I want to purchase a PowerBox Pro, to act as a dumb POE switch that is powered by POE passive.
I do not need the router function.
Can this unit be put into switch mode? If so, is it easy to do?
I will merely be using this to add POE cameras to an NVR.
Also what injector does anyone recommend to use with this device? Need one that will last.
Yes it can be put into a switch mode.
It is easy to do, (but perhaps less so if you have never used/seen a Mikrotik before)
It comes with a 24v power supply, I assume you will need 48-56v power supply to drive the cameras.
Mikrotik RBGPOE is a very basic passive poe injector which should be enough.
(along with an appropriate 48-56v power supply)
Thank you. Sounds good!
My new article on the default configuration answers this thread’s title question: put everything into the default bridge.
A word (or two) of warning.
The common perception/expectation is that PoE is something that - just like your mains - works for anything, you just plug something with the right voltage for your country in a socket and it powers up just fine.
Unfortunately it doesn’t work like that, in practice.
The Mikrotik devices (besides the fact that strictly speaking do not provide enough current to power a 802.3at device on the PoE-out ports, not relevant for little power devices such as cameras, most should be around 7-8W or less, a few may be around 12W, byt there are exceptions going over 15W, still within Mikrotik deliverable power) use “mode B” cabling.
In theory any device (camera) 802.3af/at compliant should be compatible with both Mode A and Mode B, but some may be Mode A only compatible.
Passive PoE devices normally use Mode B, but some device that are (reported as also) 802.11af compatible may use Mode A.
Converting from Mode B to mode A is relatively easy, even without a dedicated splitter/adapter still it is an added complexity.
A number of PoE power supplies (802.3af/at compatible) are using Mode A, and converting from Mode A to Mode B, while still doable is more complex, needs a dedicated piece of hardware to do the conversion.
Cameras tend largely to be (at least nominally) 802.3af compatible, the 24V (passive) ones are more rare.
If you are looking at the PowerBox Pro for its outdoor compatible construction and its capabilities as switch, it is IMHO a very good device, very good bang for the buck, if you are choosing it for its PoE capabilities you must be prepared to spend some time to verify the compatibility of all the hardware involved and - if needed - procure the adapters/converters that may be needed.
It is not always easy to understand what a device can or cannot do from the manufacturers’ specifications, unfortunately.
Ultimately, it all depends on the distance between the mains (where you put the PoE power supply) and the PowerPro, and the distance between the PowerPro and the various cameras, 24V simply won’t do if you have lengths of cables of more than 40 or 50 meters (with good cables), while the 48-57V can work up to 100 m.
You can use a calculator such as:
http://poe-world.com/Calculator/
to have an idea of the loss of power you will have in your setup (and thus dimension correctly the power supply)
Mikrotik offers a couple of good (passive) power supplies at 24 and 48V:
https://mikrotik.com/product/24HPOW
https://mikrotik.com/product/48POW
that cover most common setups/cases with their 60/70W power, and a more beefy 48V one:
https://mikrotik.com/product/48v2a96w