If you are just getting started with Ubiquiti devices, you may have installed the free Unifi Controller and/or Video software onto a server on your network. At least, that is what I did initially, and it worked great. As my network grew, I wanted to have a dedicated machine for the Controller software, and I also liked the idea of a true Network Video Recorder for my Unifi security cameras, as well as cloud access to the management interface of all of my gear. The Ubiquiti Unifi Cloudkey Gen2 Plus was a perfect match!
Much to my surprise, the Cloudkey Gen2 Plus does NOT come with a power supply. For advanced users who already own a Unifi Power Over Ethernet capable switch, this is not an issue, but to the average home user, it can be quite confusing. Allow me to clear things up in a very simple way. You have 3 power options for the Cloudkey Gen2 Plus.
Go all out and purchase one of the smaller Unifi switches that include Power Over Ethernet ports, such as the Unifi 8-port 150 Watt PoE switch, and use one of its ports to power your new Cloudkey Gen2 Plus. This is a great option if you plan to add Unifi Security Cameras such as the Unifi G3 Flex at some point, as you will already have the means to power them.
Purchase the Ubiquiti U-POE-AF Power over Ethernet Injector, which basically has a standard power cable, and 1 RJ45 port that connects to your existing switch (assuming you have spare switch ports), and 1 RJ45 port that connects and delivers power to your Cloudkey Gen2 Plus.
No switch ports left? No problem! Purchase a USB-C power supply (I"ve purchased this model, and it worked with my Cloudkey Gen2 Plus before I decided to use PoE). Please note, there are several other USB-C Power supplies available on Amazon. I've tried a few other brands, and the Cloudkey Gen2 Plus would not boot up, and gave an error "Bad USB-C Power".
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