Difference between IP camera and HD-SDI Camera

IP cameras have been developed for many years, since from combination of analogue signal plus encoder technology to digital signal encoding technology, IP camera already made the jump between standard resolution to high definition phrase. On the other hand HD-SDI (high-definition serial digital interface) as the new products, receiving many expectations from not only security manufacturer, but also security integrator, but the reality turns out it did not meet the high expectation, only few big surveillance project has adopted HD-SDI cameras.

IP camera using Ethernet, but HD-SDI camera using coaxial cable

Firstly, HD-SDI with the advantage of compliant with analogue system via using same coaxial cable for video transmission, that’s the reason why HD-SDI technology are pushing into video surveillance field. High definition concept is accepting widely from high end market to low end market, the IP camera and analogue camera with huge difference on cable connection, If the exist analogue system (CCTV) user want to upgrade to high definition surveillance system, using the IP camera have to create a cable layout for video transmission, the exist coaxial cable will be abandoned, but using the HD-SDI camera for the upgrading, the existing coaxial cable still can be used in theory. 

HD-SDI camera only allow 100 meters transmission

However above is an ideal solution, the reality is how to achieve that ? HD-SDI using the coaxial cable for video transmission limited to 100 meters, it hardly meet the medium or big security project application such as factory, commercial building, school; On the other hand, even the monitoring centre is located within 100 meters, the exist coaxial cable can not transmit the huge date from HD-SDI camera with reason of wind and rain corrosion, this may cause the receiving terminal display flicking images or can not display video footage, the solution to solve this is similar like IP camera, using optical transmission technology, therefore increase the huge cost on the special equipment on video transmission. For the IP camera, it can connect into nearest LAN network, nowadays internet connection is in every corner of anywhere, thus built video transmission network is very easy for IP camera. 

IP camera with hundred ms delay during video transmission

Secondly, On the video encoding, because IP camera need to compress the digital signal before video output, and video transmission through the Ethernet cable, at least with multiply video signal channels connect to monitoring centre, compression rate are effected by the hardware design, network transmission capability, as well as transmission load of Ethernet work, compression rate directly determines the quality of output images at display monitor.

IP camera output compressed video streaming

Lastly, IP camera need to compress, convey, buffer the video signal, past these procedures, even video transmitting in no any delay LAN network, it take hundred ms to accomplish. If it’s a city surveillance monitoring network, with extra factor of unstable network or in-sufficient performance of decode, there is a hundres ms or 1/2 second delay on video monitoring. HD-SDI camera with advantages on this aspect, since it using the special coaxial cable for less time video transmission, user can watch the true real time video. Anyway, If the IP camera with advanced video signal processing capability, high end Ethernet network, then ten ms or hundred ms will not effect real use on video surveillance.

Remotely monitoring is one of core advantages for IP camera

In other aspects, there are some difference, example IP camera itself with video compression function, allow store video on local SD card equipment, HD-SDI camera output huge un-compressed video data; IP camera adopting Ethernet network, it can support TCP/IP protocol, and allow config IP address, through LAN network or Internet for remotely monitoring, recording, whereever you are in around the world, you can visit the IP camera, as long as there is Internet connection.

IP camera is vulnerable, when expose to Internet

But remotely surveillance also brings the problem, IP camera is exposed to Internet, it’s possible that may be subject to unauthorized users, network intrusion, thus network administrator need adopting some security strategy to avoid hacker attacks, HD-SDI camera requires monitor centre compress the video, this will increase the working load of centre, lack of flexibility on video transmission network, but this also can make the IP camera avoid the security risk; IP camera can transmit two way signal, but HD-SDI only can convey one way signal, user can not control the IP camera for real time operation or debugging.

Tags: HDSDI, IP Camera