IP camera or analog cctv camera, which system is the best?

When users consider the video surveillance system, they don't know how to choose between IP camera system and analog cctv system. Today, we are going to discuss this with you. To answer this question, the short answer is IP camera system is better than analog cctv system. Since the IP camera system becomes more and more affordable, and if you are going to setup a new surveillance system, the IP camera system is the ideal or best choice.

For many years right now the popularity of IP based video camera systems have been growing due to the reducing of the cost of network bandwidth. They have also become popular as a result of enhancements in compression technologies (most notably the developments in H. 264 and H.265) which have led to network bandwidth usage becoming more control-able, coinciding with wider adoption of high speed broadband and now fiber-based ‘super-fast’ broadband in lots of nations on the globe.

A lot of businesses that need versatile, cost-effective surveillance solutions, are now preferring IP video cameras more than analog video cameras due to the more advanced functions of IP cameras, such as remote control availability, much better scalability, ever growing processing power, constantly improving video analytic, on-board storage capacity and also imaging technologies.

Within CCTV (closed circuit television), the surveillance images are first captured and are then relayed as an uncompressed analog video signal through coaxial cable towards the DVR (digital video recorder) where they are recorded.

In IP structured camera systems the images are captured by the IP cameras and are converted to a digital signal which is then compressed and stored on the PC storage devices such as a hard drive or flash drive, by using wired setup (CAT 5 network cables) or a wireless network, and as a result they help businesses save on the cost of set up since their existing network infrastructure can be re-purposed for surveillance.

Comparison between CCTV camera and IP camera

Analog CCTV camera with or without DVR

• Easy to operate and setup, no network configuration
• Poor and standard image resolution
• Image quality will decrease after video recording
• Analog signal, prone to be interfered.
• Difficult to expand the system
• Cable infrastructure is required for new system
• Less expensive on camera, but overall cost is high

IP-Camera surveillance system

• Latest digital technology, current trend
• Plug-and-play setup
• High definition images reach up to 6 megapixel
• No quality loss after video recording
• Broadcasting video stream over internet, accessible from anywhere
• Working standalone, no need recording devices (NVR, NVS)
• Using existing Cat 5 Ethernet infrastructure for connection
• Expensive cost for IP camera, overall cost is low
• Easy to expand, and many advanced functions

The Reason Why IP Cameras Are Much better than Analog CCTV Cameras

1. Image quality - The high resolution graphics recorded on IP cameras provide crystal clear images. The more clear the image, the easier it is to discern people, objects, faces and other details filmed through the IP camera.In IP based digital camera systems there isn't any loss of quality in recording of images or reviewing recordings, since all of the data is recorded digitally instead of getting converted from analog to digital. In analog CCTV systems, there’s a decline in the image quality the further the data has to travel.

2. Resolution - A typical analog camera equates to about 0. 4 megapixels, while a standard IP digital camera provides two megapixels, that is more than 5 times the resolution provided by analog video cameras. As a result of the larger resolution provided by IP digital cameras, IP-based digital camera systems demand fewer cameras as compared to analog CCTV systems.

3. System based on needs -Because IP cameras don’t require additional cables like analog video cameras do, the network can be as huge or as small as required. The network can be easily expanded and other systems can be added or integrated to it at any time without being compelled to drastically change its infrastructure. For example, in property as well as building management the IP digital cameras might be integrated with the security and alert systems and in a retail business they may be integrated with the point of sale system.

4. Versatility - In IP based camera systems the bandwidth could be controlled differently for every IP camera. For the recording of video clip the hard disk drive space could be shared by many systems. Any number of recordings per IP camera can also be done at the same time, from various locations for redundancy purposes, offsite storage or even live video surveillance at the service providers.

5. Unlimited Scalability - IP based camera systems can start out small and then grow over time as the needs of the business or house increase. There’s no limit to the amount of IP cameras and also sites that may be included in the system. The capability to run on network sections and also multiple networks and distributed processing serve to reduce the limitations on scalability.

In an analog CCTV system, a dedicated coaxial cable needs to be directly connected to each video camera and the recording /viewing station. This means that changing the infrastructure of the system and also including more video cameras might be too complicated, costly, and also eventually limit the unique security needs of your enterprise or home.

6. Video management - All of the data generated in IP based digital camera systems is recorded in a digital format, and as a result it’s easily accessible for playback. Every real time or recorded data can be quickly reviewed from any location. In a place exactly where the quantity of data being produced is actually too much to review, a smart system along with analytic software can be utilized.

The intelligent system can be established in order to respond to pre-programmed commands such as event management, motion detection, sound detection and tampering alarms. All of the data can then be recorded and sorted in a way that is helpful to the end user, which includes by event type, camera, area or date.

7. Economical - IP based camera systems offer a more affordable solution due to them requiring small infrastructure for installation and use. The majority of corporations and households have already some kind of network available upon which they can set up the IP cameras.

Regardless of the size of your network you can purchase the number of IP digital cameras which are required or that match your budget. The purchase monitors may not be necessary if setting up an IP based digital camera system because the images will be displayed over the web from any kind of laptop or computer.

IP based camera systems offer you amazing functions and also features which can't be matched by any analog CCTV system. The adoption of IP based camera systems in some countries has been slow due to the legacy of analog CCTV systems.

Over the past few decades millions of analog CCTV systems were installed around the globe. An industry grew to install and maintain these types of CCTV systems, consequently there's been a reluctance to write off the large expense in analog CCTV systems.Nevertheless, due to the incredible benefits offered by IP digital cameras, IP based camera systems will certainly take over analog CCTV systems worldwide in the future. It's already happened in nations such as the Scandinavian countries where the legacy issues mentioned above do not exist.