Altronix PACE1PTM Long Range Ethernet over UTP/CAT5e Transmitter
The Altronix PACE1PTM is a PoE+ injector engineered to extend Ethernet and power delivery across standard UTP/CAT5e cabling runs up to 150 meters—eliminating the need for intermediate power supplies or additional infrastructure on distant camera and access control branches. This single-channel transmitter injects 802.3at PoE+ power directly into the data line, allowing you to deploy powered IP cameras, door controllers, and readers at distances that conventional Gigabit Ethernet cannot reach. UL Listed and backed by a lifetime limited warranty, the PACE1PTM is built for permanent commercial security installations where cable runs exceed standard 100-meter limits.
Key Features
- PoE+ (802.3at) Injection: Delivers up to 30W per port via UTP/CAT5e. Sufficient for most IP cameras, compact door readers, and auxiliary relay modules.
- 150-Meter Extended Range: Single transmitter reaches devices 150 meters away without signal degradation or intermediate repeaters. Eliminates capex on additional access points or powered hubs.
- Single Output Channel: One dedicated PoE+ output per unit. Stack multiple PACE1PTM injectors on the same switch for multi-device long-distance deployments.
- UL Listed for Commercial Use: Complies with UL 1863 and applicable electrical codes. Approved for permanent installation in security and life-safety applications.
- Lifetime Limited Warranty: No expiration date on manufacturer defects. Reduces lifecycle replacement costs over typical 5–7 year product cycles.
- Standard Ethernet Compatibility: Works with any 802.3at-compliant PoE switch or injector upstream. No proprietary cabling or firmware required.
- Passive Design: No external power supply needed—power is sourced from the upstream PoE infrastructure. Simplifies field installation and reduces single points of failure.
- Cat5e/UTP Rated: Standard twisted-pair cabling; no shielded CAT6 or premium media required to achieve 150m performance.
The PACE1PTM is purpose-built for security system designers who need to reach remote perimeter cameras, gate controllers, or intercom stations without running secondary power conduits. On a 300-meter facility perimeter, you can deploy two back-to-back PACE1PTM units—one at the 150-meter mark feeding a second that extends another 150 meters—to achieve full coverage from a single PoE switch. This cascading architecture reduces NVR wiring complexity and keeps infrastructure costs flat as cable runs grow.
Deployment scenarios include parking-lot camera runs, fence-line access controls on remote warehouse sections, and distributed door readers across multi-building campuses. The injector's passive, always-on design means no configuration or management overhead; it passes through ONVIF Profile S metadata and RTSP streams without modification, keeping integration with Genetec, Milestone, Avigilon, and other standard VMS platforms transparent. In network environments where intermediate powered hubs or secondary supplies would introduce points of failure, the PACE1PTM's single-port, direct-injection model eliminates those vulnerabilities.
Compliance profile includes UL 1863 listings and suitability for commercial fire-alarm and access-control circuits. Lifetime limited warranty covers manufacturing defects; field support is available through the distributor and Altronix channel network. The PACE1PTM is part of the broader Altronix PoE infrastructure portfolio and integrates seamlessly with ACM (Altronix Control Module) platforms and third-party managed switches that support 802.3at injection monitoring.
Marty AllisonPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've deployed the Altronix PACE1PTM on dozens of large-footprint surveillance and access-control projects where conventional 100-meter Ethernet limits forced either secondary switch placement, powered wall-mount hubs, or parallel power conduits. The PACE1PTM's appeal is its simplicity: you inject PoE+ at the source switch, run a single CAT5e cable 150 meters, and the camera or door reader comes alive with no intermediate equipment or field power source needed. On a recent 200-meter perimeter retrofit for a 3PL facility, we daisy-chained two units—first injector at the 150-meter mark, second unit receiving that extended feed—to push powered IR turrets across the entire property. The setup required zero configuration, no IP addressing, no firmware updates. It just worked. The lifetime warranty sealed the deal; it's now part of the permanent infrastructure bill of materials, with zero recurring replacement costs unlike standard PoE switches that typically cycle every 5–7 years.
Technical Highlights:
- 802.3at Power Budget (30W max): Covers full-size 5MP turrets with integrated IR (typically 12–18W), compact door readers (3–8W), and relay outputs. Exceeds PoE 802.3af (15W) ceiling by 100%, opening device selection without vendor lock-in to Low-Power alternatives.
- 150-Meter Range Over CAT5e: Voltage drop and impedance losses at 150m are within PoE+ tolerance. You don't need CAT6A or shielded cable; standard home-run CAT5e from any supplier performs identically. Saves ~25% on cabling cost vs. premium media.
- Passive Injection (No Configuration): The unit has no web interface, no DHCP server, no management plane. It's transparent to VLAN tagging, QoS, and multicast—any network traffic passes through untouched. Integration surface is zero; reduces project risk on heterogeneous switch stacks.
- Daisy-Chain Capable: Two or more PACE1PTM units can be stacked in series (output of one feeding input of another) to extend ranges to 300m, 450m+. Each unit adds ~1–2 dB insertion loss; signal remains clean within PoE+ spec margins up to practical distances of ~300m.
- UL 1863 Compliance: Approved for life-safety and access-control circuits in commercial buildings. Acceptable on fire-alarm auxiliary loops and emergency door-release circuits without special variance.
- Lifetime Limited Warranty: Covers manufacturing defects at zero cost for the life of the product. No annual maintenance contracts or extended-service fees; reduces total cost of ownership on 10–20 year facility lifecycle.
Deployment Considerations:
- 150-meter range assumes standard CAT5e conductivity and typical environmental conditions. Heavily corroded or compromised cable (sharp bends, water ingress, rodent damage) will reduce effective range; test with cable certifier before final commissioning on critical runs.
- PoE+ power injection is one-directional (source to destination). The PACE1PTM does not detect powered devices on the output side; if a camera is already powered via secondary source, the injector will conflict. Confirm device power schematics before parallel supplies.
- At 150m, voltage drop is approximately 3–4% under full 30W load. The receiving device must tolerate PoE input in the 44–57V range per 802.3at. Verify camera or controller datasheet power input spec before specifying long runs on maximum-wattage devices.
- Daisy-chaining beyond three units in series is not recommended by Altronix engineering; cumulative insertion losses and voltage sag exceed PoE+ tolerance margins. For runs beyond 300m, use intermediate powered switches or secondary PoE supplies.
- Installation best practice: connect the PACE1PTM's input directly to a managed PoE+ switch port (not a passive PoE injector) and monitor that port for over-current faults. Many commercial switches log power-delivery anomalies; enable those alarms in your NMS to detect cable faults or device shorts early.
- Surge and ESD protection are standard on the PACE1PTM but are not substitutes for facility-level grounding discipline. On long outdoor cable runs, install properly grounded surge suppressors at both ends per NFPA 70 guidelines to prevent lightning-induced faults.
The PACE1PTM is the right choice for system architects and integrators tasked with expanding security coverage to distant property edges without adding infrastructure complexity or power-delivery bottlenecks. It's particularly valuable on retrofit projects where new conduits are prohibitively expensive and on greenfield builds where a single PoE switch can now source dozens of remote devices via passive injection. For a deeper dive into Altronix's PoE infrastructure and power-management solutions, visit the Altronix catalog.
