Cambium cnMatrix: PoE Budget and Port Planning

Cambium cnMatrix Switches: PoE Budget and Port Planning

Choosing the right cnMatrix switch for a Cambium AP deployment requires matching the PoE budget and port count to the AP types being installed. This guide covers the PoE tiers available across the cnMatrix range and how to plan port allocation.

cnMatrix PoE Tiers

Series	Typical PoE Configuration	Max Per-Port	Uplinks
EX1028-P	24 PoE ports	802.3af (15.4W)	4× SFP
EX2016M-P	14 PoE ports, mixed 802.3at/60W	60W	2× SFP+
EX2028-P	24 PoE ports	802.3at (30W)	4× SFP+
EX2052-P	48 PoE ports	802.3at (30W)	4× SFP+
EX3052R-P	24 4PPoE (60W) + 24 PoE+ (30W)	60W	4× SFP+
EX3052RM-P	24 2.5G + 24 1G access	802.3bt	4× 25G SFP28
TX2020R-P	16 PoE+ ports	802.3at (30W)	4× SFP+

PoE Standard Quick Reference

• 802.3af (PoE, 15.4W) — cnPilot Wi-Fi 5 APs, basic IoT devices, IP phones.
• 802.3at (PoE+, 30W) — Most Wi-Fi 6 APs (XV2-21X, XV2-22H, XE3-4TN). Sufficient for the majority of Cambium indoor AP deployments.
• 802.3bt (PoE++, 60W+) — High-density APs such as XV3-8 and XE5-8, plus high-power PTZ cameras. Use the EX3052R-P or EX3052RM-P for mixed high-power deployments.

Planning the Budget

1. List all PoE devices per switch. Include APs, IP phones, door controllers, and cameras — not just APs.
2. Calculate worst-case draw. Use rated power, not typical draw. A 30W PoE+ port may draw 25W under full load.
3. Apply 80% headroom rule. Never spec a switch at more than 80% of its total PoE budget to allow for cold-weather start-up surge and future expansion.
4. Check dual-supply models for redundancy-critical installations. The EX3052R-P and EX3028R-P support dual removable power supplies.

Fibre Uplinks

All EX series switches include SFP or SFP+ uplink ports for fibre backbone connections. The EX3000 series includes 10G SFP+ as standard; the EX3052RM-P supports 25G SFP28 for spine connections in larger campus builds.

The TX2028RF-P includes eight 1G fibre ports alongside SFP+ uplinks — suited to sites where a mix of copper and fibre distribution is required.

Site Survivability

cnMatrix switches continue operating normally if cloud connectivity is lost. Policy-Based Automation rules already applied to ports remain active. Only new profile assignments or config changes require cloud connectivity.

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This article was adapted from Cambium Networks' original guidance: "cnMatrix Ethernet Switches — Enterprise Network Switching Made Simple" — https://www.cambiumnetworks.com/products/switching/ Habitech-edited for UK trade installer context. Original © Cambium Networks, Ltd.