Altronix EBRIDGE100RM 16-Port PoE Receiver Ethernet over Coax
The Altronix EBRIDGE100RM is a 1U rack-mount PoE+ receiver that extends Ethernet connectivity and power delivery up to 300 meters over existing coaxial cable or CAT5e infrastructure. The unit consolidates 16 network ports into a single receiver, enabling IP camera systems, access points, and edge devices to be deployed across large campuses without costly cable replacement. For integrators managing legacy cabling plants, this is a capex recovery play — every foot of existing coax becomes usable network backbone, and PoE+ delivery at the receiver eliminates separate power runs to distant endpoints.
Key Features
- 16 PoE+ Network Ports: Delivers 802.3at PoE+ (up to 30W per port) from a single 1U chassis. Each port can power a full-draw IP camera or access point without auxiliary power supplies.
- 300-Meter Coax Reach: Transmits Ethernet and power over standard RG-6 or RG-11 coaxial cable — no rewiring required. Reach extends to 300m, covering large perimeters and multi-building campuses on a single cable run.
- CAT5e Compatibility: Operates over CAT5e twisted pair where coax is unavailable, supporting mixed cabling topologies in retrofit environments.
- PoE+ Power Delivery: 802.3at standard ensures compatibility with PoE+ cameras, high-power heated domes, and edge AI appliances that demand 25–30W.
- 1U Rack-Mount Form Factor: Integrates into 19-inch equipment racks alongside NVRs, switches, and patch panels — minimizes rack footprint and simplifies cable management.
- UL Listed Certification: Meets electrical safety and installation code requirements for commercial and critical infrastructure deployments.
- Lifetime Warranty: Hardware warranty provides long-term protection on a core infrastructure component with minimal field replacement rates.
The EBRIDGE100RM solves a pervasive integration problem: most large facilities have extensive coaxial cabling (legacy CCTV runs, trunk lines in walls and conduit) that sit idle after analog camera retirement. Rather than trench new fiber or CAT6 for distributed IP infrastructure, the EBRIDGE100RM repurposes that dormant coax at a fraction of the cost. A 500-meter facility perimeter with existing coaxial drops becomes a live, PoE-powered network backbone in days rather than months.
Deployment flexibility is critical in retrofit scenarios. If a remote building wing has only coax access, run the EBRIDGE trunk over that coax and inject PoE at the receiver end. If a newer annex has CAT5e in-wall runs, the same receiver handles CAT5e without modification. This bridging capability eliminates the need for separate injector SKUs or adapter logic — one unit handles heterogeneous cabling plants. Network topology is simplified: EBRIDGE100RM appears as a 16-port PoE+ switch to the upstream NVR or network stack, and VMS platforms (Genetec, Milestone, Avigilon) recognize it as standard Ethernet.
Total cost of ownership calculation favors the EBRIDGE100RM in any retrofit where trenching, conduit installation, or new cable runs would exceed $5–10K. A typical campus with four coaxial backbone runs can activate all four with four EBRIDGE100RM units (64 ports total) for less than the cost of a single commercial fiber backbone installation. Add the reduction in labor (no new terminations, no punch-down panels, minimal testing), and payback occurs within the first two projects. Lifetime warranty further reduces lifecycle costs — this is infrastructure that operates for 10+ years with minimal maintenance.
The EBRIDGE100RM is UL Listed, meeting electrical safety codes for indoor and (with appropriate enclosure) outdoor cabinets. It integrates seamlessly with ONVIF-compliant VMS platforms and standard Ethernet switching gear. No proprietary software, no licensing per port — it behaves like a transparent PoE+ switch. Pair it with a managed edge switch upstream and a power supply spec'd for aggregate port load (e.g., 300W+ for full-draw scenarios), and it disappears into the network stack. For integrators and end-user security teams managing mature facilities with coaxial infrastructure, this receiver opens a low-friction path to distributed IP deployment. See the Altronix catalog for matching injectors and accessories.
Marty AllisonPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've deployed the EBRIDGE100RM across 30+ retrofit projects over the past three years, and it consistently solves the "what do we do with legacy coax" problem. In a typical scenario, a K-12 district or hospital with 15-year-old analog CCTV infrastructure has 100+ meters of coax in conduit, walls, and poles. Ripping it out and laying new CAT6 costs $8K–15K per building. The EBRIDGE100RM costs $1.5K–2K per unit, and four units cover a 1.5-square-mile campus. That's a decision that pays for itself before the first school year ends. The PoE+ delivery is the key differentiator — it means IP cameras, intercoms, and wireless AP uplinks all draw power from the receiver, eliminating the need for separate power infrastructure at 15–20 remote endpoints. We've seen job timelines compress by 6–8 weeks on medium campuses because installers don't have to run parallel power and data feeds to every device location.
Technical Highlights:
- PoE+ (802.3at) per Port: Each of the 16 ports delivers up to 30W — sufficient for high-power IP turrets, heated domes with IR boost, and industrial PoE cameras. On a campus with distributed endpoints, this eliminates 16 separate 12V or 24V power supplies and their associated wiring and breaker panels.
- 300m Over Coax: Tested extensively on RG-6 and RG-11 runs. In practice, reach varies with cable quality and age (older runs with corrosion lose 10–15% range), but 250m is conservatively achievable on degraded coax. CAT5e reaches 300m cleanly. For fence-line and perimeter coverage, 300m is sufficient for most campus geometries.
- Transparent Bridging: No configuration required. Plug in the coax or CAT5e uplink and 16 RJ45 ports become live — DHCP, VLANs, and multicast traffic pass through unaltered. VMS platforms and IP cameras see it as a standard Ethernet segment.
- Passive Failover / Redundancy Option: Single unit has no built-in redundancy, but in a dual-injector architecture (two EBRIDGE units per backbone run), you can configure active-active or hot-standby topologies at the switch level. Not all sites need this, but for critical perimeter installations, it's a low-cost insurance policy.
- Rack Efficiency: 1U footprint means it coexists with NVRs, core switches, and PoE patch panels in a single cabinet. For distributed receiver locations (remote buildings, annex sites), wall-mount or compact cabinet options are available through Altronix accessories.
Deployment Considerations:
- Uplink Power Budget: A fully loaded EBRIDGE100RM (16 ports at max draw) can exceed 480W. Verify your upstream power supply and PoE injector can support that aggregate load. Most integrations spec a 600W+ 48VDC power supply and pair multiple injectors for redundancy.
- Coax Cable Condition: Pre-installation testing is critical. Old coax with shield degradation, crushed runs, or water ingress will lose range and introduce latency jitter. Use a TDR or cable analyzer to certify runs before assuming 300m reach. If testing shows loss >10%, plan for booster injectors or coax replacement on that segment.
- Grounding and Surge Protection: Coaxial runs are lightning paths. Ensure proper grounding of the EBRIDGE100RM chassis and upstream injector. Add surge protection on outdoor coax runs (gas tubes or hybrid surge modules at entry points). UL listing covers DC safety, but outdoor surge events are not guaranteed without proper downstream protection.
- Mixed Cabling Complexity: While the EBRIDGE100RM handles both coax and CAT5e, mixing them in a single backbone can introduce impedance mismatches and reflections. Test transitions carefully. Single-media runs (all coax or all CAT5e) are simpler and more predictable.
- PoE Standards Compatibility: PoE+ 802.3at devices (typical IP cameras) work reliably. Devices claiming "PoE++ " (802.3bt, 60W+) will not draw full power from a 30W port; they'll negotiate down to 30W or fail. Know your endpoint power consumption before final design.
The EBRIDGE100RM is the right choice for integrators retrofitting legacy facilities, IT teams extending network reach without trenching, and security directors who want to maximize existing infrastructure investments. It is not ideal for greenfield deployments where CAT6A or fiber is already budgeted — in those cases, native twisted pair or optical is simpler and more future-proof. For mixed environments, campus-wide perimeters, and cost-constrained retrofits, the EBRIDGE100RM consistently outperforms point-to-point coax extenders and eliminates the need for separate power infrastructure. Pair it with standard PoE+ network management tools and it becomes transparent to your VMS and IT operations. See the Altronix catalog for injector units, surge protection, and enclosure accessories.
