StarTech AS445C-POE-INJECTOR 4-Port Multi-Gigabit PoE++ Injector

Overview

The StarTech AS445C-POE-INJECTOR is a compact, wall- or DIN-rail-mountable 4-port PoE injector designed for deployments that have outgrown standard gigabit PoE infrastructure but aren't ready — or budgeted — for a full managed switch replacement. It delivers NBase-T speeds (5/2.5/1Gbps) on all four ports with a 160W total power budget and up to 95W per port under 802.3bt PoE++ — enough headroom for the latest generation of multi-sensor cameras, PTZ platforms, and access points that simply won't run on older 802.3af or 802.3at infrastructure. If you've been searching for the AS445C-POE-INJECTOR (also referenced as AS445C POE INJECTOR), this is the product.

In an era where IP cameras and wireless access points are pushing past gigabit bandwidth and requiring 60–90W of power simultaneously, a 100Mbps PoE switch with a 30W-per-port budget creates immediate bottlenecks. This unit inserts inline between your existing switch and powered devices, upgrading both the data pipe and power delivery without touching your core switching infrastructure.

Key Features

• 160W Total / 95W Per-Port Power Budget: A 160W shared pool across four ports, with each port capable of delivering up to 95W — the full 802.3bt Class 8 specification. That's enough to drive high-wattage PTZ cameras, dual-radio Wi-Fi 6 access points, or next-gen multi-sensor units that require PoE++ to operate. Compare: a standard 802.3at switch port maxes out at 30W, leaving PoE++ devices running on reduced power or not functioning at all.
• NBase-T Speeds (5/2.5/1Gbps): Each port auto-negotiates up to 5Gbps over standard Cat5e/Cat6 cabling — no infrastructure rip-and-replace required. High-resolution multi-stream cameras pushing constant 4K+ output won't saturate the link the way they would on a 100Mbps or even 1Gbps connection. This matters on PoE switch uplinks feeding dense camera clusters.
• All Three PoE Standards (802.3af / 802.3at / 802.3bt): Auto-detects and negotiates the correct power level per device. You can mix a 13W 802.3af camera on port 1 with a 90W 802.3bt PTZ on port 3 without manual configuration — the injector negotiates with each PD independently and allocates power from the shared 160W budget accordingly.
• 328ft (100m) Max Cable Run: Full IEEE spec cable distance maintained at all supported speeds. You're not trading reach for higher data rates — useful in warehouses, perimeter deployments, or any site where cabling runs push the limits of the standard.
• Wall-Mount or DIN Rail: Mounts flat on a wall or clips onto standard 35mm DIN rail inside a control cabinet or IDF enclosure. At 3.7 × 2.8 × 1.5 inches and 9.8 oz, it fits in tight spaces where a full managed switch won't. This form factor is specifically useful for adding PoE++ capacity in an existing IDF without a rack-unit to spare.
• 9K Jumbo Frame Support: Handles jumbo frames up to 9,000 bytes, which matters for VMS platforms and NAS-based recorders that benefit from reduced CPU overhead during sustained high-throughput recording sessions. Standard 1,500-byte MTU environments won't notice, but this future-proofs the injector for environments that have already tuned their network stack for jumbo frames.
• 15kV Air / 8kV Contact ESD Protection: Surge and static protection built into each port. In outdoor-adjacent or industrial environments — loading docks, parking structures, manufacturing floors — this level of ESD protection meaningfully extends the service life of inline network gear that would otherwise be vulnerable to discharge events.
• 100–240V AC Input: Universal input voltage means no transformer or voltage converter needed when deploying internationally or in facilities with inconsistent power infrastructure. Draws up to 2.5A at the wall, outputs 54VDC at 3.3A to the PoE bus.
• 0°C to 50°C Operating Range: Rated for standard indoor commercial environments. This is not an outdoor or unheated space device — if your IDF or closet hits above 50°C under load, plan for ventilation. Storage rating extends to -10°C to 70°C.

Integration and Compatibility

The AS445C-POE-INJECTOR sits inline between any upstream switch and your powered devices — it passes data at up to 5Gbps while injecting PoE power governed by 802.3af/at/bt negotiation. Because it operates at Layer 1 (physical layer power injection plus Layer 2 data passthrough), it doesn't require IP configuration, VLAN awareness, or management credentials. It integrates transparently with any network video recorder platform, VMS, or managed switch without changes to your existing network configuration.

Devices verified to benefit from this injector include 802.3bt-class cameras (60–90W), Wi-Fi 6/6E access points requiring PoE++, and next-generation intercoms or access control readers with integrated heaters or displays. If your surveillance camera lineup still runs on 802.3af, this injector will negotiate down to the correct power class — no risk of over-powering legacy devices.

For larger deployments, review your PoE budget planning guide before assuming four ports at full 95W: the 160W total pool means you cannot simultaneously run four ports at maximum draw. Budget accordingly — three ports at full 802.3bt (3 × 90W = 270W) exceeds the pool; plan your mix of device wattages to stay within 160W aggregate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I run all four ports at the maximum 95W simultaneously?

A: No. The total power budget is 160W shared across all four ports. Each port supports up to 95W individually, but the aggregate draw across all ports cannot exceed 160W. Plan your device mix accordingly — for example, two 60W PTZ cameras and two 13W cameras would total approximately 146W, within budget. Running four 95W devices simultaneously would require 380W total, which exceeds the injector's capacity.

Q: Does the AS445C-POE-INJECTOR require any configuration or software to operate?

A: No. It operates as a plug-and-play inline injector. There is no IP address to configure, no management interface, and no software to install. Connect your upstream switch to the data-in ports and your powered devices to the data/power-out ports. PoE negotiation with each device is automatic.

Q: What cabling is required to achieve 5Gbps speeds?

A: NBase-T 5Gbps operation requires at minimum Cat5e cabling with runs up to 100 meters (328ft). Cat6 or Cat6A will also work. Standard Cat5e is sufficient for 2.5Gbps; 5Gbps performance is spec'd for Cat5e up to 100m under IEEE 802.3bz. Verify your existing cabling quality before expecting full 5Gbps on long runs in older buildings.

Q: Is the AS445C-POE-INJECTOR suitable for outdoor installation?

A: No. The operating temperature range is 0°C to 50°C and the unit has no IP or NEMA environmental rating listed. It is intended for indoor installation — wall-mounted in a conditioned space or mounted on a DIN rail inside an enclosure. Do not install in unheated spaces, outdoor enclosures, or areas subject to condensation without additional protection.

Q: What is the warranty on the AS445C-POE-INJECTOR?

A: The AS445C-POE-INJECTOR carries a 2-year manufacturer warranty.

Q: Can this injector be DIN rail mounted in an existing IDF cabinet?

A: Yes. The AS445C-POE-INJECTOR supports both wall mounting and standard 35mm DIN rail mounting. Its compact footprint (3.7 × 2.8 × 1.5 inches, 9.8 oz) makes it practical to install in existing IDF enclosures or control cabinets without requiring additional rack space.

Eden Phillips

The spec that consistently drives integrators toward the AS445C-POE-INJECTOR is the 95W-per-port ceiling under 802.3bt — not the 160W total budget, which gets more attention in product listings. In practice, you're almost never running four ports at peak simultaneously, and the 160W pool gives you genuine flexibility to mix high-draw PTZ or multi-sensor cameras with standard 802.3af devices on the remaining ports without a second thought.

Technical Highlights:

• 95W Per-Port (802.3bt Class 8): Covers the full PoE++ specification — critical for PTZ cameras with IR illuminators and integrated heaters, and for Wi-Fi 6E APs that are increasingly demanding 60–90W to operate both radios at rated power.
• 5/2.5/1Gbps NBase-T Autoneg: Passes data at up to 5Gbps over existing Cat5e runs without cabling changes. At 4K multi-stream, cameras can push 20–40Mbps per channel — on a gigabit shared uplink, four cameras plus management traffic starts to bite. 5Gbps per port eliminates that concern entirely.
• 15kV Air / 8kV Contact ESD: In any environment where cable runs pass through areas with static discharge risk — warehouse floors, manufacturing cells, parking structures — this level of port protection is worth specifying explicitly. Standard unmanaged PoE gear often skips this entirely.

Deployment Considerations:

• Verify aggregate device wattage before ordering. The 160W budget is shared: two 802.3bt PTZ cameras at 75W each already consumes 150W, leaving only 10W for the remaining two ports. Plan your port assignments and device wattages before installation, not after.
• Operating temperature ceiling of 50°C means this unit needs to be in a climate-controlled or well-ventilated space. Under full 160W load in a sealed wall-mount enclosure, ambient heat buildup is a real risk — ensure airflow around the unit.

This injector earns its place in multi-gigabit camera upgrades where a full switch replacement isn't justified — specifically, IDF closets serving four to eight cameras in a building where the existing backbone is already Cat5e or Cat6 and the only gap is PoE++ power class and link speed at the edge.