Altronix NETWAY5BTQPL 4-Port PoE++ Managed Switch with Integrated Battery Backup
Overview
The Altronix NETWAY5BTQPL is a compact, purpose-built PoE switch and power system designed for security integrators who need continuous uptime from their edge devices. Combining four IEEE 802.3af/at/bt compliant PoE++ ports, a 240W total power budget, an integrated battery charger, and instantaneous AC-loss failover, the NETWAY5BTQPL targets installations where a momentary power interruption to a camera, access control reader, or intercom is not acceptable. This is edge-layer infrastructure for commercial security deployments — not a general IT switch.
The unit supports LiFePO4, sealed lead acid, or gel battery chemistries, giving installers flexibility to match the battery to the site's temperature envelope or budget. Remote monitoring and control are handled through Altronix's LINQ technology, which puts network power management in the hands of the monitoring station or integrator without requiring a physical site visit.
If you are evaluating Altronix network power products, the NETWAY5BTQPL fits in the middle of the NETWAY family — four high-power PoE ports with battery backup in a single backplane unit sized for a small to mid-size IDF closet or enclosure installation.
Key Features
- Four 90W PoE++ Ports (802.3bt): Each port delivers up to 90W independently — enough headroom for high-power PTZ cameras, heated enclosures, multi-sensor panoramic cameras, or access control hardware with electric strike loads that standard PoE+ can't touch. You won't need a separate injector or midspan for any current PTZ camera on the market.
- 240W Total System Budget: With 60W of overhead above four fully-loaded 802.3af loads and genuine 90W-per-port 802.3bt capacity, you can mix high-draw and low-draw devices on the same switch without manually calculating port-level budgets. The system enforces its own ceiling — no surprise shutdowns from oversubscription.
- Instantaneous Battery Failover: On AC loss, the NETWAY5BTQPL switches to battery power with zero gap — no reboot cycle, no dropped RTSP stream, no door controller reset. This is critical for access control integrations where a controller reboot during a power event can leave a door in an uncontrolled state.
- LiFePO4, SLA, or Gel Battery Compatibility: The integrated charger handles all three common battery chemistries. LiFePO4 is the right call for sites with high cycling frequency or tight enclosure space (smaller footprint, longer cycle life); SLA works fine for lower-cost installs with infrequent outages. The battery is not included — specify based on required runtime and enclosure capacity.
- LINQ Remote Network Power Management: LINQ gives NOC operators and integrators remote visibility and control over powered ports — cycle power to a locked-up camera, verify port status during an alarm event, or audit power consumption across a site from a browser without dispatching a technician. On large campuses with dozens of IDF locations, this compounds quickly into real labor savings.
- -30°C to 55°C Operating Range: The operating temperature floor of -30°C (-22°F) means this unit can live in a non-conditioned equipment room, outdoor enclosure, or cold-storage facility without a heater. Most comparable managed PoE switches are rated to 0°C or -10°C — the extra headroom matters in northern climates or unconditioned mechanical spaces.
- Up to 10 VLAN Groups (ID 2–4095): Basic VLAN segmentation lets you isolate camera traffic from access control or intercom traffic on the same switch fabric — a security-best-practice requirement on most enterprise and government deployments. Ten groups is sufficient for a typical edge node; this is not a core distribution switch.
- Five Gigabit Ethernet Ports (RJ45, 4-pair CAT5e or higher): All five ports are gigabit-capable over standard structured cabling up to 100m. The fifth port serves as the uplink — feed it from your nearest PoE network switch or distribution layer, and the NETWAY5BTQPL handles local power and failover independently.
- CE Compliance: European Conformity listing covers deployments in EU member states and simplifies the procurement process for projects with mixed US/EU site footprints.
Integration and Compatibility
The NETWAY5BTQPL integrates into any 802.3af/at/bt standards-compliant deployment. All four PoE output ports auto-negotiate to the connected device's power class — an 802.3af camera will negotiate 15.4W, a 802.3at device will pull up to 30W, and an 802.3bt device can draw the full 90W. You don't need per-port manual configuration to handle a mixed fleet.
LINQ connectivity requires network access from the NETWAY5BTQPL's management interface to the LINQ cloud or local server — plan a management VLAN path during your PoE switch and VLAN design phase. The unit's 100m CAT5e reach keeps it fully standard with structured cabling infrastructure, and its five-port gigabit backplane supports standard 802.1Q VLAN tagging.
Battery runtime depends entirely on the battery capacity and total connected load — Altronix does not publish a default runtime curve because battery type and AH rating are installer-selected. Calculate runtime as (Battery AH × Battery Voltage × Efficiency Factor) ÷ Total Load Watts. For access control consulting on load planning, review the available PoE planning guide before sizing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What battery types does the NETWAY5BTQPL support?
A: The NETWAY5BTQPL is compatible with LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate), sealed lead acid (SLA), and gel battery types. The battery is not included — you select and install the appropriate battery based on required runtime, operating environment, and budget. LiFePO4 offers longer cycle life and smaller form factor; SLA is lower initial cost for installations with infrequent outage events.
Q: How much power does each PoE port deliver?
A: Each of the four PoE output ports delivers up to 90W, compliant with IEEE 802.3bt (PoE++). Total system power budget is 240W across all four ports. Ports auto-negotiate to the connected device's power class — 802.3af (up to 15.4W), 802.3at (up to 30W), or 802.3bt (up to 90W).
Q: What happens when AC power is lost?
A: Failover to battery is instantaneous upon AC loss — no reboot cycle or power interruption to connected PoE devices. This is a key design requirement for access control and security camera installations where a controller or camera restart during a power event is operationally unacceptable.
Q: What is LINQ technology and do I need it?
A: LINQ is Altronix's remote network power management platform. It gives integrators and monitoring stations the ability to monitor port status, cycle power to connected devices, and audit power consumption remotely without a site visit. It is not required for basic PoE operation but provides significant value on unmanned or remote installations where truck rolls are expensive.
Q: What is the operating temperature range of the NETWAY5BTQPL?
A: The unit operates from -30°C to 55°C (-22°F to 131°F), making it suitable for non-conditioned spaces, cold storage environments, and outdoor enclosures in northern climates. Storage temperature extends from -40°C to 85°C.
Q: Does the NETWAY5BTQPL support VLANs?
A: Yes. The NETWAY5BTQPL supports up to 10 VLAN groups with ID range 2–4095. This allows basic traffic segmentation between camera, access control, and intercom traffic on the same switch — a common requirement on enterprise and government security deployments.
The NETWAY5BTQPL earns its place on edge-layer security infrastructure projects because of one spec that separates it from generic PoE switches: instantaneous battery failover with an integrated charger that handles LiFePO4, SLA, or gel — all in a backplane that ships at 2.6 lbs and measures 10.75" × 8.875" × 2.375". That's a complete power continuity node in a package small enough for a compact enclosure at the camera cluster level, not just in the main MDF.
Technical Highlights:
- 90W per PoE++ Port: Each of the four 802.3bt ports delivers a full 90W — enough for high-torque outdoor PTZ cameras, multi-sensor heads with heater options, or access control hardware running local electric strike loads without a separate power supply on the door side.
- 240W Total Budget: Across four ports, the system provides 240W total, which means four simultaneous 802.3bt Class 8 devices are theoretically supportable — though real-world mixed loads (PTZ + two fixed cameras + an intercom) will rarely approach the ceiling, giving you clean headroom on every port.
- -30°C to 55°C Operating Range: That -30°C floor is not marketing — it means this unit survives a Minnesota equipment room in January without a panel heater. Most competing managed PoE switches are rated to 0°C or -10°C; the NETWAY5BTQPL goes 20–30°C colder, which matters for any non-HVAC space.
Deployment Considerations:
- Battery is not included and runtime is entirely a function of the AH rating you select and the actual port load. Calculate runtime before specifying — at full 240W draw, even a large SLA battery will give you less time than you might expect. Size the battery for your worst-case load scenario, not average load.
- LINQ remote management requires a routable management network path to the unit — plan a dedicated management VLAN at design time. If the LINQ interface is on the same VLAN as camera traffic without access control ACLs, you've opened a management exposure on every switch in the chain.
The NETWAY5BTQPL is the right unit for security integrators deploying outdoor camera clusters, perimeter access control nodes, or parking structure IDF points where unconditioned environments, high-draw devices, and no-gap power continuity all converge in the same equipment room — and where sending a technician to cycle a port costs more than the switch itself.
