Altronix NETWAY5PQX 5-Port Managed Hardened PoE+ Switch with LINQ Technology
The Altronix NETWAY5PQX is a managed, hardened PoE+ switch designed for security integrators who need more than raw power delivery — they need remote visibility and control over every port. Housed in a NEMA1-rated indoor wall-mount enclosure, the NETWAY5PQX provides four PoE/PoE+ ports plus one uplink, 120W total power budget, and embedded LINQ technology for remote monitoring, diagnostics, and device resets without a site visit.
Key Features
- 120W Total PoE Budget Across Four Ports: Each of the four 10/100/1000 Mbps PoE ports supports up to 30W (IEEE 802.3at), with full IEEE 802.3af (15W) compatibility. That's enough headroom to simultaneously power four high-wattage devices — PTZ cameras, multi-sensor units, or PoE access controllers — without load-shedding or port negotiation failures.
- LINQ Remote Power Management: Embedded LINQ technology gives you LAN/WAN access to per-port diagnostics, real-time status, and remote device reset. When a camera locks up at 2 a.m., you cycle power from a dashboard instead of dispatching a technician — a meaningful operational cost difference on distributed deployments.
- Email and Windows Dashboard Alerts: LINQ pushes email notifications and Windows Dashboard alerts for real-time diagnostic events. The onboard event log retains history so you can reconstruct what happened before a failure, not just react after it.
- VLAN Support — Up to 10 Groups: Supports 802.1Q tagged VLANs with up to 10 VLAN groups (ID range 2–4095). Segment access control traffic from video traffic on the same switch — standard practice on converged security networks and required by many enterprise IT policies.
- Hardened Operating Range -30°C to 70°C: Most commercial-grade switches derate or fail below 0°C. The NETWAY5PQX operates down to -30°C (-22°F), making it usable in unconditioned utility rooms, stairwells, and mechanical spaces where temperature swings are real.
- Integral Surge Protection: Built-in surge protection on PoE ports reduces the risk of camera damage from transient voltage events — particularly relevant in installations near electrical panels or in buildings with aging power infrastructure.
- NDAA and TAA Compliant: Verified NDAA Section 889 and TAA compliant — clears procurement hurdles on federal, state, and government-adjacent contracts without additional documentation chase.
- Battery-Ready Enclosure: The BC300 NEMA1 enclosure accommodates up to two 12VDC/7AH batteries (sold separately), enabling UPS functionality for critical access control or camera nodes where power continuity matters.
Integration and Compatibility
The NETWAY5PQX connects directly to any upstream network via its single uplink RJ45 port using CAT5 or better structured cable up to 100m. The five-port gigabit fabric handles mixed PoE and non-PoE devices, auto-negotiating speed and duplex. VLAN segmentation via 802.1Q makes it straightforward to separate access control and video surveillance traffic on converged infrastructure — a configuration commonly required when integrating access control systems with IP cameras on the same physical network. For outdoor or wash-down environments, Altronix offers the Altronix surveillance line variant NetWay5PQWP in a NEMA4/4X IP66-rated enclosure. Integrators sourcing PoE switches for multi-node deployments should review the NetWay Spectrum Range Calculator for distance planning, and pair this unit with an appropriate NVR or VMS head-end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the NETWAY5PQX NDAA Section 889 compliant?
A: Yes. The NETWAY5PQX carries verified NDAA compliance, along with TAA, CE, and BAA listings — suitable for federal and government-adjacent procurement.
Q: What is the total PoE power budget on the NETWAY5PQX?
A: 120W total across four PoE/PoE+ ports. Each port supports up to 30W (IEEE 802.3at) or 15W (IEEE 802.3af), auto-negotiated per connected device.
Q: What does LINQ technology do on the NETWAY5PQX?
A: LINQ provides remote network power management over LAN/WAN — including per-port device reset, real-time diagnostics, email and Windows Dashboard alerts, and an event log for history tracking. No on-site visit required to reboot a locked device.
Q: Does the NETWAY5PQX support VLANs?
A: Yes. It supports 802.1Q tagged VLANs with up to 10 VLAN groups and an ID range of 2–4095 — sufficient for separating access control and video surveillance traffic on a converged network.
Q: Can the NETWAY5PQX be used in cold environments?
A: The operating temperature range is -30°C to 70°C (-22°F to 158°F), making it suitable for unconditioned indoor spaces. For outdoor or wet-location use, specify the NetWay5PQWP variant with its NEMA4/4X IP66 enclosure instead.
Q: Does the enclosure support battery backup?
A: Yes. The BC300 NEMA1 enclosure accommodates up to two 12VDC/7AH batteries for UPS functionality. Batteries are sold separately.
The spec I keep coming back to on the NETWAY5PQX is the LINQ remote management layer — not the PoE budget, not the VLAN support, but the ability to cycle power on a locked device from a browser without rolling a truck. On a 40-camera deployment spread across three buildings, that one feature pays for the price delta over an unmanaged switch inside the first year of maintenance calls.
Technical Highlights:
- 120W / 30W-per-port PoE+: The full 802.3at budget at each port means you can populate all four ports with 25W PTZ cameras or multi-sensor units simultaneously — no derating, no port-priority juggling that plagues under-budgeted switches.
- LINQ Event Log: History logging means you can answer the question 'when did that camera go offline?' after the fact — forensic value that a simple managed switch without persistent logging can't provide.
- -30°C to 70°C Hardened Range: That lower bound is not theoretical. I've installed these in rooftop electrical closets in northern climates where January temps drop well below freezing — commercial-grade switches rated to 0°C simply don't belong there.
Deployment Considerations:
- The NEMA1 enclosure is indoor-only — if the installation site has any exposure to moisture, dust ingress, or wash-down, specify the NetWay5PQWP (NEMA4/4X, IP66) instead. Confusing the two models mid-project is a costly mistake.
- Batteries are sold separately; budget for two 12VDC/7AH units if UPS functionality is part of the scope. Confirm battery dimensions against the BC300 enclosure spec before ordering third-party cells.
The NETWAY5PQX is the right call for converged access control and video deployments in commercial buildings where IT requires VLAN segmentation, facilities requires remote reboot capability, and procurement requires NDAA/TAA paperwork — a combination that rules out most commodity switches entirely.
