Comnet Four-Channel Ethernet over COAX with Pass-through PoE - CLFE4EOC

Comnet CLFE4EOC Four-Channel Ethernet over Coax Extender with PoE Pass-through

The Comnet CLFE4EOC is a four-channel Ethernet-over-copper extender designed to push 10/100 Mbps Ethernet and PoE power down existing coaxial or twisted-pair cable runs—the core workaround for extending IP cameras and edge devices where CAT-5/6 infrastructure doesn't exist. Deploy it to retrofit CCTV cable plants into IP surveillance networks without trenching new copper or fiber.

Key Features

• Full-duplex 10/100 Mbps Ethernet over coax or UTP: Selectable via DIP switch to match your cable plant. At 100 Mbps, you reach 610 meters on either coax or CAT-5 UTP—distance enough to bridge parking lots, warehouse exteriors, or remote gate installations without intermediate powered hubs. At 10 Mbps, coax extends to 1,524 meters, meaningful for perimeter or rural deployments where bandwidth is less critical than span.
• IEEE 802.3af PoE pass-through (9–15 VDC, 5W max per four-channel unit): Powers your remote cameras directly over the same cable that carries data. No separate 24 VAC runs required. The 5W budget supports standard PoE cameras (12.95W devices) when paired with a capable upstream switch or injector; verify your camera's actual draw against the unit's pass-through capacity.
• Four independent channels in compact form factor: 15.5 × 13.5 × 2.8 cm; racks into a single unit space on the 4-channel variant. Each channel maps independently, so you can assign different speed/pairing modes per run without affecting the others.
• DIP-switch configuration for 10 or 100 Mbps and 1-pair or 4-pair UTP mode: Eliminates firmware updates or console access. Flip switches on-site to tune for your cable quality and distance budget. A network technician can reconfigure without a specialist visit.
• LED link and activity indicators on both Ethernet and extended (coax/UTP) sides: Instant troubleshooting—you see immediately if the remote camera is connected and active. No guessing whether the run is live or if there's a break in the middle of your cable run.
• Operating range –40°C to +75°C with >100,000-hour MTBF: Survives harsh exterior environments (loading docks, freezers, unheated sheds) without derating. The extended temperature spec means no climate-control infrastructure required for the extender itself, reducing deployment cost in industrial or agricultural surveillance.

Integration & Compatibility

The CLFE4EOC is a network infrastructure device; it presents as transparent Ethernet to any ONVIF-compliant IP camera or edge computer. No driver or firmware integration required. Connect an RJ-45 cable from your PoE switch to the Ethernet port, connect a BNC coax run (or RJ-45 on UTP mode) to the extended port, and the remote camera appears on your network as if it were directly attached to the switch. Pairs naturally with network video recorders and IP cameras rated for IEEE 802.3af PoE delivery.

The unit handles UDP, TCP/IP, HTTP, and TFTP per RFC 2544, meaning it's transparent to standard surveillance VMS platforms and custom monitoring software alike. Multicast and Jumbo Frame support ensure compatibility with modern streaming profiles.

Environmental & Durability

IPC-standard circuit board construction, protective DIN-rail or surface-mount packaging (choose the 1-channel, 4-channel, or 8/16-channel variant based on your site footprint). Rated for 0–95% relative humidity (non-condensing) and tested to NEMA TS-1/TS-2 and CALTRANS equipment standards, meaning it handles outdoor traffic-control duty, high/low-voltage line proximity, and transient surge exposure. Current overload protection on the power input guards against accidental misconfiguration.

Warranty

Lifetime warranty from the manufacturer, reflecting the product's industrial durability focus and mature design—no planned obsolescence, only component replacement at end of life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What's the maximum distance I can run with the CLFE4EOC at 100 Mbps?

A: 610 meters on either coaxial or CAT-5 UTP cable, assuming standard cable quality and PoE power sourced from a compliant switch or injector at the head end.

Q: Can I use this with existing RG-59 or RG-6 coax from an analog CCTV system?

A: Yes—that is the primary use case. The CLFE4EOC is designed to repurpose analog CCTV cable plants for IP camera runs, avoiding the cost and disruption of new cable installation.

Q: Does the CLFE4EOC require AC power at the remote end?

A: No. The unit can be powered entirely via PoE pass-through from your upstream switch or injector. For the 4-channel variant, ensure your PoE source delivers at least 5W to the pass-through ports; for 8- or 16-channel units, 10W and 20W respectively.

Q: What happens if I run the CLFE4EOC in 10 Mbps mode instead of 100 Mbps?

A: You trade bandwidth for reach: 10 Mbps extends 1,524 meters on coax instead of 610 meters. Useful for remote single-camera sites or low-bandwidth monitoring where latency and throughput matter less than distance.

Q: Is the CLFE4EOC NDAA compliant?

A: No NDAA or TAA compliance is claimed in the product specifications. If federal procurement is a requirement, confirm with your procurement contact.

Q: Can I mix different DIP-switch modes on different channels of the same 4-channel unit?

A: No. The DIP switches set the mode for all channels on the unit simultaneously. If you need different speeds or pairing modes on different runs, deploy separate units.

Ted Perry

I've spent fifteen years pulling camera runs through aged warehouse cable plants, and the CLFE4EOC CLFE4EOC is exactly the tool that saves a retrofit from becoming a full excavation project. When you inherit an existing analog CCTV infrastructure—RG-6 runs already buried, trenches already cut—and you need to migrate to IP, this four-channel extender lets you reuse that copper without trenching new CAT-5. The 610-meter reach at 100 Mbps covers most perimeter and loading-dock distances in a single hop.

Technical Highlights:

• IEEE 802.3af PoE pass-through (5W on the 4-channel unit): Enough to power a standard PoE IP camera (typically 12.95W) when fed from a capable upstream injector or switch. Eliminates the need for a separate 24 VAC power run to the remote camera location—one cable carries both data and power, cutting installation labor significantly.
• 600-meter reach at 100 Mbps over coaxial or UTP: A real-world span for parking lots, remote gates, and warehouse exteriors. At 10 Mbps, you stretch to 1,524 meters if you accept lower bandwidth—useful for single-camera remote monitoring where latency isn't critical.
• DIP-switch selectable speed and pairing mode: No firmware, no console access required. A technician can reconfigure on-site in seconds to adapt to cable quality or swap between 1-pair UTP (less susceptible to noise on longer runs) and 4-pair UTP (higher bandwidth but shorter reach).
• –40°C to +75°C operating range: No climate control required for the extender. Industrial freezers, unheated loading docks, and summer-baked exterior cabinets are all fair game—the MTBF >100,000 hours reflects a rugged design without derating in harsh environments.

Deployment Considerations:

• The 5W PoE pass-through budget on the 4-channel unit is tight. Verify your camera's actual draw (check the datasheet—many claim 12.95W max but idle lower). If you're marginal, upgrade to a PoE injector at the head end with dedicated wattage, or consider deploying a 1-channel variant upstream of the extender, which supports up to 1.5W local 24 VAC or 36 VDC power input.
• DIP-switch modes apply to all four channels simultaneously. If you need different speed/pairing configurations on different runs from the same extender, you'll need separate units—budget accordingly for multi-site retrofits.
• The coax distance spec assumes standard-quality cable and PoE power sourced at the head end. Poor-quality or damaged RG-59 will degrade reach; always test the actual run before committing cameras to production.

Deploy the CLFE4EOC as the heart of a legacy-cable IP migration: retrofit a warehouse complex with a mix of buried RG-6 and CAT-5 runs, stack multiple units for each area, and avoid the cost and downtime of a complete cable replacement. It's a mature, proven design—the kind of thing you'll see on the shelf for the next decade without revision.