Vecow PE-6004 Intel I226-IT 4-Port 2.5GbE PoE+ LAN Expansion Card

Cameras above Gigabit resolution or frame rate need more bandwidth per link, but not every system needs the cost and heat of 10GbE. The PE-6004 is Vecow’s four-port 2.5GbE PoE+ card, a standalone model that powers four devices and gives each one a 2.5 Gbps link. We specify it for systems we build where four cameras stream video to one host.

Each of the four RJ45 ports has its own Intel I226-IT controller and runs at 2.5 Gbps, 1 Gbps, 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps, so older Gigabit cameras still connect. The host interface is PCI Express x4. The controllers support 9KB jumbo frames, 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet, 802.1Q VLAN tagging and teaming with fault tolerance, 802.3ad link aggregation and load balancing.

All four ports comply with IEEE 802.3at and supply up to 25.5 W at 48 V DC, with PoE+ on/off control and four PoE LEDs. Time-sensitive networking features cover IEEE 1588 PTP, 802.1AS, 802.1Qav and 802.1Qbv, which suits time-aligned multi-camera capture. Our guide to industrial Power over Ethernet covers the PoE classes in more depth. The PE-2004 is the four-port Gigabit alternative and the PE-5004 moves to 10GBASE-T.

PoE power comes from one 4-pin 12 V connector. Vecow rates the PE-6004 from -25 to 60 °C with air flow, so the host needs fans or forced air across the slot, and from -40 to 85 °C in storage. The board measures 167.7 x 111.1 mm with a full-height bracket, and Vecow lists CE and FCC, with Windows 11, Windows 10 and Linux support. Vecow names video streaming, real-time inspection, scientific research and medical vision as applications.