Unless it’s something like TP-Link’s “Passive PoE” set up
Ah, I’ve not come across that. What’s the thinking behind that then, cost-cutting? There’s a reason we have standards.
I presume it’s cost cutting, but I’ll admit that it rather took me by surprise as I’d thought that (at least at mid range TP-Link stuff, i.e. not the best, but a cut above the cheapest on Amazon) that if it was sold as PoE, it was 802.3af standards compliant.
The Wikipedia page on PoE lists a number of non standards compliant implementations including the “Passive” connection I ran into. It does however say that it’s only common with radio equipment, so perhaps CCTV cameras don’t go for it?
Haze, can you link us to the cameras you have or at least check the wording on the box? Does it say 802.3af where it mentions PoE?