The guidance on IP surveillance system

IP surveillance system becomes the trend in video surveillance industry, IP camera launched into market dated back to 1996. Even past so many years, analogue camera still dominate the market, especially in medium & Low-end market. Without doubt, the future technology is digital technology, thus eventually the IP network surveillance system will dominate the whole security field.

Today we are presenting the unbiased guidance on nowadays' IP network surveillance systems in here. IP camera with video management software (VMS) or IP camera with network video recorder (NVR) are two core component for IP surveillance system. 

High resolution images are important for surveillance system

Everybody now are favoring the high quality video, thus the digital electronics market are providing numerous multimedia equipment, we have HD movie, HDTV, or even HD music. Compared old analogue cctv cameras only deliver 700 tv line resolution (in 2013) or image resolution at 960x480 pixel,  the IP network cameras with CMOS progressive scanning image sensor, it can capture images at ultra-super resolution at 1.3 megapixel, 2 megapixel, 3 megapixel, even 5 megapixel. 

From aspect of video surveillance, high resolution is very important. High resolution IP cameras not only can deterrent suspicious people, but also can provide crisp and more detailed images to trace the scene or as the reliable evidence for cracking down the criminal, when the fraud or crime happen.

Low cost installation without hassle is another benefits for IP camera

Traditional analog camera using the coaxial cable for video transmission, even the latest HD-SDI technology, it also requires the old cable wiring. IP camera is digital devices complete transmission digital video signal via Ethernet cable, you can save huge cost on installation from below advantages which IP camera can offer:

• Using existing Ethernet in your house
• Just need connect one Ethernet cable to network video recorder
• Power over Ethernet technology, saving money

Majority of residential or commercial building already exist the Ethernet cable layout, ready to connect the computer for internet service, thus you can use the IP cameras connect to exist the Ethernet network without add extra cables. On the contrary, using the analogue cameras, you need to purchase new coaxial cable (BNC cable) and doing the construction works. As matter of fact, the installation of traditional cctv system frustrated many people.

IP camera is working with Internet, it allows user to access the IP camera for remotely video monitoring and control or even recording in anywhere. Take a video recording as an example, for analogue camera, you need use coaxial cable for each one of camera to connect standalone digital video recorder, thus there are huge amount cables connecting to your video control room (or video monitoring centre), this definitely make inconvenience on video monitoring and recording.  For the IP camera, just as long as with internet connection, just make your computer or NVR connect to internet, then you can do video monitoring, control, video recording...etc.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) is technology for transmitting not only video signal, audio signal, but also power supply to the IP cameras. With this features, your IP camera just need use only an Ethernet cable for all signal transmission and power supply, plug it, then it works. PoE can reduce the need for extra cable wiring, conuit, providing reliability with full flexibility.

Two way voice transmission

Two way voice transmission or intercom is useful for video conference meeting, thus there are many IP cameras focusing on offering real time video and audio conference meeting. Majority of IP cameras supporting two way audio transmission, the IP camera can collect voice signal and transmitting via internet, also broadcast the audio.

Why you should not buy the IP surveillance system ?

Some factors are important

High price stops IP surveillance system widely deploy in middle and low-end market.

Even the IP technology is mature now, and coming with PSIA and Onvif standard, the cost for IP camera still is high.  A small IP surveillance system coming with IP cameras and NVR may cost you thousand dollars. If you can't endure this cost, then you need to consider analogue cctv system.

Requires advanced network with sufficient bandwidth.

IP surveillance system transmitting video over internet or video streaming,  each IP camera video streaming at 720P resolution, it takes 4 megabytes network bandwidth, then 4 IP camera systems video streaming at 720P, then total 12 megabytes. If your exist network can not meet the requirements, you have to upgrade your network for working with IP surveillance system.

High resolution requires huge storage space

If you plan to record video for IP surveillance system, you have to prepare a huge storage space. Example 2TB storage space can record 15 days for 4 analogue cameras at D1 resolution. For 4 channel IP surveillance system, recording at 3 megapixel and 15 days, the storage space is 15.73TB.  You can use this DVR calculate to estimate the storage space.

Some factors are less important

Video latency (delay)

Similar to DVR, the IP camera need to encode the video data before transmit output compressed video data. This cause very slow delay (ms) on real time monitoring. The delay time varies from different hardware design, also related to your PC hardware.

Complicated network configuration

If you are not familiar with network configuration, then you may feel frustrate on installation of IP surveillance system. Even the best easy to use IP cameras, you need to the basic IP configuration on camera and router.

Not compatible with analogue system

It's impossible for connecting an IP camera to your existing CCTV DVR system. The IP surveillance system are not back-compatible, it make a big jump from analogue system to IP system.