the PoE+ (802.3at) Class 4 envelope, which handles the majority of modern PTZ cameras and multi-sensor units. For reference, a typical 5MP fixed dome draws 7–12W; a mid-range PTZ draws 18–25W — this unit won't be your bottleneck.
- Midspan Architecture (Non-PoE Switch Compatible): A midspan injector sits inline between an existing switch and your IP devices, adding PoE without touching switch config. If you have a 24-port managed switch that you want to keep for VLANs and QoS, the NETWAY16 lets you bolt on PoE to 16 of those ports for the cost of a midspan rather than a full PoE switch replacement — meaningful when the existing switch represents a $2,000–$8,000 capital asset.
- 10/100 BaseT Passthrough: Data passthrough is 10/100 BaseT. This is sufficient for the vast majority of H.265 IP cameras (a 5MP stream at 4–8 Mbps is well within Fast Ethernet's 100Mbps ceiling), but worth noting if you're passing through devices that require Gigabit — the NETWAY16 is not the right midspan for that use case.
- 100m Maximum Distance: Standard IEEE 802.3 distance limit of 100 meters from injector to device. Plan your cable runs accordingly — if you have any home-run cable drops beyond 100m, a PoE extender or local switch relocation is required.
- 115VAC Input, 4.9A Draw: Single-phase 115VAC at 50/60Hz, drawing 4.9A at full load. That's under a single 15A circuit breaker, leaving margin for other rack equipment on the same circuit. Heat rejection is 154 BTU/Hr — relevant if you're calculating cooling load for a confined IDF closet.
- UL/cUL and CE Listed: Dual North American (UL/cUL) and European (CE) agency listings. For government, healthcare, or education deployments where unlisted power equipment triggers compliance flags, these listings close that conversation. The UL listing also satisfies most insurance and AHJ requirements on commercial installations.
- -20°C to 40°C Operating Range: Designed to operate in environments from -20°C to 40°C (–4°F to 104°F). Most conditioned equipment rooms run well within this range, but if you're installing in an unconditioned IDF or a network closet in a warehouse, verify summer ambient stays below 40°C — sustained heat above that ceiling will shorten component life.
- 1U Rack Mount, 8.9 lbs: Standard 1U 19-inch rack profile (1.625" H x 19.125" W x 8.5" D) at 8.9 lbs. It mounts in a single rack unit and doesn't require a dedicated shelf. Factor the 10.2 lb shipping weight if you're specifying freight for multiple units.
Integration & Compatibility
The NETWAY16 integrates with any network topology that uses 10/100 BaseT Ethernet, sitting between your non-PoE switch and downstream IP cameras or other PoE devices. Because it operates at the physical layer (PoE injection only), it's switch-agnostic — Cisco, Juniper, Netgear, Aruba, or any unmanaged switch will work without configuration changes on the switch side.
For surveillance deployments, pair this with a compatible network video recorder and your existing non-PoE managed switch to complete the core infrastructure stack. The NETWAY16 covers the PoE power gap; your managed switch handles VLANs, QoS, and bandwidth management as before. If you're planning a larger multi-closet deployment, review the PoE switch catalog — for new infrastructure builds, a managed PoE switch may offer a cleaner single-device solution than pairing a non-PoE switch with a midspan.
The 100m cabling distance limit is the IEEE 802.3 standard constraint — not an Altronix-specific limitation — so any IP camera or access control device certified to 802.3af/at will operate normally within that distance. The 30W-per-port ceiling supports 802.3at Class 4 devices; it does not support 802.3bt (PoE++ / 60W or 90W) devices. Verify device wattage before specifying for high-draw endpoints like 4K multi-sensor cameras or powered door controllers with electric strikes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the NETWAY16 support IEEE 802.3bt (PoE++) devices?
A: No. The NETWAY16 supports IEEE 802.3af and 802.3at only, with a maximum of 30W per port. Devices requiring 802.3bt (60W or 90W) are not supported. Verify the power requirements of any high-draw device before specifying this unit.
Q: Can the NETWAY16 be used with a managed Gigabit switch?
A: It can be inserted inline with a Gigabit switch, but the NETWAY16's data passthrough is limited to 10/100 BaseT. Devices connected through the NETWAY16 will be capped at 100Mbps regardless of the upstream switch's Gigabit capability. If Gigabit passthrough to endpoints is required, a Gigabit-capable PoE midspan or a PoE switch is the correct solution.
Q: What is the total power budget and how many high-draw cameras can I run simultaneously?
A: The NETWAY16 provides 300W total across 16 ports at 30W per port. Running 16 ports simultaneously at the 30W maximum would require 480W, so you cannot run all 16 ports at full 30W draw at the same time — actual concurrent capacity at full 30W would be 10 ports. For typical 5MP fixed cameras drawing 7–12W, all 16 ports can run simultaneously with ample headroom.
Q: Is the NETWAY16 UL listed?
A: Yes. The NETWAY16 carries UL/cUL (North American) and CE (European) agency listings, satisfying most commercial, healthcare, education, and government installation requirements.
Q: What is the maximum cable distance from the NETWAY16 to a PoE device?
A: 100 meters (328 feet), which is the IEEE 802.3 standard maximum for PoE over Cat5e or better. This is not an Altronix-specific limitation. Runs beyond 100m require a PoE extender or an intermediate switch closer to the device.
Q: What are the input power requirements for the NETWAY16?
A: The NETWAY16 requires 115VAC at 50/60Hz and draws a maximum of 4.9A. A standard 15A single-phase circuit is sufficient. Heat output at full load is 154 BTU/Hr — factor this into IDF cooling calculations for enclosed equipment rooms.
The NETWAY16 comes up regularly when I'm spec'ing mid-size surveillance retrofits — specifically the scenario where the customer already has a decent managed switch and doesn't want to replace it, but needs to power 12–16 cameras. At 300W total and 30W per port, the NETWAY16 fits squarely in that gap. One number worth holding onto: the 4.9A draw at 115VAC puts you well under a 15A breaker even at full load, which matters when you're fighting for panel capacity in a packed IDF.
Technical Highlights:
- 300W / 30W-per-port budget: Enough to run all 16 ports at typical fixed-camera loads (7–12W each) simultaneously, with headroom left over. You only hit the ceiling if you're mixing in PTZ cameras or PoE access points in the 25–30W range.
- IEEE 802.3af/at compliance: The at (PoE+) support is the key differentiator over older af-only midspans — modern multi-sensor cameras and PTZ units routinely negotiate up to Class 4 power, and an af-only unit will starve them or fail negotiation entirely.
- UL/cUL + CE listings: For school districts, healthcare systems, and government facilities, unlisted power equipment is often a non-starter with the AHJ or the insurance underwriter. These listings close that objection at the spec stage.
Deployment Considerations:
- The 10/100 BaseT passthrough ceiling is the one spec that limits this unit's applicability going forward — if your camera refresh is moving to multi-megapixel 4K units that benefit from Gigabit to the edge, plan for a Gigabit-capable midspan or a PoE switch in the next refresh cycle.
- The 40°C operating ceiling is tighter than some competing units. In unconditioned telecom closets or warehouse IDF spaces, measure summer ambient before installing — sustained operation above 40°C will degrade component life even if it doesn't cause immediate failure.
The NETWAY16 is the right call for a 16-camera retrofit at a school, clinic, or mid-size office where the existing managed switch is a keeper and all endpoints are standard PoE+ fixed cameras. It's not the right call if you're running 4K 802.3bt cameras or need Gigabit to the edge.
