Is PoE Universal?

[setotitan]

I've got this Polycom SoundStation IP 4000 VoiP phone. It uses a "power interface module" that to the best of my knowledge is just a PoE injector. However if you check out their proprietary module on eBay it's nearly $100! That's pretty pricey just to troubleshoot. I'd like to just sub in a generic PoE injector, but I don't know enough about the technology. Is PoE universal or are their different voltages that I should be aware of?

 

[petteyg359]

Power over Ethernet or PoE describes any of several standardized or ad-hoc systems

No, it isn't universal. Wikipedia suggests Polycom uses "PowerDsine Power over LAN". External reference shows a 3Com device (earlier mentions 3Com along with Polycom regarding Dsine) with V+ on pin 7 and V- on pin 8. Grab a multimeter, figure out the voltages, find a standard PoE injector that can supply those, and crimp your own "crossover" cable with the wires in the right places on both ends.

 

[setotitan]

Well crap.. that was not the answer I was hoping for. However Petty I appreciate you looking into it.