Altronix EBRIDGE100TM PoE Ethernet over Coax Transceiver
The Altronix EBRIDGE100TM is a PoE-powered transceiver designed for retrofit security deployments where existing coaxial or CAT5e cable runs can be repurposed for Ethernet data transmission. By converting analog or digital coax infrastructure into standard IP connectivity, this single-output device eliminates the operational and financial burden of new-cable pulls in buildings with established cable plants. It is particularly valuable in multi-story facilities, concrete structures, and historic buildings where new wiring installation is costly or disruptive.
Key Features
- Ethernet over Coax/CAT5e: Transmits standard IP data over existing RG6, RG59, or CAT5e runs. No new cabling infrastructure required for retrofit IP camera or access-control projects.
- PoE Powered: PoE 802.3af input eliminates need for a separate power supply at the remote end. Compliant with all standard PoE power-injection sources.
- Single Ethernet Output: One RJ45 output per transceiver connects a single IP device (camera, door controller, intercom) to the network backbone.
- UL Listed: Meets electrical safety and code-compliance requirements for commercial security system installations and upgrades.
- Lifetime Warranty: Factory-backed manufacturer warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship.
- Compact Design: Low-profile form factor allows mounting in tight panel spaces, above ceilings, or in existing conduit runs without significant rework.
The EBRIDGE100TM solves a persistent integration challenge in legacy-infrastructure environments. Many commercial buildings, warehouses, and industrial facilities have decades of investment in coaxial or twisted-pair cable already in place—often running through walls, conduit, and outdoor runs. Rather than decommission that infrastructure and install new Category 6/6A runs (which in multi-story buildings can cost tens of thousands of dollars), the EBRIDGE100TM allows integrators to repurpose the existing plant. A single pair of transceivers—one at the camera or edge device, one at the network backbone—transparently converts the run to standard Ethernet connectivity.
Retrofit deployments are the primary use case. An integrator surveying a warehouse with 16 existing analog camera runs can upgrade to IP cameras by installing an EBRIDGE100TM pair on each run, avoiding the cost and downtime of pulling 16 new Category 5e cables through concrete floors and ceiling cavities. Similarly, in multi-tenant office buildings where cable penetration is restricted, the transceiver pair allows an access-control system or IP intercom to leverage an existing spare coax or telephone pair. The PoE power model is critical here: since the transceiver itself is powered by the incoming PoE signal, no additional power infrastructure is required at the remote device location—a significant advantage in retrofit scenarios where power outlets or dedicated 12V supplies are inconvenient or absent.
The device integrates transparently with standard VMS platforms, NVRs, and network access-control systems. Any IP camera, encoder, door controller, or intercom that speaks standard Ethernet will work across an EBRIDGE100TM link without firmware updates or special drivers. ONVIF-compliant cameras stream video and metadata normally. The transceiver is electrically passive on the data path—it handles the physical conversion from coax/CAT5e to standard RJ45, but does not inspect, filter, or modify traffic. This simplicity ensures compatibility across equipment vendors and eliminates the need for software licensing or configuration management at the transceiver level.
UL listing is a key compliance advantage for security integrators working in code-regulated environments. Many commercial properties, financial institutions, government facilities, and healthcare sites require equipment to carry UL, cUL, or equivalent third-party certification. The EBRIDGE100TM carries UL listing, making it suitable for retrofit upgrades that must pass final electrical and fire-code inspection. This eliminates back-and-forth with AHJs (Authorities Having Jurisdiction) over whether a non-listed adapter can be used in a security system upgrade.
The lifetime warranty reflects Altronix's positioning in the professional integrator market. Unlike consumer-grade networking products sold with 1- or 2-year warranties, Altronix backs the EBRIDGE100TM for the life of the product, assuming proper use and maintenance. For integrators managing 50–500+ camera deployments, this warranty posture reduces the risk of unexpected component failure and RMA costs late in a system lifecycle.
Marty AllisonPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've specified the EBRIDGE100TM in more than 50 retrofit security upgrades over the past five years, and it consistently solves one of the highest-friction problems in legacy-building IP migrations: coax replacement. The reality of upgrading a 1990s analog CCTV plant to IP is not pretty. You have coax running through concrete slabs, old EMT conduit packed with multiple cables, runs that vanish into walls where nobody remembers the path. Pulling new Category 5e or 6 cable in a live commercial building is genuinely expensive—we've seen $3,000–$8,000 quotes just to run four new lines through a three-story office building. The EBRIDGE100TM flips the economics. For under $100 per pair in bulk, you convert an existing run. Two transceivers, no new cable, no conduit rework, no building shutdown. The ROI on a 16-camera retrofit becomes obvious very fast. What differentiates this product from competitors like Comtech or Black Box Ethernet-over-coax converters is Altronix's PoE integration and form factor. Most legacy converters require separate 12V supplies at both ends, adding wiring, power supplies, and UPS considerations. The EBRIDGE100TM is powered by the same PoE signal that feeds the remote camera, so once you run PoE to the transceiver location, you're done—no second power infrastructure. That's an elegant constraint that matters in cramped retrofit environments.
Technical Highlights:
- PoE 802.3af Input: Standard PoE power eliminates dual-supply complexity in retrofit deployments. Typical coax runs carry no power, so PoE injection is the natural fit for transceiver powering. Works with any standard PoE injector or PoE switch port; no special power budget required.
- Coax/CAT5e Agnostic: The device works equally well on RG6, RG59, or CAT5e twisted pair. This flexibility is critical when retrofitting mixed-generation cable plants where analog TV cable, telephone pairs, and legacy data runs coexist in the same conduit or riser.
- Single RJ45 Output: One Ethernet connection per transceiver keeps the device simple and minimizes BOM cost per camera. For a 16-camera retrofit, you buy 16 transceiver pairs instead of a single 16-port converter that may require additional power and rack real estate.
- Transparent Ethernet Pass-Through: No configuration, no firmware, no managed interface. The transceiver handles physical-layer conversion only. IP cameras, NVRs, and controllers see standard Ethernet connectivity and behave normally. Integration complexity is zero.
- UL Listed Certification: Meets code-compliance requirements in regulated environments (financial, healthcare, government). Eliminates AHJ friction and allows faster final inspection sign-off on security system upgrades.
Deployment Considerations:
- Verify coax condition before installation. Damaged, heavily corroded, or improperly terminated coax runs introduce packet loss and reduced range. A cable certifier or TDR tester is worth the upfront effort—it prevents post-install troubleshooting and call-backs.
- Maximum distance is typically 300–400 feet per coax run depending on cable quality and gauge. If your run exceeds that, the link may drop frames or disconnect intermittently. Know your cable path length before specifying the transceiver.
- In older buildings, coax may share conduit with power or lighting circuits. Ensure physical separation or shielding to avoid EMI interference on the Ethernet signal. A cable certifier will flag this issue if present.
- The transceiver itself is passive; it draws power only from the PoE input. Budget for PoE power at the backbone injection point. A single PoE injector can support multiple transceivers, but tally the load: each transceiver + remote camera load must stay within the PoE supply budget (typically 60–95W per injector depending on standard).
- For access-control or intercom retrofit, be aware that coax runs may be daisy-chained or branched with splitters from the original analog system. You'll need to physically separate the coax segment intended for the transceiver pair; splitters block the Ethernet signal path.
The EBRIDGE100TM is the right fit for integrators and end-user security teams managing campus retrofits, multi-building properties, or single-site expansions where new cabling cost and disruption are deal-breakers. If your upgrade budget is constrained by building renovation logistics, legacy cable plant becomes an asset instead of a liability. Explore the full Altronix catalog for complementary PoE power supplies, surge protection, and environmental-control solutions that often work alongside transceiver pairs in outdoor and industrial retrofit contexts.
