By the SightShield team · · 3 min read
The short answer
A network cable (Cat5e or Cat6) carrying power and video to an IP camera can run up to 100 metres from the PoE switch. Beyond that, you need a PoE extender, another switch closer to the cameras, or fibre. For distances of several hundred metres, or between buildings, fibre is the right answer.
Where the 100-metre limit comes from
Ethernet is specified for a 100-metre channel: up to 90 metres of fixed cable plus patch cords at each end. Push beyond that and you start to see dropped video, cameras that reboot, or cameras that will not power up, because PoE voltage drops along the cable and the data signal weakens.
In practice, measure the actual cable route — up walls, along trays, around corners — not the straight-line distance on the floor plan. Routes are often 20–30% longer than they look.
Options compared
| Option | Typical reach | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Cat6 direct from switch | Up to 100 m | Most homes, offices and shops |
| PoE extender (inline) | About 100 m more per extender | One or two distant cameras |
| Switch 'long-range' PoE mode | About 200–300 m at reduced speed (check datasheet) | A single camera slightly beyond 100 m |
| Extra PoE switch near the cameras | 100 m from the new switch | A cluster of cameras far from the rack |
| Multimode fibre | Several hundred metres | Links within a large building or campus |
| Single-mode fibre | Many kilometres | Gates, perimeters, separate blocks, large factories |
When to use fibre
- The camera cluster is more than 100–150 metres from the security room.
- The cable has to go between buildings — fibre also blocks surge damage between separate earths.
- You are connecting a gate cabin, a boundary pole group, or a second block back to the main NVR.
- You need a high-capacity link for many cameras on one run.
The cheap-cable mistake
Much of the 'Cat6' cable sold cheaply is copper-clad aluminium (CCA), not solid copper. CCA has higher resistance, so PoE cameras at the end of long runs get too little power and reboot, especially at night when infrared lights switch on and the camera draws more power. It also runs warmer. Use solid copper cable from a known brand for CCTV.
Other things that shorten real-world range
- Too many joints and patch points along one run.
- Running data cable right alongside mains cable over long distances.
- Poorly crimped connectors — the most common cause of 'flaky' cameras.
- High-power cameras such as PTZs, which need PoE+ or higher budget at the switch.
Planning cable routes on large sites
On factories, warehouses and campuses, the cable design decides whether the system is reliable. During a site survey we measure routes, decide where to place switches, and plan fibre where distances or separate buildings call for it.
Book a free site survey →Worked example: a gate camera 160 metres away
A factory wants a camera at its rear gate, 160 metres of cable route from the security cabin where the NVR sits. Running Cat6 directly is beyond the 100-metre limit. Three workable options: put a small outdoor PoE switch in a weatherproof box about halfway, powered locally, and run two Cat6 segments; use a PoE extender that regenerates the signal at about 100 metres; or run fibre to a small media converter and switch at the gate. With more cameras planned along the boundary, fibre was chosen: it is immune to lightning-induced surges on the long outdoor run and leaves spare capacity for later cameras.
CCTV for large campuses →Quick answers
Can I run an IP camera 150 metres away?+
Not directly on standard Ethernet. Use a PoE extender, a switch's long-range mode if the camera only needs low bandwidth, or put a switch nearer the camera.
Is Cat6 better than Cat5e for CCTV?+
Both reach 100 metres for IP cameras. Cat6 has thicker conductors in most good brands, which helps PoE over long runs, so it is the usual choice.
Do I need fibre for my factory CCTV?+
If cameras are spread across a large compound or separate buildings, almost certainly yes for the backbone, with Cat6 from local switches to the cameras.
Will a camera work at 110 metres?+
It may work on good pure copper cable, but it is outside the standard and can drop out, especially with PoE. Plan an extender, switch or fibre instead.
Do PoE extenders need power?+
Many are powered by the PoE itself, but each adds a point that can fail and must be weatherproofed.