Altronix NETWAYSP4X 4-Port PoE Switch with Dual 1G Fiber SFP
Overview
The Altronix NETWAYSP4X is a hardened managed PoE switch engineered for security and access control integration in medium-scale deployments. This compact switch combines four 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports with dual 1G fiber SFP uplinks, delivering flexible network connectivity for devices requiring both copper and fiber connectivity. The unit mounts within the BC300 metal indoor enclosure and integrates a robust 120W power supply with integral battery charging capability, enabling seamless transition to backup power during mains failures.
Purpose-built for integrators and IT managers managing camera networks, access control systems, and intercom installations, the NETWAYSP4X eliminates the need for external PoE injectors or separate switch infrastructure. The configurable PoE output supports standard PoE/PoE+ delivery across all four ports, with the ability to allocate up to 2×60W Hi-PoE channels for high-demand endpoints such as pan-tilt-zoom cameras or advanced analytics appliances.
Key Features
- 4 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet Ports: Native copper connectivity with auto-negotiation; supports legacy 100 Mbps devices and modern gigabit endpoints on the same network.
- Dual 1G Fiber SFP Uplinks: Two optical SFP transceiver slots provide redundant or aggregated fiber connectivity for backbone integration or long-distance runs without electromagnetic interference.
- Configurable PoE/PoE+ Output: All four copper ports deliver Power over Ethernet; administrator-configurable to allocate 2×60W high-power outputs (Hi-PoE) for demanding devices while maintaining standard PoE on remaining ports.
- 120W Hardened Power Supply with Battery Charging: Integrated power distribution and UPS charging circuit supports optional battery backup for extended runtime during power loss, critical for 24/7 surveillance and access control continuity.
- BC300 Indoor Metal Enclosure: Rugged steel housing protects switch and power boards from physical damage and thermal stress; suitable for electrical closets, server rooms, and secure equipment areas.
- LINQ Integration Support: Compatible with Altronix LINQ management and supervision ecosystem for centralized monitoring, event logging, and remote diagnostics across distributed installations.
- Compact Modular Design: Switch and power supply boards are pre-mounted; reduces integration labor and minimizes field configuration errors during deployment.
Integration and Compatibility
The NETWAYSP4X operates as a layer-2 managed switch, offering compatibility with standard IP security devices—network cameras, access control readers, intercoms, and encoders—across both copper and fiber connections. Fiber uplinks enable integration with remote network segments without requiring separate media converters. The LINQ-aware platform allows direct integration into centralized Altronix supervision, enabling automatic status monitoring, power event alerts, and configuration management from a single dashboard.
The dual fiber SFP slots support hot-swappable transceivers, allowing field flexibility to match existing optical infrastructure—single-mode, multi-mode, or extended-distance variants. The configurable Hi-PoE allocation means security integrators can optimize power budgeting per deployment without redesigning the entire network.
Typical Deployment Scenarios
This switch is suited for mid-sized security networks requiring hybrid copper-fiber connectivity: multi-story buildings with cameras distributed across multiple floors (using fiber for backbone runs), access control systems with door readers and electronic locks (consuming standard PoE), and resilient surveillance designs where battery backup ensures recording continuity during power events.
Eden PhillipsPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
I evaluated the NETWAYSP4X during a recent system design for a multi-building campus security retrofit. The combination of four copper PoE ports and dual fiber SFP uplinks solved a genuine integration challenge: we needed to connect door readers and intercoms at ground level (copper PoE) while maintaining optical isolation and bandwidth capacity for the backbone run to the central NVR. The NETWAYSP4X eliminated the need to specify separate switches for different network segments.
Technical Highlights:
- Configurable Hi-PoE Allocation: The 2×60W configurable channels allowed us to reserve maximum power for two PTZ cameras on one floor while the remaining two ports delivered standard PoE to door readers and intercoms—all from a single unit without external injectors.
- Fiber Uplink Flexibility: The dual 1G SFP slots meant we could deploy single-mode fiber for a long backbone run without separate media converters, reducing both equipment cost and installation complexity.
- Integrated 120W Power Supply with Battery Charging: The onboard charger circuit simplified our UPS design; we added a 24VDC battery module directly to the BC300 enclosure, ensuring the switch remained operational and the access control system remained supervisory during a 2-hour mains outage.
Deployment Considerations:
- Verify your fiber transceiver type (single-mode vs. multi-mode) before ordering; SFP modules are sold separately and must match your backbone cabling specification.
- Configure the PoE budget allocation before installation. If all four ports are set to Hi-PoE, you will exceed the 120W supply headroom—plan your power allocation strategy during design phase.
- The BC300 enclosure is compact; ensure adequate ventilation if the unit will operate in a warm electrical closet or in direct sunlight near a window.
For mid-scale security networks where fiber backbone reliability and flexible copper PoE distribution are both required, the NETWAYSP4X is a practical, labor-saving choice. It eliminates the guesswork of mixing separate switches and media converters, and the LINQ integration provides visibility into power and network status that makes troubleshooting faster when issues arise in the field.
