So basically the crux of your complaint revolves around cost and I can understand that. These are not cheap devices and I can understand your complaint on paying steep on a repair.
So I am going to cover some of this...
The problem is, you can't just hook it to any PoE switch, which would be the case if they had followed the spec. The spec clearly states that the powering device decides which mode to use when a powered device (e.g. Remote) is connected and that (for exactly that reason) it is mandatory for the powered device to support both modes of powering. Being limited to certain PoE switches is an unneccessary limitation that could have been avoided by a proper design.
I'm getting the feeling you blew your remote by plugging into Mode B? I am an IT guy, but I am not going to pretend to know what/why/how they designed the remote other than what the manual says. What I do know is that I have three different Mode A pinned PoE switches at the house and it as worked perfectly with each one. This means that they must have followed some standard (Well, they did as it is mode A) otherwise it would have worked and potentially not worked moving from switch to switch. The manual clearly outlines everything and remember, that standards do change over time and the remote was designed years ago. Also, they can be compliant without being compatible. This is from the manual:
Quote
From Kemper Manual:
PROFILER and Remotes should be connected to those ethernet sockets that provide PoE power. Supported are
IEEE standard 802.3af-2003 as well as 802.3at-2009 mode A
Recent updates to the Gigabit standard have introduced a new mode of operation which in certain configurations
could either be incompatible with, or even damage the Remote! Unfortunately, the technical specifications provided
by the manufacturers are rarely enough for us to tell whether a product is compatible or not.. Because of this, we
strongly recommend to either stay away from Gigabit PoE equipment or stick to models that have been tested by our
own engineering team or reported as functional by other users.
Display More
Let's look at your other questions:
Quote
- Why are defective Remotes not really being repaired instead of replacing everything that's inside the case (we are in 2024, shouldn't sustainability be an issue?)
So I don't disagree with you here and hate that we are in a world of toss and buy new. I miss the old TV Repair shops and the ability to simply replace what broke versus buying new. Totally agree with you on this one... That said, I don't think they do circuit level repair due to ease and cost. It is easier for them to just swap the board out versus putting a tech with a soldering iron on it to repair it. It is faster for the customer, many who are pros and need quick turn around, as well as a cheaper solution for the company. Sadly, it is why many companies have gone this route. Labor costs a lot of money, especially skilled electronics repair. I did radio repair in the military back in the early 90's and watched it go from us working on circuits to us simply swapping cards out and sending them to depot for "repair". This world is no longer about sustainability at that level, but look at the Kemper and the longevity they have had with all the new features they continue to bring, and I think they are doing a great job of sustainability by today's standards and they offer repair. Sadly I don't think we will ever see circuit level repair again, only swap.
Quote
Why is the replacement so expensive that you would rather trash the Remote and buy a new one?
Only Kemper can answer this one. My guess would be that the remote is one PCB and you getting basically a new remote out of it minus the case. It is still cheaper than a new remote, but you are right, not by much.
Quote
- Why was the Remote designed in a way that, in my opinion, simply doesn't suit a company like Kemper (and that doesn't justify the price)?
This is more your opinion versus a question. Kemper built it the way that they wanted and it has worked for them over the years. Stuff happens and things break or fail, that is life sadly.
I am sure Kemper contacted you to tell you the cost before they proceeded with a repair. At that point, you could have denied the repair and either attempted it yourself if you already knew the issue or bought new. The fact that they would repair it (even if it was a card swap) shows some level of sustainability as most companies would have told you to kick rocks if the device died out of warranty and you would be paying for a complete new one.
