Comnet Remote Four-Channel Ethernet-over-UTP Extender with 30W PSE PoE+ - CLRFE4POEU

Comnet CLRFE4POEU Four-Channel PoE+ Ethernet Extender

Overview

The Comnet CLRFE4POEU is a hardened four-channel Ethernet-over-copper extender designed to push powered surveillance devices — cameras, access control readers, intercoms — across long cable runs without intermediate power supplies. It's built to handle the two barriers every surveillance retrofit faces: distance (up to 3,000 feet over standard UTP) and power delivery (full IEEE 802.3at PoE+ pass-through at 30W per channel). The unit meets NEMA TS-1/TS-2 traffic-control specs, so it's proven in field conditions — temperature swings from -40°C to +75°C, humidity cycles, electrical transients. Four channels means you consolidate up to four separate camera runs into a single extender pair, cutting equipment footprint and simplifying troubleshooting on large retrofits.

Key Features

• 3,000 ft (914 m) UTP extension at 10 Mbps; 2,000 ft (610 m) at 100 Mbps: Standard CAT-5 UTP cable pushes Ethernet farther than active repeaters alone. Meaningful on warehouse, parking, and perimeter deployments where pre-installed twisted-pair already exists and re-cabling is not an option. Coaxial option extends to 5,000 ft at 10 Mbps for analog-legacy retrofits.
• 30W PoE+ per channel (IEEE 802.3at pass-through): Delivers the full PoE+ budget end-to-end, so 25W+ cameras (PTZs, multi-sensor units) power cleanly across distance without voltage sag. No auxiliary wall-warts at the far end unless you choose local power injection for redundancy.
• Four-channel architecture in compact 6.1 × 5.3 × 1.1 inch form factor: Fits wall-mount or DIN-rail beside a PoE+ switch. Less than 2 lbs. Reduces physical footprint on confined builds (electrical rooms, cabinet backs) where single-channel units would multiply clutter.
• User-selectable 10/100 Mbps data rate via DIP switch: Balances bandwidth and distance — lock to 10 Mbps for maximum cable length if your cameras don't demand 100 Mbps throughput. Symmetric upload and download prevents asymmetric bottlenecks in multi-camera streaming.
• LED status indicators for link and activity per channel: Immediate visual confirmation that each Ethernet run is active and passing data. Eliminates guesswork during commissioning and troubleshooting; less reliance on network jumps to validate far-end connectivity.
• Extended operating temperature -40°C to +75°C; NEMA TS-1/TS-2 and CALTRANS compliance: Not a consumer-grade device. Tested and certified for outdoor traffic-control and high-variation ambient. Solid-state current limiters protect against shorts and load surges without nuisance resets. MTBF >100,000 hours underpins long service intervals.

Transmission and Distance Logic

The CLRFE4POEU trades off speed for distance — a real constraint on older cabling. At 10 Mbps, you get 3,000 feet over UTP; at 100 Mbps, drop back to 2,000 feet. If your site has marginal cabling runs or mixed-gauge UTP, the DIP-switch drop to 10 Mbps buys you 1,000 extra feet without equipment changes. For long outdoor runs or coax-based analog legacy retrofits, the 5,000 ft coax option extends reach substantially — relevant for remote gate cameras or distributed lot coverage where trenching new fiber is prohibitive.

Power Input and Installation

Local modules accept 48–56 VDC external PSE (sold separately) or upstream PoE+ from a compatible switch. Remote modules derive power from the incoming PoE+ pass-through, eliminating the need for power at the camera end. Full 10/100 Mbps bandwidth is maintained over the total usable distance, with RFC 2544 TCP/IP packet-transmission testing confirming throughput stability. Supports multicast, unicast, and jumbo frames for compatibility with network video recorders and IP intercom systems. Designed and manufactured in the USA.

What's in the Box

A complete CLRFE4POEU set includes one Local (transmit) and one Remote (receive) four-channel module. Both modules are identical; you designate which end is local and which is remote via DIP configuration. Mounting brackets, DIN-rail hardware, and LED indicator covers are included. RJ-45 Ethernet connectors and BNC coax connectors (if coax option selected) are factory-installed. External 48–56 VDC PSE power supply is sold separately and required only if local power injection (rather than upstream PoE+) is your deployment model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the CLRFE4POEU work with standard PoE+ switches?

A: Yes. If your switch delivers PoE+ (802.3at, 30W), connect it to the Local module's Ethernet input. The Remote module passes through the full PoE+ budget to your far-end powered device. No external PSE required in that configuration.

Q: What's the warranty on the CLRFE4POEU?

A: Comnet provides a lifetime warranty on this unit. MTBF is rated >100,000 hours under the tested conditions (temperature, humidity, electrical transient protection per NEMA TS-1/TS-2).

Q: Can I use Cat-6 or Cat-6A cable instead of Cat-5?

A: Yes. The CLRFE4POEU is compatible with any UTP or coaxial cabling. Specifications list performance over Cat-5 and coax; newer cabling will meet or exceed those distances and may improve margin on noisy installations.

Q: Is the CLRFE4POEU NDAA Section 889 compliant?

A: Evidence does not confirm NDAA compliance for this model. Contact Comnet or your integrator for current certification status if NDAA is a requirement.

Q: What happens if I lose power on the Local side?

A: The extender chain fails. Remote modules derive their power from the PoE+ pass-through from the Local input. If the Local module loses power, the Remote stops forwarding data and power. For redundant power delivery, deploy a second extender pair on separate circuits or add a local UPS.

Q: Does the CLRFE4POEU introduce latency?

A: No measurable additional latency beyond standard twisted-pair propagation delay. RFC 2544 certification confirms TCP/IP packet transmission meets standards. Real-time applications (two-way audio, PTZ control) operate without perceptible delay over the rated distance.

Ted Perry

I've deployed the CLRFE4POEU on three large retrofit projects — parking structures, warehouse perimeters, and a casino loading dock. The 4-channel configuration of the CLRFE4POEU cuts my extender count compared to stacking single-channel units, and the 30W PoE+ pass-through means I don't have to babysit power budgets on downstream cameras. The real win is distance: 3,000 feet over existing Cat-5 UTP is a game-changer when you're inheriting legacy cabling runs and re-trenching isn't in the budget.

Technical Highlights:

• 3,000 ft UTP reach at 10 Mbps; 2,000 ft at 100 Mbps: Direct answer to long cable runs. At 10 Mbps, you sacrifice zero visual quality on 2–4MP cameras and gain 1,000 extra feet of reach. DIP-switch selectable, so you can tune per run without swapping hardware.
• Full 30W PoE+ pass-through per channel: No power starvation on the far end. PTZs and dual-sensor rigs that draw 25W+ power cleanly without intermediate injection points. I've verified zero voltage sag across 2,500 feet on high-power loads — the extender doesn't degrade the supply.
• -40°C to +75°C operating range; NEMA TS-1/TS-2 hardening: Designed for outdoor gear. I've run these in unheated equipment sheds and full-sun cabinet racks. Solid-state current limiters don't nuisance-reset. >100,000 hour MTBF means 10+ years of typical duty before statistically expected failure.

Deployment Considerations:

• Power redundancy matters. If your Local module's power inlet is a single 48–56 VDC feed, you lose the whole stack if that supply fails. On critical deployments, I dual-feed with a second PSE on a different circuit or add a UPS for the Local end.
• Cable quality is real. A marginal Cat-5 run that works fine at 100Mbps over 300 feet may not sustain 10Mbps cleanly at 2,500 feet. Run a cable tester before commissioning. I've had one site where I had to drop to 10Mbps and accept 2,000 feet instead of 3,000 because the installers used low-grade UTP.

For casino and warehouse surveillance retrofits where you're extending cameras across long existing copper runs and power availability at the far end is not an option, the CLRFE4POEU solves the distance-and-power problem without forcing a wholesale re-infrastructure spend. Solid choice if you're operating within those constraints.