I hope you don't mind me bumping this thread

I don't mind the thread necromancy at all because I always love getting updated gear recommendations. 

For the record, @Juriaan was totally right; the way to go if you need POE is to have a decent router (which doesn't need to support POE) for creating the network and then connect that to a decent switch which does support POE. For the most part I've been using POE for PTZ cameras from manufacturers like Birddog and Sony.  

Unfortunately I don't have the make and model numbers handy of what I ended up going with, but I've used this configuration in quite a few different venues since I originally posted this thread.

I've been using a few of these devices for interactive installations within my teaching and research. Essentially they're a replacement for my Kinect cameras which stopped working correctly. 

I wanted some sensors for 3D depth capture with POE - I settled on the OAK-D, though if any of these new tracking and depth sensing cameras had plug and play connectivity with Isadora I'd have been interested. Maybe the new Pythoner actor can come to the rescue?!

Currently I'm using Touchdesigner to process the data from OAK-D and I then send the results back to Isadora via NDI.

Hopefully in the future there will be a way to do this directly within Isadora, like with the Kinect camera and the OpenNI Tracker actor - if anyone knows how, please let me know!

Best wishes,

Simon

Luxonis Oak-D camera (POE),

 Hi simon, just curous. hoe he you youse this camera and what fo? I don't mean to pry...

I primarily work in an education setting, and I would like to be able to create my own local network for wired and wireless access. 

I'm using Mac computers (Isadora), Arduino and Pipo interfaces, Birddog cameras (controlled via the VISCA PTZ actor), Luxonis Oak-D camera (POE), audio sent over Dante, plus NDI and OSC.

Can I purchase a router with multiple poe ethernet ports which also offers wireless connection with good range, or do I invest in a wireless router and a separate switch? Hoping for your recommendations.

Many thanks for everyone's help.

Best wishes, Simon

Ah OK, so these are specific purpose cameras that work in an array? I guess surveillance style systems would also use POE. I don’t see a lot of gear like that. But I can imagine it would be very useful to have plug and play networked devices with POE.

Thanks for your insight.

Best wishes

Bonemap 

Hi there Bonemap,

I use a POE Switch for powering my motion capture camera's (https://optitrack.com/) and I have to say that in the industry I see a lot of small devices that can actually use POE (Camera's, Artnet Receivers, etc). 

Ofcourse you can attach an arduino to a POE if you want too, the thing is that you need to make sure how much power is actually being send to your arduino, and convert it if necassary.

I am just asking the question how POE would be useful for an Isadora installation? My only experience with POE is as an end user of a corporate telephone system. Other than that, I believe some video extenders and IOT systems use POE. Could it be useful for running micro controllers such as Arduino’s? Is it something that is going to become more common or needed?

Best wishes,

Bonemap

Also I don't know a lot of routers that actually support 'POE' out of the box..

For the sake of my own knowledge, and the benefit of future forum-users who run across this thread:

Further research has me asking the question, "Active or Passive POE?"

Anyone care to shed light on this? Active looks to be more common, so that is what I am leaning towards.

@Fred @Juriaan 

I would love to know the make and model #'s of the routers that you mention if you have the time to check at some point.

Best wishes,

Woland

Thanks for the info! Its great to collect all of this information in one place for forum users.

Best wishes,

Woland

A few things that are important :

1. Make sure that you buy a Router that can do both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Arduino stuff mainly can't do 5Ghz at times..
2. Buy a Router with a Gigabit switch. If you ever wish to connect your network to let's say a motioncapture set, then you need a Gigabit switch for fast data transfer. (Heavy OSC.. Hehehe)
3. Buy a router that has a great interface. Most of the time you need to use it when you are setting up your network. For example, you wish to give a static IP to your showcomputer so you are sure that when you unplug everthing and set it up at the next venue that it is just a matter of connecting the cables.
4. If you use the router only for performance work then create a network (hidden) with a simple password so that you can connect your devices on the fly.
5. HIDE YOUR NETWORK.. We don't want to broadcast something like 'Performance' as our SSID

Personally I have a Netgear NIGHTHAWK

Great!

(Mostly just asking so folks who happen to find this thread in the future get all the info they need.)

Thanks for the info! 

Just to clarify, POE is Power Over Ethernet, yes?

Best wishes,

Woland