Comnet Remote Single-Channel Ethernet-over-COAX Extender with 30W PSE PoE+ - CLRFE1POEC

Comnet CLRFE1POEC Ethernet-over-Coax Extender with 30W PoE+

Overview

The Comnet CLRFE1POEC is a single-channel Ethernet-over-copper extender designed to stretch IP surveillance over existing coaxial or twisted-pair copper runs where fiber is not an option. It supports 10/100 Mbps Ethernet with active 30W PoE+ power injection or pass-through, letting you power remote IP cameras, encoders, or other PoE devices up to 5,000 feet away via coax — or 3,000 feet via standard UTP — without requiring a second fiber run or a dedicated power line. The unit is manufactured in the USA, NEMA TS-1/TS-2 and CALTRANS tested, and rated for extended temperature operation (-40°C to +75°C), making it suitable for outdoor traffic control, casino surveillance, airport deployments, and retrofit CCTV-to-IP conversions.

Key Features

• 30W PoE+ Power Injection: Generates full IEEE 802.3at PoE+ (48–56 VDC input) at the Local or Remote end, delivering up to 30W to a powered device — enough for most IP cameras, pan-tilt-zoom heads, and edge-compute appliances. This eliminates the need for a separate power supply at the remote end.
• 5,000-foot Coax Range at 10 Mbps: Extends full Ethernet over existing RG-59/RG-6 coax runs. Even at 100 Mbps, the CLRFE1POEC maintains 2,000 feet on coax — useful when you're retrofitting analog camera routes that already terminate in a rack or headend.
• 3,000-foot UTP Range at 10 Mbps: If you're running CAT-5 or better twisted pair, you get 3,000 feet at 10 Mbps or 2,000 feet at 100 Mbps. User-selectable 10/100 Mbps data rate lets you trade bandwidth for distance based on your scene frame-rate and resolution needs.
• Pass-Through PoE Option: The remote unit can also operate in pass-through mode, accepting 9–36 VDC or 24 VAC from a local power supply and feeding 1.5W overhead to the attached device. Useful in installations where you want to inject power locally rather than centrally.
• Symmetric Bandwidth and Zero-Loss Transmission: Full 10/100 Mbps duplex speed with RFC 2544 TCP/IP packet transmission testing and virtually zero packet loss over the entire usable distance. Multicast and Jumbo Frame support allows integration with standard network protocols (UDP, TCP/IP, HTTP/HTTPs, TFTP).
• Extended Temperature and NEMA Compliance: Operates -40°C to +75°C with NEMA TS-1/TS-2 and CALTRANS certification for traffic signal and transportation applications. MTBF exceeds 100,000 hours, and automatic resettable solid-state current limiters protect against short-circuit faults.

Integration & Compatibility

The CLRFE1POEC ships as a Local/Remote pair; the unit is protocol-agnostic and works with any standard Ethernet device — IP cameras, analog-to-IP converters, network encoders, and PoE switches. LED status indicators (Ethernet Link, Activity, PoE Power) confirm correct operation. The unit connects via RJ-45 Ethernet (both ends) and either BNC coax (if using coax) or standard twisted pair (if using UTP). Because it passes full 10/100 Mbps bandwidth symmetrically, it integrates transparently with video management systems (VMS) like Milestone, Axis Camera Station, or ONVIF-compatible platforms — no special drivers or firmware updates needed. The CLRFE1POEC also complies with all major RFC standards (RFC 768 UDP, 793 TCP, 791 IP, 1783 TFTP, 894 IP over Ethernet), ensuring compatibility with enterprise network stacks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use the CLRFE1POEC to extend a PoE camera beyond the standard 100-meter switch limit?

A: Yes. If your PoE switch supports 802.3af/at, connect it to the Local unit's Ethernet port. The CLRFE1POEC injects 48–56 VDC down the coax or UTP to the Remote unit, which then delivers PoE to your camera up to 5,000 feet away on coax or 3,000 feet on UTP. The remote camera receives standard PoE power as if it were directly connected to the switch.

Q: What is the difference between 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps operation on the CLRFE1POEC?

A: At 10 Mbps, the CLRFE1POEC achieves its maximum 5,000-foot range on coax or 3,000 feet on UTP. At 100 Mbps, the distance drops to 2,000 feet on both coax and UTP. Use the DIP-switch selectable mode to balance your resolution, frame rate, and distance requirements; most modern IP cameras stream 1–5 Mbps, so 100 Mbps mode often works at full range.

Q: Is the CLRFE1POEC suitable for outdoor traffic control or airport deployments?

A: Yes. The unit is NEMA TS-1/TS-2 and CALTRANS certified, tested for compliance with traffic signal and transportation equipment standards. It operates -40°C to +75°C and has been independently laboratory tested for ambient temperature, mechanical shock, vibration, humidity with condensation, and transient voltage protection — all requirements for traffic and outdoor mission-critical installations.

Q: Does the CLRFE1POEC require a separate power supply?

A: Not if you have a PoE+ switch or a 48–56 VDC power injector. If you use pass-through mode, you provide 9–36 VDC or 24 VAC locally at the remote unit. The Local unit draws minimal power from the connected PoE switch.

Q: Can I stack multiple CLRFE1POEC units to extend further than 5,000 feet?

A: No. Cascading extenders introduces additional latency and signal degradation. The CLRFE1POEC is designed as a point-to-point link; for distances beyond 5,000 feet, consider fiber-optic Ethernet extenders or repeaters designed for cascading.

Q: What happens if the remote device draws more than 30W?

A: The CLRFE1POEC includes automatic resettable solid-state current limiters that protect against overload. If a device exceeds the 30W budget, the limiter will trip and reset once the fault is removed — preventing damage to the unit or power supply.

James Everett

I've deployed the Comnet CLRFE1POEC in several retrofit CCTV-to-IP projects where fiber wasn't an option and budget didn't allow tearing out coax runs. The 5,000-foot range on existing RG-59/RG-6 coax is the real strength here — you're not buying new cable, and you're not running separate power lines. The CLRFE1POEC CLRFE1POEC handles both jobs with a single pair of units.

Technical Highlights:

• 5,000-foot Coax at 10 Mbps: Most 1–5 MP cameras stream under 5 Mbps. At 10 Mbps mode, you keep that range without sacrificing functionality. If you need 100 Mbps throughput (rare for surveillance), you get 2,000 feet — still double or triple a standard 100-meter Ethernet run.
• 30W PoE+ Injection: Removes the need for a separate 48 VDC injector or local power supply at the remote end. A single PoE+ switch at the head end powers the entire remote location. In a multi-camera warehouse or parking structure, this cuts installation cost and eliminates a point of failure.
• NEMA TS-1/TS-2 and CALTRANS Certification: Independent lab testing for traffic and transportation use. Extended temperature operation (-40°C to +75°C) with MTBF exceeding 100,000 hours means this unit survives unheated utility boxes and direct sunlight exposure without degrading.

Deployment Considerations:

• The DIP-switch selectable 10/100 Mbps mode is not automatic — you must choose based on your distance and bandwidth needs before installation. If you later need to change it, you'll have to walk out to the unit or reconfigure remotely via network access.
• Coax runs longer than 5,000 feet will not work; if your analog legacy cable is already 6,000+ feet, this extender cannot bridge that gap. Measure your run first.
• Pass-through mode (9–36 VDC or 24 VAC local power) is an option but requires a second power supply at the remote location — defeats the PoE+ advantage. Use it only if you already have 24 VAC control power for other devices.

The CLRFE1POEC is the right fit for retrofit installations where you have existing copper infrastructure, cannot justify fiber installation, and need to add IP cameras without rewiring the entire building. If you're installing new infrastructure, fiber or long-distance PoE switches are cleaner. But for brownfield surveillance upgrades and traffic-control retrofits, this unit earns its place.