This is exactly what alot of us do now. My NVR is in a secure area and 1 ethernet cable (not POE) is run from the NVR up to the attic where I have a 24 Port POE+ switch located. All of my cameras are then connected via Ethernet cable (Cat 5e) to this switch. The switch provides all power and network requirements to each camera. It's very simple to do, if you get a switch that has enough total (POE) power to handle all the cameras you intend to install. It's not rocket science at all, just ask for a recommendation along the way if you have a doubt about something. This is a great group of knowledgeable people that are willing to help out.I need to learn for sure, been reading for a few weeks. I'm stumped because I don't want to run a separate poe cable to 4 different cameras. I'm trying to find out if it's possible to run just one peo cable from an NVR up to a powered switch in the attic and do the split there. so many different NVR's and I'm still a complete noob at this.
There are 2 basic types of NVR's. I use an NVR (5216-4KS2) that only has 1 ethernet port. Then, you have NVR's that come with the POE ethernet ports, and a network ethernet port. It's more difficult to locate an NVR someplace if you have to run all your camera connections to this POE NVR, as you have already discovered. You can do exactly what you want to do, just by buying a POE switch and an NVR with just the Ethernet port for network connectivity. Then place the POE switch at whatever location is most convenient for your scenario, and run an ethernet cable to your router, and then a connection to the NVR.Thank you weigle2, didn't expect that. I'm stumped because I'm thinking the ethernet ports on NVR's that would go to each camera are already powered...., is this wrong? I have two cheap YI wireless cameras right now, but I don't like the lag or the 1080 res. I want some better cameras and wired now that I see what they can do. I just want to put some type NVR hidden near my router and take one line to a poe switch if I can.
Thanks a ton, I want to do just what you said. can you tell me which poe switch you are using?
right now I only need 4 cameras total with an extra port if I want to add. from what I'm really wanting at least one 5mp ptz camera on my garage that has decent night vision and zoom, the rest I just want 5mp that can zoom a little. from what I understand, ptz's need more voltage and I need at least 60 watt total?
Edit, also after reading your post again..it seems the nvr is not in series with the poe as I was thinking. you're saying the nvr hooks in a line back from the poe. this is why I didn't get it, I keep seeing nvr's with only one ethernet port and wondered how the heck you passed through the dang thing.