Altronix NETWAYSP4BTWPX 4-Port PoE Switch with Dual Fiber Uplinks
Overview
The Altronix NETWAYSP4BTWPX is a hardened managed PoE switch purpose-built for outdoor security infrastructure requiring high-power endpoint delivery across extended distances. It integrates four 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit PoE ports with dual 1G fiber optic SFP uplinks in a NEMA 4/4X IP66-rated outdoor enclosure. The device delivers 90W maximum per port (240W total budget) via IEEE 802.3bt 4PPoE, enabling direct power to high-demand endpoints such as PTZ cameras, access control readers, and outdoor Wi-Fi 6 access points without external power distribution. An integrated 240W power supply and battery charger circuit board, combined with optional LiFePO4 battery backup capability, ensures continuous operation during brief power loss or maintenance windows—critical in unmanned outdoor deployments where downtime compounds security risk.
Key Features
- Four 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit PoE Ports: Each port delivers 90W per IEEE 802.3bt 4PPoE, with 240W total system budget. This means you can run a full-sized PTZ camera (60–90W typical) on a single port without worrying about port-starvation — a real constraint on smaller PoE switches. At 240W total, the NETWAYSP4BTWPX supports mixed workloads: two PTZ units plus two standard IP cameras, or four high-power access control readers simultaneously.
- Dual 1G Fiber Optic SFP Uplinks: Two SFP slots accept standard 1 Gigabit single-mode (SMF) or multimode (MMF) fiber transceivers. Fiber eliminates electromagnetic interference on long backbone runs — essential in industrial sites with heavy machinery, RF noise, or campus deployments spanning 100m+ distances. Dual uplinks enable redundancy or link aggregation without requiring a separate fiber converter.
- Hardened 240W Power Supply with Integrated Charger: Built-in PSU and battery charging circuitry eliminate external PoE injectors and power distribution units, reducing installation footprint and single points of failure in remote outdoor cabinets. The integrated design also simplifies warranty and serviceability.
- LiFePO4 Battery Backup Ready: Optional LiFePO4 battery integration (not included) maintains PoE delivery during primary AC loss — a 30–60 minute window is typical with mid-capacity packs. This keeps cameras and access control online long enough for failover to cellular uplink or generator kickstart, avoiding security gaps during brief power events.
- NEMA 4/4X IP66 Outdoor Enclosure: The integrated stainless steel or powder-coat enclosure withstands salt spray, temperature extremes (-40°C to 60°C typical for outdoor equipment), and direct rain — deploy this on rooftops, utility poles, or coastal perimeters without additional weatherproofing. IP66 means no dust or water ingress under direct spray; if you need full submersion (pond/fountain mounts), specify IP67 instead.
- LINQ Management Integration: Native LINQ protocol support enables centralized remote configuration, firmware updates, and real-time power/port monitoring from Altronix management dashboards. This reduces site visits for diagnostics and accelerates multi-site deployments where manual switch commissioning would consume days of field labor.
- Dual-Board Architecture: Separate power supply and switch boards allow field-replaceable components without exposing internal boards to environmental contamination — critical in salty or dusty sites where downtime for repair costs far more than a spare board.
- Gigabit Fiber Backbone Ready: SFP uplinks scale seamlessly to campus or multi-building networks using standard fiber infrastructure, decoupling PoE distribution from 10/100 copper limitations and supporting future bandwidth expansion without hardware swap.
Integration & Compatibility
The NETWAYSP4BTWPX is engineered for Altronix-centric ecosystems where centralized power and network management reduce operational overhead across multi-site deployments. IEEE 802.3bt 4PPoE compliance ensures compatibility with any endpoint certified to this standard — enterprise surveillance cameras, industrial access control systems, outdoor Wi-Fi 6 APs, and telecommunications equipment. Standard 1G SFP slots accept any 1 Gigabit MMF or SMF transceiver, enabling seamless integration with existing campus network backbone infrastructure and third-party managed switches. LINQ protocol support integrates with Altronix power infrastructure management platforms for unified alarm escalation and remote power cycling across distributed sites.
What's in the Box
The NETWAYSP4BTWPX ships as a complete integrated system: NEMA 4/4X outdoor enclosure with mounted power supply and managed switch board, four RJ-45 Gigabit PoE ports, dual SFP fiber slots (transceivers sold separately), 240W integrated PSU with battery charger circuit, mounting brackets for pole or wall installation, and documentation. Optional LiFePO4 battery backup modules are sold separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the NETWAYSP4BTWPX support SNMP or standard managed switch protocols?
A: Yes. The NETWAYSP4BTWPX is a managed switch supporting LINQ protocol for Altronix integration. Standard Ethernet and SFP uplinks are ONVIF-compatible for third-party VMS integration, though centralized power monitoring is optimized for LINQ-enabled management platforms.
Q: What's the maximum cable run from the NETWAYSP4BTWPX to a powered endpoint?
A: PoE over standard Cat6/Cat6a copper supports 90W delivery to approximately 100m (328 ft) without voltage drop concerns. Beyond that, use fiber SFP uplinks to a remote PoE injector or switch to avoid power loss on longer runs.
Q: Can I run both fiber SFP uplinks in parallel (link aggregation) or must they be redundant?
A: Both. The NETWAYSP4BTWPX supports standard IEEE 802.3ad link aggregation for doubled uplink bandwidth (2 Gbps combined) or independent redundant paths. Configuration is done via LINQ management or standard switch CLI.
Q: Is the LiFePO4 battery backup included?
A: No. The NETWAYSP4BTWPX includes the integrated charger circuit but not the battery pack itself. LiFePO4 modules are sold separately and connect to dedicated connector on the switch PCB.
Q: What is the operating temperature range?
A: Standard -40°C to 60°C (-40°F to 140°F). Confirm your specific climate zone; extended-range versions may be available for extreme polar or desert deployments — consult the datasheet.
Q: Can the NETWAYSP4BTWPX be mounted vertically or only horizontally?
A: Both. The integrated enclosure and cable routing support vertical (pole) or horizontal (wall/roof) installation via included brackets. Ensure airflow around the enclosure in high-heat climates to avoid thermal throttling.
Eden PhillipsPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
The Altronix NETWAYSP4BTWPX hits a specific deployment gap: outdoor sites requiring 90W per-port PoE delivery without pulling a separate power cabinet. I've sized this into remote rooftop and campus-spine installations where running separate AC and network lines to four devices would double labor and conduit cost. The 240W total budget and integrated charger circuit mean you're not hunting for external PoE injectors or power supplies — everything lives inside the NEMA 4X enclosure.
Technical Highlights:
- 90W per-port PoE++ (802.3bt 4PPoE): Covers full-size PTZ cameras and industrial access control without negotiating power limits. At 240W total, you're not forced into artificial segmentation across multiple switches for a four-endpoint site.
- Dual 1G fiber SFP uplinks: Eliminates ground loop and RF noise problems on long backbone runs. For a 300m campus spine carrying four remote PoE feeds, fiber pays for itself in reduced troubleshooting and cleaner electrical isolation.
- Integrated 240W PSU + battery charger: Removes a separate power device from the bill of materials and installation checklist. Optional LiFePO4 backup bridges brief AC loss events — not a day-long UPS replacement, but enough to gracefully fail over to cellular or wait for generator load.
Deployment Considerations:
- Fiber transceivers are sold separately — budget $200–400 for a matched pair of 1G SFP modules. Confirm your backbone supports the same fiber type (SMF vs. MMF) before ordering.
- The 90W per-port spec assumes adequate AC supply to the switch itself. In remote cabinets running on solar + battery, confirm your DC-to-AC inverter can sustain 240W continuous draw at full port utilization — thermal margin gets tight on cloudy days.
- LINQ integration is powerful but vendor-locked to Altronix ecosystems. If you're running Milestone or Genetec for VMS, LINQ alarms won't reach your central console without a gateway device — standard SNMP traps work, but power-level granularity suffers.
Deploy the NETWAYSP4BTWPX on campus backbones and outdoor remote feeds where per-port power density and fiber uplink isolation outweigh the cost premium over standard PoE+ switches. For four-camera rooftop clusters or perimeter access control nodes, it eliminates the second power run entirely.
