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Comnet Communication Networks, now a business of ACRE Security (which acquired Comnet alongside Open Options and other access control brands), manufactures industrial Ethernet networking hardware purpose-built for video surveillance, access control, and security networks. Unlike general-purpose industrial Ethernet brands (Transition Networks, Moxa, Hirschmann), Comnet's engineering priorities center on security-network-specific requirements: PoE budget allocation tuned for IP camera power consumption, ring topology with <50ms recovery times optimized for continuous video streaming, VLAN configuration aligned with camera/NVR/VMS traffic segmentation, and management software that integrates with security management systems.
The product portfolio is organized around four core families: industrial Ethernet switches (CNGE managed and unmanaged, DIN-rail or rack-mount, extended temperature -40°C to +75°C for outdoor and industrial cabinet deployments), fiber media converters (CNFE and CNMCSFP, 10/100/1000 Mbps copper-to-fiber conversion for extending camera runs beyond 100m UTP limit), PoE infrastructure (PoE+ and PoE++ injectors, PoE extenders, outdoor-hardened PoE for perimeter deployments), and Ethernet extension (CLFE Ethernet-over-UTP for reusing existing twisted-pair wiring in retrofit installations).
Comnet is NDAA Section 889 compliant and approved for U.S. federal procurement, state and local government, and critical-infrastructure deployments. The ACRE Security ownership provides long-term product roadmap stability and integration with Open Options access control, Feenics cloud access, and other ACRE physical security portfolio products.
Every major Comnet product line — pick the family that matches the deployment.
Managed and unmanaged industrial Ethernet switches — DIN-rail mount, -40°C to +75°C operation, PoE+ power budgets tuned for camera deployments.
Fast-Ethernet fiber switches with SFP slots — for perimeter camera runs, campus fiber backbone, and inter-building video surveillance networks.
Copper-to-fiber media converters with SFP slots — extends camera runs beyond 100m UTP limit to single-mode or multi-mode fiber.
Ethernet-over-twisted-pair extenders for retrofit installations — reuses existing telephone-grade UTP wiring for IP camera runs up to 1,500+ feet.
Outdoor-rated PoE wireless bridges for linking perimeter camera deployments across parking lots, campus grounds, or roadway spans.
PoE+ and PoE++ injectors for powering IP cameras and access control readers — indoor and outdoor-hardened variants.
DIN-rail power supplies, lightning/surge protection, SFP modules, and industrial-grade accessories for Comnet switch deployments.
A sample of the high-performance Comnet catalog.
Comnet fits every video surveillance and security network deployment where industrial-hardened Ethernet infrastructure is required. Typical applications include perimeter camera backhaul (CNGE managed switches at perimeter cabinets with fiber backbone to NVR closet), parking lot IP camera deployments (CLFE Ethernet extenders reusing existing UTP, CNMCSFP media converters for fiber runs beyond 100m), campus surveillance (CNFE fiber ring topology with <50ms recovery, inter-building redundancy), retrofit projects (CLFE extenders reusing legacy telephone-grade UTP wiring), outdoor-hardened deployments (-40°C to +75°C switches in unconditioned outdoor cabinets), and critical-infrastructure video surveillance (federal, utility, transit) requiring NDAA-compliant industrial networking. Comnet is specified for surveillance-first deployments where general-purpose industrial brands' feature sets don't align with camera-specific network requirements.
Engineered specifically for video surveillance networks — PoE budgets tuned for cameras, ring recovery <50ms for video continuity, VLAN for camera/NVR/VMS segmentation.
Ethernet extension over existing twisted-pair telephone wiring — extends IP cameras 1,500+ feet on UTP, eliminating new cable pulls in retrofit projects.
CNGE industrial switches rated -40°C to +75°C for outdoor enclosures, unconditioned cabinets, rail trackside, and industrial deployments.
ACRE Security ownership provides long-term roadmap stability and integration with Open Options access control, Feenics cloud, and ACRE physical security portfolio.
Named technologies that matter when you specify Comnet hardware.
Ethernet over telephone-grade twisted-pair wiring — extends IP cameras 1,500+ feet on existing UTP without pulling new Cat5e/Cat6 cable.
Ring topology recovery times under 50ms — ensures continuous video streaming during network link failures without perceptible interruption at the VMS.
PoE+ and PoE++ power budgets allocated and managed for typical IP camera consumption profiles — avoids under-powered camera deployment errors common with general-purpose switches.
Standards-based DIN-rail mounting for industrial cabinet installation — compatible with Phoenix Contact, Wago, and other industrial panel standards.
Pre-configured VLAN templates for camera, NVR, and VMS traffic segmentation — eliminates common configuration errors that cause video streaming issues.
Lifetime warranty on most Comnet switch SKUs — materially improves TCO over multi-year camera deployment lifecycles where general-purpose switches have 3-5 year warranties.
Common facility types and the hardware spec that typically fits.
CNGE managed switches in outdoor perimeter cabinets with fiber uplink to NVR closet, CNMCSFP media converters at individual camera runs beyond 100m UTP, ring topology for redundancy.
CNFE fast-Ethernet fiber ring connecting 8 buildings, sub-50ms recovery for continuous video streaming during link failures, PoE+ budgets tuned for 200+ campus cameras.
CLFE Ethernet extenders reusing legacy telephone-grade UTP wiring to reach IP cameras in ceiling tiles, eliminates new cable pull costs in historic buildings.
CNGE -40°C to +75°C industrial switches in unconditioned outdoor electrical cabinets, CNPCW outdoor PoE wireless bridges linking perimeter camera clusters.
Common questions from integrators and end users evaluating Comnet for commercial projects.
Comnet is in the same industrial Ethernet category but engineered specifically for video surveillance and security networks — PoE budgets tuned for cameras, ring recovery times optimized for continuous video streaming, VLAN templates for camera/NVR/VMS segmentation. Transition Networks and Moxa are general-purpose industrial Ethernet brands with broader industrial application support; Comnet is surveillance-first.
CLFE transmits Ethernet data over telephone-grade twisted-pair wiring for distances up to 1,500+ feet — far beyond standard Cat5e/Cat6 100m limits. Use CLFE for retrofit IP camera deployments where existing telephone-grade UTP wiring is in place but new Cat5e/Cat6 pulls would be cost-prohibitive. Common in historic buildings, legacy commercial retrofits, and cable-reuse renovation projects.
Yes. Comnet (a business of ACRE Security) is NDAA Section 889 compliant and approved for U.S. federal procurement, state and local government, and critical-infrastructure deployments including TSA, federal courthouses, DoD installations, and utility substation projects.
Comnet PoE+ and PoE++ budgets are allocated and managed for typical IP camera consumption profiles — cameras with built-in heaters, PTZ motors, and IR illuminators that can spike above base PoE consumption temporarily. General-purpose switches sometimes under-budget for these peak spikes, causing camera failures under cold-weather operation or IR activation. Comnet switches are engineered specifically for these camera-typical consumption patterns.
Ring topology provides redundancy — if any single network link fails, traffic continues via the alternate path with sub-50ms recovery. For continuous video streaming, this recovery time is below human perception — operators don't see a pause in camera feeds. Star topology would lose camera connectivity on any link failure, making ring the preferred topology for critical surveillance networks.
Yes. ACRE Security (Comnet's parent company) integrates Comnet networking with Open Options access control and Feenics cloud access management — unified network + access control management for customers deploying the full ACRE security portfolio.
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