RLC-823A v3.1.0.2217 and PoE IEEE 802.3af

[user_713036944498912_713036944498912]

Hello,

I just upgraded the firmware to 2217 was 16xx before (sorry I cannot remember the exact version) and now the camera is locked in a boot loop when using only PoE connection. It was working fine before and the problem is certainly linked to the power supply.

So my message aimed at people that could encounter the same problem to be aware of the causes. My switch it a Netgear ProSafe GS108P that support the IEEE 802.3af standard and is limited to 15.4 W as in the initial PoE standard.

The RLC-823A refers to its power capabilities as "PoE, plug & play" on the box but when you search further is say PoE and IEEE 802.3at on the website and that is in fact PoE+ that can deliver between 24 W and 30 W.

The fact that the power supply included with the camera is rated 24 W should have been a clue but a little bit too late for me.

So my only real complaint is to make it clearer on the box, amazon titles that it is powered via PoE+ (IEEE 802.3at) to avoid misleading customer looking for a PoE camera.

[joseph_1979]

@user_713036944498912_713036944498912 Specs are written to be read. According to the power requirements, the camera supports IEEE 802.3at standard also know as PoE+. This provides up to 25.5W of power. It also stated 'Active' POE which means that the cam will check the power coming in, and, if it doesn’t meet the camera requirements, it just won’t power up.

[user_713036944498912_713036944498912]

@joseph_1979 Thanks to repeat/confirm what I have written above, but "Active PoE" or "PoE+" is not written anywhere on the box of the camera, it is also not written in the Operational Instruction booklet and the camera will power up because it worked perfectly fine before and even if power is not enough a boot cycle is started because the whole sequence of calibration (tilt and pan check for the endstop) is performed in a loop maybe driving the motors over their duty cycle.

I know that specs are important, I write a lot of them, but it is also a good habit to be as clear as possible in the documentation/user guide to avoid possible bias (I have a PoE infrastructure in my network that was perfectly fine for years and I don't need to always be up to date because it is not in a professional environment and reolink cameras are not in the professional field either) and my bias was to assume that PoE has not evolved much, at least seeing Active PoE or PoE+ would have raised a flag way more than IEEE 802.3at even if I am familiar with the IEEE in other domains.

[joseph_1979]

@user_713036944498912_713036944498912 Note that I am a customer like you and I am here to assist members wherever I have free time slots and based on my engineering and software skills. Indeed the documents provided are generic and as you correctly stated the specs should be very clear to avoid misunderstanding, complaints and litigations. I do write specs myself for equipment costing millions of euro and I tend to be as clear as possible and ask for SOC with reference to clauses.

The specs provided in the operation instructions are rather minimal. I will ask support to reconsider to include more detailed information similar to what is in the website. You could also email support and request this.