Altronix NETWAY1P Single Port PoE Midspan Injector
The Altronix NETWAY1P is a single-port midspan PoE injector designed to deliver power to networked devices when your existing infrastructure lacks PoE capability. Rather than replacing switches or rewiring, the NETWAY1P injects power directly onto standard Ethernet cabling between your network source and the end device. This non-intrusive topology is essential for retrofitting PoE to legacy IP cameras, wireless access points, or other remote networked equipment without operational disruption or capital expenditure on new switching hardware.
Key Features
- Single PoE Output Port: One dedicated midspan injection point means you can target a specific camera, access point, or device without affecting other network traffic — useful when you need to upgrade a remote endpoint but aren't ready to replace your core switch.
- Midspan Injection Topology: The NETWAY1P sits inline between your network switch and the powered device. Because it injects power without requiring the switch to source it, you avoid overloading PoE power budgets on older switches or those already supporting multiple cameras.
- IEEE PoE Standards Compliance: Adherence to IEEE PoE standards ensures compatibility with standard powered devices and prevents over-voltage or under-voltage conditions that damage equipment or create fire risk.
- Compact Form Factor: The NETWAY1P's small footprint allows deployment in tight cable runs, patch panels, or ceiling plenums where space is scarce. No bulky external power supply cluttering your installation.
- Lifetime Limited Warranty: Component defect coverage for the life of the product protects your investment and signals manufacturer confidence in reliability.
- Non-Intrusive Deployment: Install the NETWAY1P without reconfiguring your network, reassigning VLANs, or rebooting production systems — critical for 24/7 surveillance or access-control environments.
Integration & Deployment Scenarios
Use the NETWAY1P when retrofitting PoE power infrastructure to warehouses, retail stores, or older office buildings where cameras were installed on 12VDC or coax cabling. It's also effective for extending power to distant access points in multi-floor buildings where the main switch is far from the powered device and PoE voltage drop becomes a concern over long cable runs.
In backup and redundancy scenarios, a NETWAY1P can serve as a secondary power injection point, ensuring a critical device remains powered even if the primary PoE source fails. This is practical in environments where a camera controls gate access or monitors a hazardous zone.
The midspan topology makes the NETWAY1P suitable for network video recorder deployments that mix legacy non-PoE and modern PoE devices on the same network segment, without forcing a wholesale migration of powered devices.
Technical Foundation
The NETWAY1P operates as a passive midspan device, meaning it requires a separate AC or 12VDC power source to inject power onto the Ethernet line. It does not draw power from the upstream network switch, eliminating concerns about switch power-budget exhaustion on installations with dozens of cameras or access points already consuming PoE.
Because the device injects power in a non-destructive way, it does not interfere with data traffic flowing through the Ethernet pair — your bandwidth, QoS, or VLAN tagging remains unaffected. The injected power is isolated from the data signal using transformer coupling, a standard technique that protects your network from noise or ground loops.
Eden PhillipsPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
The Altronix NETWAY1P solves a real problem in retrofit camera deployments: you have older IP cameras that need PoE, but your switch doesn't have enough available PoE ports or power budget to support them. Instead of a $2K–5K switch replacement, the NETWAY1P injects power inline for roughly $150–200, making the economics of legacy-camera upgrades much clearer.
Technical Highlights:
- Midspan vs. Endspan: Unlike endspan injectors (which require installation at the switch), the NETWAY1P works anywhere along the cable run. This flexibility matters when your switch is in a locked server room but your camera is on the opposite end of a building.
- No Switch Reconfiguration: Your existing PoE ports stay unchanged. Every port the switch already powers continues to work; the NETWAY1P adds capacity without forcing downtime or port reallocation.
- Single-Port Design: One output limits the NETWAY1P to powering a single device per unit. If you need to power three remote cameras, you'll need three injectors — that's either a cost driver or a reason to evaluate whether a PoE switch replacement makes more financial sense.
Deployment Considerations:
- The NETWAY1P requires its own power source (not integrated). Verify your installation has AC or 12VDC available at the injection point, or you'll need to run additional power cabling alongside the Ethernet.
- Midspan injectors can introduce latency or signal degradation if the Ethernet cable run is very long (>300 feet) or already marginal. Always test with a loopback or traffic sniffer before declaring the installation complete.
Best-fit scenario: a small-to-medium warehouse or retail location with 2–6 remote IP cameras that are currently unpowered or powered by old 12VDC supplies. The NETWAY1P's low cost and non-intrusive installation make it the pragmatic choice versus a full PoE-switch refresh. In larger deployments (>10 cameras), evaluate whether a PoE+ or PoE++ switch replacement yields better long-term ROI and eliminates single points of failure at each injector.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between the NETWAY1P and a PoE switch?
A: A PoE switch sources power from every port simultaneously, supporting many devices. The NETWAY1P is a midspan injector that adds PoE capability to a single device on an existing Ethernet line. Use the NETWAY1P when you need to retrofit power to one or two cameras without replacing your core switch; use a PoE switch when you're building new infrastructure or need to power many devices at once.
Q: Does the NETWAY1P require a separate power supply?
A: Yes. The NETWAY1P must be powered independently, either via AC or 12VDC, to inject power onto the Ethernet line. Verify that your installation location has an available power outlet or DC power source before deployment.
Q: Can I use multiple NETWAY1P units on the same network?
A: Yes. Each NETWAY1P is independent and powers a single device. You can deploy multiple injectors on the same switch or network segment, each feeding a different camera or access point. Ensure each has adequate power supply capacity.
Q: Will the NETWAY1P work with any PoE device?
A: The NETWAY1P complies with IEEE PoE standards, so it works with any standard-compliant PoE device. However, if your camera requires high-power PoE++ (up to 90W), verify that the NETWAY1P is rated for that power level before purchase. The device's power output specifications determine compatibility with very high-power draws.
Q: Is there any latency or data loss when using a midspan injector?
A: Midspan injectors inject power onto the data pair using transformer coupling, which does not interfere with Ethernet data traffic. There is no meaningful latency or bandwidth loss. However, over very long cable runs or degraded cabling, the injector may be one additional point of failure — test your installation before declaring it production-ready.
Q: What warranty does the NETWAY1P carry?
A: The NETWAY1P includes a Lifetime Limited Warranty that covers component defects for the life of the product. Review the manufacturer's warranty documentation for specific terms and exclusions.
