PoE (Power over Ethernet) in the Fast-Paced Transportation World

PoE-enabled, industrial managed ethernet is a cost-effective solution to providing a reliable, durable, flexible, and smart network for the fast-paced transportation industry. By transmitting power and data through a single cable, an industrial PoE switch can connect various network devices in harsh environments subject to extreme temperatures, weather conditions, vibrations, and shock.

PoE has various use cases in the transportation industry, whether trackside, roadside, onboard, or in hubs, providing power and data to passenger information systems, security cameras, Wi-Fi access points, and computers. High-speed connectivity is now something travelers and employees expect at transportation hubs like rail or bus stations.

PoE Simplifies the Process

PoE can connect multiple transportation network devices to a single network switch by providing power and data access with one cable. These devices could include surveillance cameras, onboard computers, and passenger displays. PoE simplifies the wiring inside transit vehicles, making installation and maintenance much easier.

PoE applications in the transportation industry include:

• Train monitoring: Use PoE to deploy cameras and sensors throughout trains to monitor operations and train assets.
• Bus surveillance: PoE can power security cameras on buses to better monitor passenger safety.
• Truck telematics: In the trucking industry, PoE can power onboard computers and track vehicle locations.

PoE saves money, eliminates clutter, and allows connectivity in moving vehicles and harsh climates without expensive wiring.

Essential Considerations for Implementing PoE in Transportation

Transportation operations require accuracy, speed, and reliability. Passengers also require accurate real-time information, which transit hubs must provide rapidly. The technology that keeps buses and trains on schedule has no room for downtime. PoE-enabled Industrial managed ethernet offers a cost-effective solution to meeting all of these requirements in any environment.

Transportation hubs should evaluate their unique, case-specific requirements to ensure the optimal performance of PoE-connected PDs.

Power Requirements

The types of PoE, including PoE, PoE+, PoE++ (type 3), and PoE++ (type 4), each put out a different power level. When building or upgrading a network, select PoE switches and devices with sufficient power output to support all devices on board. It’s a smart policy to consider potential upgrades down the line.

Cable Quality

While some levels of PoE may perform adequately on lower-category wiring, others may prefer Cat5 or better. High-quality Ethernet cabling reliably handles power and data transmission for all powered devices.

Environmental Factors

Devices employed in the transportation industry are subject to various harsh environmental conditions. Therefore, it is essential to select PoE devices designed to operate in extreme temperatures and vibration.

The IGS-5227-6MT-X is an industrial layer 2+ managed Ethernet Switch housed in an IP67-rated industrial case that withstands the harsh climates, heavy vibrations, and frequent electrical shocks common to transportation industry operations.

Industrial Managed IP67 PoE Switch

The IGS-5227-6MT-X Industrial IP67 Rate 6-Port 10/100/1000T M12 Managed Ethernet Switch offers static Layer 3 routing and six ports. Its IP67-rated industrial case provides a high level of immunity against electromagnetic interference and heavy electrical surges, which are common to curbside traffic control cabinets and on plant floors.

The switch’s environmentally hardened design protects against dust and water ingress, ensuring reliability for mission-critical applications in complex environments.

Features include:

• Waterproof and Dustproof M12 Ethernet Connector: The M12 Ethernet connector provides stable Ethernet operation performance despite exposure to dirt, humidity, dust, shock, vibrations, and extreme temperatures.
• Dual Power Input for High Availability Networks: A strong dual power input system (Dual 9V~48V DC) enhances system reliability and uptime. The hardware fail-over function automatically activates to power up DC Power 2 with no operational loss, should DC Power 1 fail to work.
• Layer 3 IPv4 and IPv6 VLAN Routing for Secure and Flexible Management: This allows the crossing over of VLANS and IP addresses for a highly secure, flexibly managed, and simple networking application.
• Redundant Ring Technology/Fast Recovery Capability: To enhance system reliability and uptime in harsh environments, the IP67 managed PoE switch incorporates advanced ITU-T G.8032 ERPS (Ethernet Ring Protection Switching) technology, Spanning Tree Protocol (802.1s MSTP), and a redundant power input system into automation networks to prevent interruptions and external intrusions.
• IPv6/IPv4 Dual Stack: The industrial, managed Ethernet switch supports IPv6 and IPv4 protocols. Should an IPv6 FTTx edge network be set up, network facilities won’t have to be replaced or overhauled, which reduces upgrade costs.
• Robust Layer 2 Features: Programming capabilities for advanced switch management functions such as dynamic port link aggregation, private VLAN, Q-in-Q VLAN, MSTP, and IGMP/MLD Snooping support failover allow the operation of a high-speed trunk combined with multiple fiber ports.
• SMTP/SNMP Trap Event Alert: The event alert function helps diagnose the source of network connectivity disruptions.
• Powerful Security: A comprehensive Layer 2 and 4 Access Control List (ACL) enforces security to the edge. Network access is restricted by denying packets based on source and destination IP address, TCP/UDP ports, or defined typical network applications.
• Excellent Traffic Control: The IP67 switch comes loaded with powerful traffic management and QoS features, empowering the industrial environment to take full advantage of limited network resources for best performance.
• Efficient and Secure Management: A built-in Web-based management interface offers an easy-to-use, platform-independent management and configuration facility. Secure remote management supports SSH, SSL, and SNMP v3 connections, which encrypt packet contents during each session.

The space-saving Industrial IP67 Managed PoE switch can be easily mounted on a DIN rail or a wall and has an operating temperature of -40º to 75ºC. The switch easily integrates with transportation networks’ SCADA systems, HMI systems, and other data acquisition systems. Administrators can remotely monitor the switch’s operating information, port information, and communication status.