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Networking Equipment

Networking equipment for CCTV and IT installs — the physical infrastructure that connects, powers and protects every wired device in the system. This collection is the parent of four sub-categories: network switches (the central junction with PoE power delivery), Ethernet cables (Cat5e / Cat6 / Cat6a in bulk and patch), PoE injectors (single-camera power without a full PoE switch), and PoE extenders (run cable beyond the 100 m limit). Plus encoders / decoders for analog-to-IP bridge installs, media converters for fibre uplinks, and network monitors / displays.

Security Cameras Australia stocks the full networking equipment range from Hikvision, HiLook, Cisco, Aruba, Ubiquiti UniFi, StarTech and other brands. Every component is genuine Australian stock with full manufacturer warranty.

If you know which component you need, jump straight to the sub-collection: switches, cables, injectors, extenders. If you're researching how a CCTV network fits together, the sections below cover the architecture and the most common questions.

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How an IP CCTV network fits together

The minimum components for a wired IP CCTV install:

  • NVR — the recorder, also typically the local interface and remote-access server. Most modern Hikvision and HiLook NVRs include built-in PoE ports (typically 4 or 8 per matching channel count), so for small installs the NVR is also the PoE switch.
  • PoE network switch — for installs beyond the NVR's built-in PoE port count. Standalone switch connects to the NVR by uplink, then powers and connects each camera.
  • Ethernet cable — one Cat6 run per camera from the switch (or PoE-enabled NVR) to the camera position.
  • Connectors — RJ45 plugs (solid or stranded specific) for patch cables, wall jacks for permanent runs.

The architecture scales by adding components: PoE injectors for adding individual cameras to a non-PoE network (e.g. retrofitting a camera onto an existing data switch); PoE extenders for runs beyond the 100 m PoE limit; media converters when the uplink between switches needs to go fibre (multi-building campus, long site-to-site runs over 200 m+ where copper isn't viable); encoders when bringing legacy analog cameras onto an IP NVR; network monitors for local NVR display in a comms cabinet or control room.

The four components most CCTV installers buy

  • Network switches — the central junction. PoE switches deliver both power and data; managed switches add VLAN segregation, QoS and SNMP for commercial installs. The biggest component spec decision is PoE tier (802.3af, at, bt) and total power budget. 11,780 monthly search volume.
  • Ethernet cables — Cat6 is the current standard; Cat5e for value installs at short distance; Cat6a for 10G or long-distance PoE++. Solid for permanent runs, stranded for patch leads. Indoor PVC jacket or outdoor UV-stabilised. 17,680 monthly search volume.
  • PoE injectors — add PoE power to a single Ethernet line without a full PoE switch. Useful for retrofitting one or two cameras onto an existing non-PoE network, or for installs where a PoE switch is overkill. 2,320 monthly search volume.
  • PoE extenders — boost the PoE signal mid-cable to extend a run beyond the 100 m Cat6 limit. Useful for rural installs, long perimeters, and site-to-outbuilding runs.

What is PoE — and why does every camera install talk about it?

Power over Ethernet (PoE) delivers electrical power and network data over a single Ethernet cable. For IP CCTV, this means one Cat6 cable per camera carries both — no separate power supply at the camera, no AC outlet planning, no power cable trenching. The whole simplicity advantage of wired IP CCTV over older analog systems is PoE-driven.

The PoE standards are part of IEEE 802.3:

  • 802.3af (PoE) — 15.4 W per port at the switch, 12.95 W delivered after cable loss. Fine for standard fixed cameras at 6–10 W.
  • 802.3at (PoE+) — 30 W per port, 25.5 W delivered. Needed for PTZ, 4K AcuSense and ColorVu cameras at 15–25 W.
  • 802.3bt (PoE++) — 60 W or 100 W per port. For long-range PTZ with built-in heaters, high-power IR arrays, and specialist commercial equipment.

Check every camera's power requirement and match the switch's PoE tier accordingly. See the network switches page for the full spec decision.

Other networking components in this collection

  • Encoders and decoders — bridge legacy analog cameras into a modern IP system. The encoder takes analog camera output and converts to IP for the NVR; the decoder does the reverse for legacy display systems.
  • Media converters — convert between copper (Cat6) and fibre. Useful for inter-building uplinks where copper distance is exceeded, or where the install needs fibre's EMI immunity.
  • Network monitors and displays — for local NVR display at a comms cabinet or control desk. Modern NVRs output HDMI 4K, so any compatible monitor works.
  • Surge protection — protect networking equipment from voltage spikes (lightning, switching transients). Note: surge protection is usually integrated with the UPS rather than standalone — see the UPS collection for the practical answer.

Why buy from Security Cameras Australia

  • Authorised Australian dealer — genuine networking equipment with full manufacturer warranty.
  • Expert support — pre-purchase advice on PoE sizing, cable category, switch selection and install architecture.
  • Price-match guarantee — competitive pricing.
  • Free shipping — fast Australian delivery.
  • 30-day returns — satisfaction guarantee.

Shop the networking equipment range

Browse the full networking equipment range below, or jump to the right sub-collection:

Frequently Asked Questions about Networking Equipment

Do I need a PoE switch for IP cameras?

Yes, or its equivalent. PoE delivers both power and data over a single Ethernet cable, so each camera needs only one cable run from a PoE source. The source can be: (a) a PoE-enabled NVR — most Hikvision and HiLook NVRs have 4 or 8 built-in PoE ports, fine for small installs; (b) a standalone PoE switch — for installs beyond the NVR's built-in PoE port count; or (c) PoE injectors — for adding one or two cameras onto an existing non-PoE network.

What's the difference between PoE and PoE+?

802.3af (standard PoE) delivers 15.4 W per port at the switch, 12.95 W delivered at the camera after cable loss. PoE+ (802.3at) delivers 30 W per port, 25.5 W delivered. Standard fixed cameras at 6–10 W run on PoE; PTZ, 4K AcuSense and ColorVu models at 15–25 W need PoE+. PoE++ (802.3bt) at 60–100 W per port covers long-range PTZ with heaters and high-power IR. Match the switch's tier to the camera's spec.

How many cameras can one PoE switch support?

Port count is the upper limit — an 8-port PoE switch handles 8 cameras, 16-port handles 16, etc. But the practical limit is often lower because of total power budget, not per-port. A 24-port PoE+ switch with 250 W total budget can only power around 10 cameras at full PoE+ load (25 W each); the rest can carry data but only at lower power tier. Read the spec for both port count and total budget.

Can I use a standard network switch instead of a PoE switch?

Yes for data — a standard switch carries Ethernet between cameras and NVR fine. You'd just need a separate power source for each camera, which usually means a PoE injector per camera or a 12 V power supply with a long DC run. For 1–2 cameras, PoE injectors are practical. For 4+ cameras, a dedicated PoE switch is cleaner and cheaper than per-camera injectors. Most current CCTV installers default to a PoE switch unless there's a specific reason not to.

What's a PoE injector used for?

A PoE injector adds PoE power to a single Ethernet line. Two common uses: (1) adding one or two new cameras onto an existing non-PoE network without replacing the switch; (2) extending PoE to a single remote camera where running a new dedicated cable is impractical. The injector sits between a standard data switch and the camera, with mains power feeding the injector. Single-port and multi-port injectors exist; for typical CCTV use, single-port injectors per camera are the standard.
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