POE

Power Over Ethernet is a device that gets its electrical power over the ethernet cable. Marlborough has been equipped with a series of distribution switches (one on the end of each fiber) where the ethernet port supplies both the internet signals and electrical power. This is compatible with any modern standard ethernet cable (those are things with “RJ45” plugs at the end). (Old landline telephones use “RJ11” plugs.) So, a POE device does not require a pesky electrical socket. The way to turn it off (usually you should leave it off for at least 40 seconds before turning it on again) is to simply unplug it. If you have the cable coming into your unit where you want to locate a POE device, problem solved. If you want to put the POE device “farther inland” (deeper into the residential unit) you’re going to need a coupler (they are cheap, we’ll give you one if necessary) to connect it to an ‘internal’ ethernet cable that runs from the point of entry to the desired place to put the device. Such cables need not be fat and ugly like the one poking through the wall, they come in smaller (even flat) profiles and in different colors.