16 Port High Power PoE Switch, 250W, NDAA Compliant

AvaEye 16 Port PoE Switch for Security Cameras, 250W High Power, NDAA Compliant

The AvaEye 16POEHP is a high power 16 port PoE switch made for IP security camera systems that need more power capacity than a small desktop PoE switch can provide. It gives you 16 PoE camera ports, a 250W total PoE power budget, up to 30W per port, and dedicated Gigabit uplink options for connecting back to an NVR, router, or main network switch.

This switch is a practical choice for homes, offices, warehouses, retail stores, and business security camera systems where multiple PoE cameras need to be powered from one central location. Instead of running separate power adapters to each camera, the AvaEye 16POEHP sends both power and network data over standard Ethernet cable. That keeps the installation cleaner and makes it easier to manage your camera network.

The 16POEHP is especially useful for security camera systems because it includes camera-friendly working modes, a large PoE budget, long-run Extend mode, VLAN/Secure mode, and an all-metal rackmountable housing. It is also NDAA compliant, making it a good fit for customers who need professional surveillance equipment that meets NDAA compliance requirements.

Quick Highlights

• Best for: PoE security camera systems, NVR expansion, business camera networks, and long cable runs
• PoE ports: 16 PoE ports for IP cameras and other compatible PoE devices
• PoE budget: 250W total, up to 30W per port
• Uplink ports: 1 Gigabit RJ45 uplink and 1 Gigabit combo uplink port
• Working modes: Default, VLAN/Secure, and Extend/Surveillance mode
• Long run support: Up to 250 meters in Extend/Surveillance mode
• Switch type: Unmanaged PoE switch
• Mounting: Rackmountable with included rack ears
• Compliance: NDAA compliant

Why Choose the AvaEye 16POEHP for Security Cameras?

A lot of PoE switches are made for general networking. The AvaEye 16POEHP is better suited for surveillance installations where camera power, uplink bandwidth, port isolation, and long cable runs matter. It gives installers and property owners a simple way to power up to 16 PoE cameras from one switch while keeping the camera network organized.

Use it when your NVR does not have enough built-in PoE ports, when your cameras are spread across a building, or when you want a dedicated PoE switch for your IP camera network. It can be connected to an NVR, router, firewall, or main network switch depending on how your system is designed. You can also browse our full selection of PoE switches if you need a different port count or power budget.

This switch works well for many common PoE camera types, including IP cameras, bullet cameras, turret cameras, dome cameras, fixed lens cameras, motorized zoom cameras, and other compatible 802.3af/at PoE devices. As with any PoE switch, the key is making sure your total camera power draw stays within the switch's 250W PoE budget.

250W PoE Budget for 16-Camera Systems

The AvaEye 16POEHP provides a total PoE power budget of 250W. Each PoE port can provide up to 30W to compatible PoE and PoE+ devices, which is enough for most standard IP security cameras and many higher-power camera models.

One important thing to understand is that 30W per port does not mean every port can use 30W at the same time. If all 16 ports used 30W at once, the total would be 480W, which is higher than the switch's total PoE budget. In real camera systems, most cameras use far less than 30W, so the 250W budget is usually enough for a full 16-camera layout using standard PoE cameras.

For best results, add up the maximum wattage of all cameras before installation. Cameras with large infrared LEDs, heaters, active deterrence lights, PTZ motors, or other high-power features may draw more power than basic fixed cameras. If the total camera load is close to or above 250W, use a second PoE switch, a larger switch, or dedicated PoE injector for the highest-draw devices.

Are 100Mbps PoE Ports Enough for Security Cameras?

Yes, for most IP security camera installations, a 100Mbps PoE port is more than enough for each individual camera. Most 4MP, 5MP, and 4K security cameras use only a fraction of a 100Mbps connection when configured with normal H.264 or H.265 video settings.

The AvaEye 16POEHP uses 16 100Mbps PoE camera ports and dedicated Gigabit uplink ports. That design makes sense for surveillance networks because each camera usually has modest bandwidth needs, while the uplink back to the NVR or main network benefits from Gigabit speed.

This is different from a general office network switch where every device may need Gigabit speed. For security cameras, the more important questions are usually PoE budget, stable power delivery, camera isolation, uplink capacity, and cable quality.

Unmanaged PoE Switch with No Cloud Management Account

The AvaEye 16POEHP is an unmanaged PoE switch, which means there is no cloud controller account, remote cloud dashboard, or subscription-based management server required to operate it. You do not have to worry about a cloud-managed switch account being compromised or a manufacturer-hosted management platform being used to access the switch.

For many security camera installations, that is a benefit. The switch is used locally to pass network traffic and provide PoE power to cameras. You still need to secure the rest of your network, including the router, NVR, camera passwords, and remote viewing settings, but the switch itself does not depend on a cloud management service to function.

Default, VLAN, and Extend Modes

The AvaEye 16POEHP includes multiple working modes so it can be used in different types of camera installations.

Default Mode

Default Mode is used for normal network operation. In this mode, all ports can communicate with each other. This is the simplest setting and is usually the right choice for basic plug-and-play camera networks.

VLAN / Secure Mode

VLAN/Secure Mode limits communication between the downlink camera ports so they communicate only with the uplink ports. This helps reduce unnecessary camera-to-camera traffic and can keep the camera side of the network cleaner.

This mode is useful when the switch is being used mainly for cameras that only need to send video back to an NVR or main network connection.

Extend / Surveillance Mode

Extend/Surveillance Mode is one of the biggest advantages of the AvaEye 16POEHP for camera installations. In this mode, supported PoE runs can reach up to 250 meters, or about 820 feet, which is far beyond the normal 328 foot Ethernet distance limit. That makes this switch useful for gates, detached buildings, barns, parking areas, warehouse corners, fence lines, and other camera locations that are too far away for a standard PoE run.

We have also tested and confirmed long PoE runs with AvaEye equipment in real surveillance use. Using solid copper network cable and extended transmission, we were able to run an AvaEye 2K 25X PTZ camera (model PTZIR2K25) at roughly 650 feet without using a PoE extender. The camera was not just barely connected; it streamed live video, panned, tilted, zoomed, and used infrared night vision during the test.

For fixed lens PoE security cameras, the lower power draw makes long-distance runs even more practical. When using good quality solid copper Cat6 cable and the switch's Extend/Surveillance Mode, supported fixed camera runs can reach up to about 820 feet without needing a separate PoE extender.

The main requirement is cable quality. Use solid copper Cat5e or Cat6, and avoid CCA cable for long PoE runs. Cheap copper clad aluminum cable can cause voltage drop, unstable video, camera dropouts, or PoE power problems. For more detail and a real test example, read our guide: Run a PTZ Camera Over 300 Feet, No Extender Needed.

Use It to Add PoE Ports to an NVR or Camera Network

The AvaEye 16POEHP is a good solution when you need to expand a camera system beyond the PoE ports built into an NVR. For example, if your recorder has fewer PoE ports than the number of cameras you want to install, this switch can provide additional PoE ports and send the camera traffic back to the recorder through the uplink connection.

It is also useful when cameras are located in one area of a building and the NVR is somewhere else. Instead of running every camera cable all the way back to the recorder, you can place the PoE switch closer to the camera group and run an uplink back to the main network or NVR location. If you are still planning the layout of your system, our guide on how to set up PoE IP cameras explains the basics of connecting PoE cameras on a network.

This can make larger installations cleaner, especially in warehouses, offices, retail buildings, garages, barns, workshops, and multi-room business layouts. For larger commercial layouts, it can also be used as part of a complete business security camera system where cameras need to be grouped by area, floor, building, or network closet.

Gigabit Uplink Options

The switch includes one Gigabit RJ45 uplink port and one Gigabit combo uplink port. These uplink ports are used to connect the switch back to the rest of the network. Depending on your installation, that may be an NVR, router, firewall, main network switch, or fiber/SFP connection.

The dedicated uplink design helps separate camera connections from the main network connection. Your cameras connect to the PoE ports, and the switch sends the combined camera traffic through the uplink port toward the recorder or network.

Rackmountable Metal Housing

The AvaEye 16POEHP uses an all-metal housing and includes rackmount ears, making it a good fit for equipment racks, network cabinets, structured wiring rooms, and business camera installations. Rack mounting keeps the switch organized with the rest of your NVR, router, patch panel, or network equipment instead of leaving it loose on a shelf.

NDAA Compliant PoE Switch

The AvaEye 16POEHP is NDAA compliant, which makes it a good match for NDAA compliant security cameras and systems used in professional installations where equipment sourcing matters. It pairs well with AvaEye cameras, NVRs, and accessories for customers who want a wired security camera system without relying on consumer cloud camera equipment.

For businesses, contractors, schools, government-related projects, and other professional environments, using an NDAA compliant PoE switch helps keep the network hardware aligned with the rest of the surveillance system. You can also learn more in our guide, What Are NDAA Cameras?

How This 16 Port PoE Switch Compares to Basic PoE Switches

Installation Notes

For best performance, use solid copper CAT5e or CAT6 network cable. Avoid CCA cable for PoE camera installations, especially on longer runs or with higher-power cameras. CCA cable can cause voltage drop, unstable camera operation, random disconnects, and power issues.

If you are using Extend Mode for a long camera run, test the camera before final mounting. Long cable runs depend on cable quality, connector quality, camera power draw, and the environment where the cable is installed.

The switch does not require internet to power cameras or pass local network traffic. Internet is only needed if your camera system requires remote viewing, cloud access, app notifications, or offsite access. For more on this topic, read our guide on whether IP cameras need internet.

Common Uses

• Powering up to 16 PoE IP security cameras
• Expanding an NVR system that needs more PoE ports
• Building a dedicated camera network for a business or property
• Supporting business security camera systems in offices, warehouses, retail stores, and commercial buildings
• Connecting camera groups back to an NVR or main network switch
• Supporting longer camera cable runs with Extend/Surveillance Mode
• Using an NDAA compliant PoE switch in professional surveillance installations

What's Included

• 1x 16 Port PoE Switch
• 1x US Power Cord
• 2x Rackmount ears with screws

Why Buy the AvaEye 16POEHP?

The AvaEye 16POEHP is a strong choice when you need a high power 16 port PoE switch for a security camera system. It combines a 250W PoE budget, 16 PoE camera ports, Gigabit uplink options, camera-focused working modes, long-run support, an unmanaged local design, rackmountable metal housing, and NDAA compliance. For surveillance systems that need dependable PoE power and a cleaner network layout, it is a practical upgrade over a basic low-power PoE switch.

Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions