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News, updates, and expert insights from EtherWAN.

EtherWAN delivers industrial-grade Ethernet solutions including managed switches, media converters, and rugged network devices designed for harsh environments. Follow this channel for the latest from EtherWAN: product news, expert perspectives, and updates from the team.

5 episodesVisit website ↗
Channel Brief·EtherWAN · 5 episodes
Updated Jul 19, 2021

Industrial networks need hardened infrastructure, not commercial shortcuts

EtherWAN argues that harsh-environment deployments demand purpose-built PoE and media solutions. The channel proves this through expert testimony and operational trade-offs, not metrics.

EtherWAN's core argument is that industrial and harsh-environment network deployments require fundamentally different equipment than commercial off-the-shelf solutions. The channel demonstrates this through deep technical interviews with its own leadership, particularly Jim Toepper, who grounds advice in 25+ years of networking experience and positions education as the bridge between buyer knowledge gaps and correct purchasing decisions.

Drawn from The Nitty Gritty of Commercial vs. Hardened Po… and 2 more →

“eLearning should be a cornerstone of a company's content marketing. It's the new way to connect with customers.”

Jim Toepper, Director of Products and Marketing, EtherWAN Systems

By the numbers

25+ years

Jim Toepper's networking and connectivity experience

What the channel argues

InsightHardened PoE switches tolerate extreme temperatures, vibration, and electromagnetic interference better than commercial units.→
InsightUpfront capital investment in hardened switches yields greater consistency in harsh operational environments.→
InsightMedia converters are cost-effective solutions addressing growing bandwidth demand and IoT device proliferation.→
InsightPoE delivers power through Ethernet ports instead of electrical outlets, simplifying multi-device deployments.→
InsightEducational content marketing builds buyer trust and increases likelihood of purchase from the teaching brand.→

What you'll learn

•Hardened PoE switches cost more upfront but prevent costly downtime in extreme-temperature, high-vibration, or high-EMI settings.
•Networks are evolving in both speed and functionality, requiring flexible infrastructure like media converters to bridge legacy and modern systems.
•PoE simplifies device power delivery by using Ethernet ports, but requires understanding specific operational needs before deployment.
•B2B buyers prioritize education over discounting, making vendor-supplied learning content a critical relationship-building tool.

What to do about it

→Assess your deployment environment for extreme temperatures, vibration, or electromagnetic interference; if present, specify hardened switches over commercial equivalents.
→Conduct a network infrastructure audit to identify legacy and emerging protocol gaps where media converters can cost-effectively bridge bandwidth demand.
→Develop educational content and eLearning programs that teach customers the trade-offs between commercial and hardened equipment, positioning your expertise as the decision anchor.

Who and what shows up

Jim Toepper

Director of Products and Marketing, EtherWAN

Primary expert across four episodes, bringing 25+ years of networking experience and positioning education as the core business development lever.

Shelby Skrhak

Host, What About Power Over Ethernet podcast

Guides technical deep-dives with EtherWAN leadership on PoE switch selection and fundamental concepts.

Dylan Han

Product Specialist, EtherWAN

Explains how networks are improving and expanding in terms of speed and functionality, driving media converter demand.

Jei Mercado

Regional Sales Engineer, EtherWAN

Emphasizes that network evolution is not just improved but evolved, highlighting necessity of flexible infrastructure solutions.

Questions this channel answers

Q

What is the difference between commercial and hardened PoE switches?

Hardened PoE switches require greater capital investment but deliver greater consistency in harsh environments exposing equipment to extreme temperatures, excessive vibration, and high electromagnetic interference. Commercial switches lack these durability enhancements.

The Nitty Gritty of Commercial vs. Hardened PoE Switches →
Q

When should I use a media converter?

Media converters are cost-effective solutions for today's varied network infrastructure demands, transmitting growing numbers of data types and addressing the speed and functionality evolution of modern networks.

The Rise of Media Converters in Addressing Growing Bandw… →
Q

What is Power over Ethernet and why does it matter?

PoE is a solution for running power to multiple devices through an Ethernet port instead of an electrical outlet, simplifying deployment and reducing installation complexity.

Getting Down to the Basics of Power Over Ethernet (PoE) →
Q

How should sales teams engage buyers in the PoE and networking space?

Start with education to build relationships and customer knowledge. B2B buyers are more likely to purchase from brands that share knowledge and treat eLearning as a cornerstone of content marketing strategy.

How Sales Can Leverage Educational Content to Build Rela… →
Topics:Power over Ethernet (PoE) switchesHardened vs. commercial equipmentMedia convertersHarsh-environment networkingIndustrial connectivity
Themes:Environment-fit infrastructure over commodity off-the-shelfEducation as customer relationship foundationUpfront investment payoff through operational consistency

Industry context

Industrial Ethernet infrastructure is expanding rapidly, with the global market projected to reach USD 22.5 billion by 2035 at a 7.92% CAGR, driven by increasing connectivity demands in industrial operations.

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