Combination power and full duplex data cable

A system comprising:

• a first cable;
• a second cable;
• a converter in electrical communication with the first cable and the second cable, wherein the converter is configured to:
• convert first differential data received from the first cable to first coaxial data and transmit the first coaxial data onto the second cable;
• and
• receive power and supply the power to one or more other devices through the second cable;
• wherein the second cable comprises first and second coaxial cables, wherein each of the first and second coaxial cables comprises a conductor and a shield at least partially surrounding the conductor;
• wherein the converter is configured to supply the power to the one or more devices through the shield of the first coaxial cable and the shield of the second coaxial cable.

A system comprising:

• a first cable configured to transmit first coaxial data;
• a first converter in electrical communication with the first cable and configured to convert the first coaxial data to first differential data;
• and
• a switch in electrical communication with the first converter and having a plurality of ports, wherein the switch is configured to receive and route packets of the first differential data to any of said ports including a first port.

A converter comprising:

• a first port configured to receive first differential data from a first cable;
• a first transformer in electrical communication with the first port and configured to convert the first differential data to first coaxial data;
• a second port in electrical communication with the first transformer and configured to transmit the first coaxial data onto a second cable;
• a third port configured to receive second coaxial data from a third cable;
• a second transformer in electrical communication with the third port and configured to convert the second coaxial data to second differential data;
• and
• a fourth port in electrical communication with the second transformer and configured to transmit the second differential data onto the first cable;
• first and second conductive lines in electrical communication with a first terminal of the second port and a first terminal of the third port respectively;
• wherein the second and third cables are coaxial cables, each having a conductor and a shield at least partially surrounding the conductor;
• wherein the first terminal of the second port and the first terminal of the third port are configured for coupling to the shield of the second cable and the shield of the third cable respectively;
• wherein the first and second conductive lines are configured to transmit power, provided by the shield of the second cable and the shield of the third cable, to one or more power output ports.

A method for transmitting data and power across a network, the method comprising:

• transmitting first coaxial data and power through a first cable;
• receiving the first coaxial data and the power from the first cable;
• converting the first coaxial data to first differential data;
• transmitting the first differential data onto a second cable;
• providing the received power to one or more devices;
• wherein the first cable includes a first coaxial cable and a second coaxial cable, each having a conductor and a shield at least partially surrounding the conductor, wherein said receiving the power from the first cable comprises receiving the power from the shield of the first coaxial cable and the shield of the second coaxial cable.

A distribution device for use in transmitting data and power, the method comprising:

• a switch in electrical communication with an uplink connector and having a plurality of ports, wherein the switch is configured to receive data from the uplink connector and route packets of the data to any of said ports including a first port as differential data;
• a first cable in electrical communication with said first port and configured to receive first differential data from said first port and transmit the first differential data;
• a first converter in electrical communication with the first cable and configured to:
• receive the first differential data from the first cable;
• convert the first differential data to first coaxial data;
• transmit the first coaxial data to a second cable;
• and
• receive power from a power bus and transmit the power onto the second cable.