The New Outdoor PoE Switch for Advanced Smart Cities from Microchip

May 26, 2023

The New Outdoor PoE Switch for Smart Cities from Microchip

The Microchip PDS-204GCO is a next-generation IEEE® 802.3bt-compliant outdoor PoE switch for smart cities. It allows Wi-Fi® access points, security network cameras and many other IoT devices to receive power and data over standard Ethernet cables, leaving the network infrastructure completely unaltered.

Building on features and capabilities of the current favorite PDS-104GO, the PDS-204GCO adds increased cyber protection plus the redundancy required for high network availability in mission-critical outdoor applications with long-distance connectivity.

The PDS-204GCO includes four PoE Gigabit Ethernet ports that support the IEEE 802.3bt (Type-4) standard and two Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) fiber links that each support 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) or 2.5 Gbps speeds. The fiber links can be used as optical uplink ports for surveillance cameras and as a redundant uplink path for increasing network availability. Support for ITU-T G.8032 Ethernet Ring Protection Switching (ERPS) technology ensures communication continues if there is an uplink link failure. The PDS-204GCO switch also supports multiple network topologies, and multiple units can be concatenated using a daisy-chain topology to extend the reach from the main central switch while reducing the number of optical cables directly connected to it from each device.

The PDS-204GCO’s cybersecurity features protect both the data traffic transmitted within the switch and the switch’s system management. Key features for protecting transmitted data within the switch include endpoint device authentication and authorization, manual switch-traffic policy management, and Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack prevention. Key features for protecting switch management and configuration include securing web browsing using self-signed or Certificate Authority (CA)-signed certifications and user authentication and authorization by remote servers using RADIUS or TACACS+ security mechanisms.

The PDS-204GCO outdoor PoE switch is based on Microchip’s VSC7514 10-port industrial Ethernet switch, VCS6817 IStaX software package and PoE integrated circuits.

More information available here

Related Articles


Changing Scene


Design

  • CDm2 LIGHTWORKS: The Real Work of Value Engineering – A Collaborative Approach

    CDm2 LIGHTWORKS: The Real Work of Value Engineering – A Collaborative Approach

    It’s a situation most lighting designers have experienced: a project you spent months designing comes back with a request to review and accept a value engineering package. You’ve seen it time and time again, a package of substitutions with a carrot of cost savings and a deadline. There’s no true value engineering offered, only substitution… Read More…

  • CSC LED: Spotted On Site – VARO Powers Refine Fitness Studio, Vancouver, BC

    CSC LED: Spotted On Site – VARO Powers Refine Fitness Studio, Vancouver, BC

    Lighting plays a critical role in shaping how a space feels and functions—especially in a fitness environment where visibility, comfort, and consistency are key. Throughout the studio, VARO Architectural Linear fixtures serve as the primary lighting solution, bringing both visual structure and performance to the space. The project features white 4′ 50W VARO fixtures, with… Read More…


New Products

  • Emerson: Appleton Explosionproof Rigmaster LED Series Luminaires

    Emerson: Appleton Explosionproof Rigmaster LED Series Luminaires

    Appleton Explosionproof Rigmaster LED Series Luminaires are a high-performance linear lighting solution in a rugged, corrosion-resistant housing, that can be ordered as a standard model or with emergency battery backup to fit all your hazardous location requirements. Providing comfortable, uniform illumination in a lightweight, low-profile design, the diverse mounting bracket options ensure this luminaire is… Read More…

  • Leviton | Viscor: Certolux – MBHSL LED Wall Mounted Behavioural Health Step Light

    Leviton | Viscor: Certolux – MBHSL LED Wall Mounted Behavioural Health Step Light

    The MBHSL Step Light is a durable, low-profile step light engineered to deliver safe, controlled illumination in demanding healthcare environments. Designed specifically for behavioral health and medical applications, it provides subtle wayfinding light that supports patient and staff movement without disrupting rest or comfort. Installed easily into a standard single-gang outlet box, the MBHSL Step Light integrates… Read More…