StarTech ET90110ST2 10/100 to Multimode Fiber Media Converter

Overview

The StarTech ET90110ST2 is a compact fiber media converter that bridges 10/100 Mbps Ethernet to multimode fiber over distances up to 2 km (1.2 miles) — a practical answer when copper's 100-meter limit is the only thing standing between your network closet and a remote camera, access reader, or edge switch. Using ST duplex fiber connectors at 1310nm wavelength, it gives installers a straightforward path to extend infrastructure without running new copper or installing an intermediate switch. If your facility already has multimode fiber in conduit, the ET90110ST2 lets you put that investment to work without a forklift upgrade.

Key Features

• 2 km Multimode Fiber Reach: Extends the network segment up to 2 km over standard multimode fiber — roughly 20x the distance copper allows. Practical for connecting buildings across a campus, spanning a warehouse floor end-to-end, or reaching a parking lot camera head-end from the main IDF without pulling new cable runs.
• 200 Mbps Maximum Data Rate: Supports up to 200 Mbps throughput over the fiber link, which comfortably handles multiple HD video streams or aggregated device traffic from a remote switch. On a single-camera run, this headroom means no throughput bottleneck even at full bitrate.
• Half and Full-Duplex Operation: Auto-negotiates half or full-duplex mode depending on the connected equipment, reducing the risk of duplex mismatch errors that cause retransmissions and degraded throughput on legacy devices.
• ST Duplex Fiber Connector at 1310nm: ST connectors are common in older enterprise and industrial fiber plant installations — if your building already has ST-terminated multimode runs, this converter drops in without re-terminating anything. The 1310nm wavelength is the standard operating window for multimode fiber, keeping insertion loss predictable.
• RJ-45 Ethernet Interface: Standard RJ-45 on the copper side means the converter connects directly to any switch port, NVR Ethernet port, or PoE injector output without adapters or media conversion on the LAN side.
• Wide-Input AC Power Supply (100–240V AC): The included power supply accepts 100–240V AC at up to 0.48A input, making the unit usable on both North American and international electrical infrastructure. Output is 12V DC at 1.6A — clean regulated DC to the converter chassis.
• 19.2W Power Consumption: At under 20W total system draw, this converter adds minimal load to the circuit it shares with other equipment. Relevant in rack or wall-mount deployments where circuit budgets are already allocated to cameras and switches.
• 0°C to 60°C Operating Range: Rated for operation between 0°C and 60°C with storage down to -10°C. Suitable for conditioned equipment rooms, wiring closets, and climate-controlled IDF spaces. Not rated for unheated outdoor enclosures in climates that drop below freezing.
• Steel Chassis Construction: The all-steel enclosure provides RFI shielding and mechanical durability — relevant in industrial environments where plastic housings can crack under vibration or temperature cycling. At 387g (13.7 oz), the unit is dense enough to stay put on a shelf without additional securing.
• Compact Form Factor (6.1 x 3.4 x 0.9 in): At under an inch tall and about the footprint of a thick paperback, the ET90110ST2 can be shelf-mounted, rack-tray installed, or secured inside an equipment enclosure without consuming significant real estate.
• 2-Year Manufacturer Warranty: Covered under StarTech's 2-year warranty, giving you a defined support window for a device that typically lives in an unmonitored IDF or junction box for years at a time.

Integration and Compatibility

The ET90110ST2 operates at Layer 1 — it is a physical-layer media converter, not a managed switch. It passes traffic transparently without MAC address tables, VLANs, or QoS configuration. This means it integrates cleanly with any managed or unmanaged switch on either end and introduces no additional configuration surface. For IP cameras or access control endpoints connected via fiber back to a central NVR or head-end, the converter is invisible to the network stack — the endpoint simply sees an extended Ethernet segment.

Pairing this converter with a PoE switch on the copper side and a second ET90110ST2 at the remote end creates a fiber uplink segment between two copper segments — a standard fiber-in-the-middle topology used widely in NVR-based surveillance systems where cameras are copper-connected locally but the uplink to the head-end crosses a long distance. For guidance on planning fiber-extended surveillance infrastructure, refer to a camera and infrastructure selection guide to match fiber reach with camera density and bitrate requirements.

Operating humidity is rated at 10–90% RH non-condensing, consistent with standard equipment room environments. Storage temperature range is -10°C to 70°C — relevant when units are warehoused before deployment in seasonal climates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What fiber type does the ET90110ST2 require?

A: The ET90110ST2 is designed for multimode fiber only. It operates at 1310nm wavelength using ST duplex connectors. Single-mode fiber runs are not compatible with this unit.

Q: What is the maximum distance the ET90110ST2 can cover?

A: Up to 2 km (approximately 1.2 miles) over multimode fiber. This is the rated maximum — actual reach may be lower depending on fiber quality, connector condition, and splice losses in the run.

Q: Does the ET90110ST2 require any configuration or management?

A: No. It is a Layer 1 media converter with no management interface, no IP address, and no configuration required. Connect power, fiber, and Ethernet — it operates transparently.

Q: Can the ET90110ST2 be used outdoors?

A: The unit is rated for 0°C to 60°C operation and is not weatherproofed. It requires a dry, conditioned environment. For outdoor deployments, it must be installed inside a weatherproof enclosure rated for the ambient temperature range at your site.

Q: What is the warranty on the ET90110ST2?

A: StarTech covers the ET90110ST2 under a 2-year manufacturer warranty.

Q: Will this converter work with a PoE switch on the copper side?

A: Yes — the RJ-45 copper port on the ET90110ST2 connects to any standard switch port, including PoE-capable ports. The converter itself does not pass PoE power across the fiber link; the remote copper device must have its own power source or a local PoE injector.

Ted Perry

The ET90110ST2 comes up most often when I'm talking to integrators who have existing multimode fiber in conduit — usually OM1 or OM2 — and need to extend a 10/100 segment to a remote building or outlying IDF without the cost and disruption of new cable. The 2 km rated reach at 1310nm is the spec that does the work here: that's enough to span most mid-size campuses, distribution centers, or parking structures on a single fiber hop with no intermediate switching.

Technical Highlights:

• 2 km Multimode Reach: Rated 2 km over multimode fiber at 1310nm — covers the majority of campus and industrial facility footprints in a single link segment without intermediate amplification or switching hardware.
• 200 Mbps Max Throughput: The 200 Mbps ceiling is well above what a single 10/100 device consumes, but keep it in mind if you're aggregating multiple streams through the fiber segment — it's not a gigabit uplink.
• Wide-Voltage AC Input (100–240V): The 100–240V AC, 0.48A input means this unit ships and deploys internationally without a power adapter swap — useful for multi-site enterprise rollouts across different electrical standards.

Deployment Considerations:

• The ET90110ST2 is a Layer 1 device — it passes traffic transparently with no VLAN, QoS, or management features. Plan your network segmentation at the switches on either end, not at the converter itself.
• Operating temperature is rated 0°C to 60°C — this unit is not suitable for unheated outdoor enclosures in northern climates. If the remote termination point is in an unheated utility space, verify winter lows before specifying this converter without a heated enclosure.

This is the right converter for a campus security deployment where multimode fiber is already pulled between buildings and the remote endpoint — a door controller, a PTZ camera, or a network switch feeding a few cameras — runs on 10/100 Ethernet. It fills that gap cleanly, without overcomplicating a straightforward physical-layer extension problem.