Not long ago, the average home might have a handful of connected devices. Most people would have a family PC, and little else. If you worked from home, you might have a second computer or a network printer. That was about it. But as technology has moved on, we’ve all started to rely on more connected devices. For instance, many people save money on phone data by connecting through a home WiFi network. You’re already paying for home internet, after all. Why pay extra for a phone plan when you’re at home?
这advent of smart home devices has further increased our need for connectivity. Fridges, smoke detectors, and even washing machines are all going online. This makes our lives easier and more convenient, since you can now monitor your home from your phone. But smart home devices require power. This means you’ll either need to charge a battery, or have some way of plugging them in. Depending on the device, this may be easier or harder to manage. To simplify things, many devices are powered via Power over Ethernet (PoE). This allows you to install your connected devices without running a second wire or charging a battery.
But a PoE system is only as good as its power supply. If the PoE switch or cables are malfunctioning, your devices aren’t going to work. An inline PoE tester can help you isolate where the problem is in your system, and repair it. We’re about to review three different PoE testers, and see how they compare. We’ll start with the PoE Texas Inline PoE Voltage and Current Tester. This is a PoE tester that can also test the power supply from DC barrel adapters. Next, we’ll look at the TRENDnet TC-NTP1 Inline PoE Tester. This is a slick, modern inline tester with an easy-to-read LCD display. Finally, we’ll review the KOLSOL PoE Checker. This tester has a secondary unit that works for continuity testing. Which one is best? We’re about to dig a little deeper, and find out.
How Does PoE Work?
在回顾任何测试人员之前，让我们花一点时间了解POE及其工作原理。像任何铜线一样，以太网电缆能够携带电流。虽然它主要是为传输数据而设计的，但它也可以为低压设备供电。POE允许您这样做。它不会直接从您的以太网线运行，而不是需要单独的电源线。这使您可以运行一根电缆，而不是运行两条电缆。本身，使用一根电缆可以节省安装时的资金。但是，由于您不必担心插入交流电源，因此出口位置也不关心。这意味着您可以将设备（例如安全摄像机）定位在需要的位置。
现在，POE技术存在一些固有的局限性。猫5或较新的以太网电缆内部有四双电线。但是，对于高达500Mbps的速度，实际上只使用了其中两个。只有当您达到千兆速度时，数据传输实际上都需要四个电缆对。在500 Mbps时，两张“空”电缆可用于电力。这意味着POE设备最多只能以500Mbps的速度连接。任何更快的速度，他们将无法获得电力。也就是说，千兆连接是当前的家庭网络标准。大多数设备都不会接近那么多容量，至少不单独。500 Mbps对于安全摄像机，信用卡读取器和其他常用的POE配件就可以了。
PoE is used for a wide variety of devices.安全camerasand WiFi signal boosters are among the most common applications. Because Ethernet wires are already isolated inside the cable, interference is not a concern. That said, you’ll need a PoE router or switch. Ordinary networking hardware won’t deliver any voltage along your cables. But if you’re using PoE-compatible hardware, it’s easy to set up and install. Just run your Ethernet cable and everything should work immediately. And if you do run into any issues, you don’t have to worry about a separate power cable.
You just need to test your Ethernet cable and networking hardware. That’s where a good inline PoE tester comes in!
德克萨斯州POE内联POE电压和当前测试仪
PoE Texas is an established manufacturer with a long track record, although they now have a new name. They used to be known as WiFi-Texas, and they produced some high-qualityGigabit PoE injectors。Since their injectors worked beautifully, we were eager to have a look at their内联POE电压和当前测试仪。
Dexas Tester实际上是同一产品的第二代。它更精细，可以在不中断信号的情况下测试VoIP电话和WiFi摄像机。Gen 2测试仪还可以测试开始可用的四对POE电缆。如果您不需要这些能力，则可以通过订购较旧的Gen 1版本来节省几美元，该版本更便宜。也就是说，第2代人有很多要带来的！
该套件由两个单元组成，两个单元都包含在耐用的结构黄色贝壳中。较大的单元是POE测试仪和DC测试仪。
这smaller unit is for continuity testing. However, the large unit has a built-in LCD display that tells you the current voltage it’s receiving. It also has two different input ports: PoE and DC. With the flick of a switch, you can go between the two. There’s also a barrel-style DC adapter in the kit, for easier testing.
这re are also two additional output ports, one Ethernet and one DC. This allows you to place the inline tester in line with your equipment. So not only can you read the voltage supplied, you can also see how much is consumed. You’ll be able to easily work out compatibility issues. For instance, if your PoE supply is pushing out 3.5 volts and your device draws five, you’ve found your problem.
POE电压和当前测试仪可以在3.5到56伏的任何范围内检测到电源。它还可以在直流电源上检测到多达280瓦的电流。在POE系列上，它的灵敏度高达28瓦。即便如此，这涵盖了您有可能从POE或普通DC充电器收到的任何东西。
使用连续性试验器,你可以有点further. You can check the voltage at the end of a PoE line, and detect the amount of current lost. Both units are covered by a twelve-month manufacturer’s warranty. If there are any defects in material or workmanship, you’ll receive a full refund or replacement.
TRENDnet TC-NTP1 Inline PoE Tester
TRENDnet is yet another established manufacturer of networking equipment. In addition to other offerings, they make theTRENDNet TEW-821DAP Wireless Access Point。Based on their previous experience with PoE equipment, we were excited to try theTC-NTP1内联POE测试仪。
这TC-NTP1 has two ports, one on either end of the device. One is for connecting to your PoE device (PD) while the other connects to your Power Supplying Equipment (PSE). Put it in between the two devices, and you can diagnose any power issues, as well as connection issues. If you only need to check connectivity, there’s a cheaper version that tests data only.
LCD显示屏很大，明亮且易于阅读。它也直接由POE供电，因此您不必担心任何电池。还有一个步骤按钮，可让您更改测试单元。您可以用一台水龙头在电压，瓦数和安培数之间切换。可以使用相同的按钮将显示器锁定到一种模式中，以监视实时情况。
You can also switch between three different modes. The first is “T-mode,” which gives you the total voltage output of your PoE switch or injector. “N-mode” will test the power draw from your PoE device. It’s useful for determining the voltage of a non-standard device. Finally, “I-mode” is used for ordinary inline testing. In this mode, you’ll see the voltage, wattage, and amperage active on the current cable.
In terms of compatibility, the TC-NTP1 will work with the latest Ethernet protocols. It supports 802.3af, at, and ab. For standard PoE devices, it will support testing of up to 100 watts. Non-standard currents can be detected between 11 and 60 volts. Unless you’re using some very unusual equipment, you’ll have all the testing capacity you’ll ever need.
KOLSOL PoE Checker
这KOLSOL PoE Checkeris a beefy device that’s designed for frequent use. With a molded grip, it’s easy to hold on to. The buttons are also large and easy to operate. This makes them easy to manage, even if you’re wearing gloves. The KOLSOL tester is also well-designed for working in the dark. There’s an LED lamp on the front, which can be activated with the touch of a button. Because of this feature, this tester can’t be powered solely by PoE. It requires three AAA batteries, which are installed easily in the back of the unit.
除了主要的测试人员,KOLSOL装备有限公司ludes a small continuity checker. This can be placed on the other end of a long line to test continuity. All other functions are performed on the main unit, via the two Ethernet ports on the top. You can use both ports for inline testing. In this mode, you’ll see how much voltage is consumed by your device, and how much is left over. You’ll also see if your power supply is insufficient to the task. In addition, you can also perform testing on individual ends of the connection. You can use standard mode to determine voltage, power standard, and polarity on normal PoE devices. Last but not least, you can also perform non-standard testing, to determine relevant information on non-standard PSEs.
此外，Kolsol测试仪适用于Looback测试。在此模式下，信号从一个设备发送，然后循环回到同一设备。这对于在单个网络节点上进行测试很有用，可以固定问题的来源。一些回环测试需要专门的包装插头，该插件未包含在套件中。也就是说，如果您想使用此功能，则简短的测试电缆是一项较小的额外投资。
最终判决
Clearly, each of these inline PoE testers has some value to bring to the table. But which one is right for your needs? We started out by reviewing the德克萨斯州POE内联POE电压和当前测试仪。This is a powerful tester that can check both PoE and DC currents. It has an LCD display, so you can clearly read all of your information. It also allows you to check continuity as well as current. This can be incredibly helpful on long runs, since you can quickly check both ends. A trio of LED lights on the continuity tester makes it almost as easy to read as the main display. The PoE Texas tester is a great choice if you want to check DC power supplies or work with Cat 7 cable.
这TRENDnet TC-NTP1 Inline PoE Testerdoesn’t have the same continuity testing capabilities as the PoE Texas unit. However, the display is very easy to read and understand. With the Step button, you can measure a variety of metrics, all by tapping the button. You can test a wide range of voltages and wattages, covering a wide variety of equipment. This is an excellent choice if you want a future-proof tester that’s also easy to use.
这KOLSOL PoE Checker是回环测试的理想选择，因为它是支持该功能的少数测试人员之一。如果您需要隔离单个网络节点，则是一堆的最佳选择。它还具有内置的光，可以在黑暗中工作。唯一的缺点是它需要电池，这些电池未包含在盒子中。
