Is Power Over Ethernet right for you?

Digital signage players require Internet connectivity in order to receive your playlists from the cloud, and to play URL-based content like dynamic content feeds. Of course, they also require a power source - but did you know that you can deliver both connectivity and power through a single cable?

Advantages of Power Over Ethernet (POE)

The big advantage of POE-capable digital signage players is that they can receive their Internet connectivity and power via a single cable. This reduces cable clutter and also eliminates a possible point of failure (the power supply). It also frees up wall outlets for other devices, and prevents any connectivity issues that can arise from spotty WiFi signals.

POE Caveats

The one drawback of POE-based signage players is that they require a dedicated POE switch in order to power the players (off-the-shelf consumer versions will not work). However, these devices can be found for as little as $40 on Amazon. Your POE switch will either come in the 802.3af standard, which provides 5V / 4 amps of power, or the new 802.3at (“POE+”) standard, which provides 12V / 2 amps of power. Many digital signage players, including our XOGO Mini 2 POE Version, support both of these standards.

Summary

If your organization would like to reduce cable clutter, while simultaneously providing a clean Internet / power signal to your media players, it’s worth considering media players that have power-over-ethernet capability. Our own XOGO Mini 2 is available in a POE version, as are the XT-series media players from our partners at BrightSign. Have questions? Feel free to contact us or get in touch with your local XOGO reseller for more info.