MikroTik Converter FTC21-ups

The MikroTik FTC21-ups is a weatherproof IP67 Fiber-to-Copper converter designed for one critical purpose: keeping your network stable when power is not. At the network edge, fiber links rarely fail; unstable power is usually the real issue. Voltage drops, brownouts, and short outages cause link renegotiations, device reboots, and unnecessary service calls. The FTC21-ups addresses this problem with built-in power resilience. Unlike conventional media converters, the FTC21-ups integrates two Li-Ion NCA 18650 batteries (3.6V, 2500mAh each) inside the enclosure. These batteries are not designed for long-term backup operation. Instead, they are engineered to bridge short interruptions and unstable voltage conditions.When power flickers, the device keeps the link alive, preventing Ethernet renegotiation and protecting sensitive connected equipment.

Battery management is fully intelligent. The batteries remain inactive during shipping, activate automatically on first power-up, and can be remotely switched into shipping mode via the management interface when needed. This ensures safe transport, predictable deployment, and long battery life. With an operating temperature range of -40°C to +70°C (battery discharge range -20°C to +65°C), the FTC21-ups is built for outdoor cabinets, poles, industrial sites, and harsh environments where environmental reliability is critical. If unstable power has been causing unnecessary downtime and support headaches, the FTC21-ups provides a smart, engineered solution to maintain predictable link behavior at the network edge.

The FTC21-ups is not just a media converter — it runs a full version of SwOS Lite, delivering advanced Layer 2 management features typically found in dedicated switches. Powered by the Marvell 88E6341 switch chip, the device provides stable and efficient packet forwarding with enhanced control capabilities. Administrators can monitor and manage interfaces, configure VLANs, enable SNMP reporting, apply basic traffic shaping, and implement advanced packet filtering using Access Control Lists (ACLs). The ACL functionality supports filtering, accounting, and VLAN tagging based on Layer 2, Layer 3, and Layer 4 protocol header conditions, providing granular traffic control directly at the network edge.

The hardware includes one 1G SFP port (with 2.5G support) and two Gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing flexible fiber-to-copper connectivity. The rugged enclosure carries an IP67 rating, ensuring full protection against dust and water immersion, making it suitable for outdoor deployment without additional protective housing. With compact dimensions of 268 × 113 × 44 mm, the FTC21-ups fits easily into industrial installations, telecom cabinets, and outdoor network boxes. It combines managed switching intelligence with media conversion in a single, robust device — delivering far more than a traditional unmanaged converter.

The FTC21-ups is engineered with flexible and redundant power input options to ensure stable operation in diverse deployment scenarios. It supports two DC inputs: PoE-In (802.3af/at) and DC jack, providing installation flexibility for various power infrastructures. The PoE-In input voltage range is 48–57 V, while the DC jack supports 24–57 V input. A 48 V power adapter with 0.95 A nominal current is recommended. Maximum power consumption is only 3 W without attachments, ensuring energy-efficient baseline operation, while total maximum consumption can reach 28 W when PoE-Out is in use.

On Ether2, the device provides Passive PoE-Out with selectable 24 V or 48 V, configurable via a hardware switch. The current limit is 0.625 A in low-voltage mode and 0.315 A in high-voltage mode. This allows powering additional edge devices such as access points or cameras directly from the converter. Clear LED indicators display power status, PoE-In, Ethernet activity, and SFP activity, providing instant visual diagnostics. By combining power redundancy, controlled PoE output, and ultra-low base consumption, the FTC21-ups ensures stable, efficient, and predictable operation in environments where power conditions are often the weakest link in the network.