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Bare with me on this!
I fitted 3 CCTV cameras which are hard wired with ethernet cables in to a digital recorder box (DGB) in the loft. The DRB is then plugged in to the tinternet via a TP link router.
Here lies the problem. The loft gets seriously hot so I want the DRB downstairs in the kitchen so as to prevent any fire risk. I’ve figured out a routing for the camera cables to get there but means boxing in a corner of an upstairs spare room, lifting carpets etc. In other words, a right PITA.
Is there such a thing as multi channel Ethernet port device that connect remotely to each other? That way I can have one in the loft that the cameras feed into and another in the kitchen that feeds the DRB, thus avoiding hard wiring and the kefuffle it involves?
It sounds like you want a 4 port wireless bridge if I understand correctly, a box with Ethernet ports to connect your cameras to that will then wirelessly connect to your main router.
An old router can be used for this purpose but I'd get something branded rather than trying to use an old one provided by an ISP
Edit: unless you can run a single ethernet from the router to the loft, then you'd just need a basic ethernet switch.
It's going to depend. If the 3 CCTV cameras use IP for their data then yes you might be able to use an ethernet extender, but there is the possibility that they don't. You would have to check with your digital recorder box whether or not they would be allowed to be connected with a switch. You also need to check with your CCTV devices whether they are actually powered over the ethernet cable as well in which case you would need to make sure your extender could also supply power in the same way. I would take a look at the manual for your recorder first to see if that says anything about extenders or switches.
I would have thought that, unless you need POE, then a standard switch in the loft would be fine.
You could use a power line adapter to connect the switch to the kitchen.
But then you'd still have a device in the loft, although I'm struggling to see how temperatures can get so hight that it would cause a fire risk.
Maybe route the CCTV ethernet to a switch or the recorder in another part of the house?
Aaah, just rethinking this, does the DRB have individual inputs from each camera? I'd so the switch solutions above wouldn't work as you will only end up with a single ethernet connection to the box which it might not be able to cope with.
I think the solution you are looking for is almost some kind of multiplexer but I'm not sure that would exist for ethernet as it's not normally needed by the nature of IP comms.
Not much use sorry, tldr; I don't know the answer 😀
Actually, maybe something like this could help? (You may be able to find something with more ports...)
If you’re talking about a wireless connection between your loft & kitchen, then yes, you’ll need 2 compatible routers that support WDS (very unlikely with a free ISP router). Although as mentioned I’d make sure your recorder box thingy will actually work if the cameras aren’t connected directly?
You’ll still have something in the loft which might overheat & shutdown, although at a guess a router with no moving parts might fare better than the recorder box with HDDs etc.
As an alternative what about running the cables outside of the house?
What is making your loft so hot that there's a fire risk? Is it the recorder itself?
Yeh it's all a bit of a weird one.
The cameras are powered via the ethernet cable.
The DRB has individual inputs for each camera.
The boss doesn't want more cables/conduit cluttering up the outside of the house. ☹️
There is a sky light in the roof that's probably helped getting the temp that high. I did check it during the summer heat wave to be fair and the DRB was very hot to the touch.
I'm thinking the front of the house can be covered by the existing solar powered WiFi camera and the rest of the house and garden could be covered from the shed (mains powered with ethernet) by putting the DRB in it and have the cameras routed out of there.
If you haven't guessed, I like to over complicate stuff.
Why not try fitting some kind of air extraction / circulation system focused on the dvr?
That said I’ve got my boiler, e ufh controller, hw cylinder, accesspoint, switch, nas x2 & server in my south facing loft & have had zero fires or extraction.
You may be worrying over a non-issue.
We regularly fit cctv recorders in lofts. Cant say we've ever had a problem due to excess heat.
If you want as little equipment in the loft its either run the cables to somewhere else or you could fit a 4 port poe switch and use a decent powerline adapter to get the data to where you want.
If the device is getting so hot in a warm room that you suspect it's a fire risk, I'd suggest that it's broken. Take the lid off and have at it with a can of compressed air to blow out all the rockwool, spiders and pubes, then check that all the fans are fanning?