Microsemi Unveils First 60W IEEE 802.3at-compliant PoE Midspans for Outdoors

Microsemi Corp. announced its new PD-9501GO/AC, the industry’s first 60W IEEE-compliant Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) midspan that delivers power over standard Ethernet cabling to outdoor devices such as wireless LAN access points (WLAN) and Internet protocol (IP) cameras.

The PD-9501GO/AC single port midspan supports the IEEE802.3at standard at 10/100/1000Mbps data rates for outdoor installations and is backward-compatible with the earlier IEEE802.3af standard. It allows WLAN access points, security network cameras and other IP terminals to receive power, along with data, over standard Ethernet cables, leaving network infrastructure completely unaltered. The midspan also features plug-and-play installation, energy efficiency, location flexibility and low-cost installation.

"Microsemi’s PowerDsine® PD-9501GO/AC PoE midspan offers highly cost-effective functionality, providing our customers with 60W of power while ensuring safe and reliable operation in outdoor environments," said Amir Asvadi, vice president and general manager of the Analog Mixed Signal Group at Microsemi. "As one of the leaders in PoE technology, Microsemi will continue to expand our PoE solutions for a wide range of market applications, including wireless point-to-point and WiMax/LTE."

The new midspan solves power-deployment challenges associated with outdoor locations where electrical outlets are not always available, extreme temperatures or humidity are often a factor, and equipment must withstand surges caused by lightning. With its surge protection for both the ac and PoE ports, the PD-9501GO/AC protects indoor equipment from outdoor surges that could damage powered devices and their network switches without the need for costly companion protection units.

Key features include:

-- Outdoor rated to International Protection 66 (IP66) standards

-- Extended temperature range (-40°C, +55°C)

-- IEEE802.3at standard compliant

-- Power provided using all four pairs

-- Supports 10/100/1000Mbps data rates

-- Plug-and-play installation (installer does not have to open unit)

-- Supports both 802.3af and 802.3at powered devices

-- Includes integral surge protection

Like Microsemi’s other 60W midspans, the PD-9501GO/AC includes a gigabit interface to more easily support high-power devices such as pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras and WLAN AP that supports 802.11n. It also implements two-event classification as specified in the IEEE 802.3at specifications for communications with connected devices. All members of the PD-95xxG series family are designed to power high power network devices over Ethernet cabling, eliminating the need for wiring to external ac power sources. They also feature a proprietary power feed technology that supports all legacy PoE devices, providing the most energy efficient solution available today. Microsemi’s expanded PD-95xxG family complements an extensive midspan portfolio that includes both managed and unmanaged products in a wide range of port densities.