Whilst IP CCTV has been available for around 10 years, it is only in the last few years that the technology has matured, leading to the developments in Megapixel IP. Read below for a summary on the benefits of using IP based systems over traditional analogue systems.
IP CCTV systems do not require local recording, they can transmit their images across Local Networks, the Internet and Wide Area Networks to a central location, where they can be recorded, viewed and managed.
An analogue CCTV system is designed to record security cameras locally only. This means that if you have 2 or more premises, then each will require a Recording Device, this makes managing larger systems harder and not very cost effective.
IP CCTV systems convert all images to data and have no theoretical limit to resolution, providing the relevant bandwidth to transmit the images exists. Our IP cameras offer especially high detail precision with Megapixel resolution, at least 3x better quality than standard analogue cameras. These are very affordable, with pricing equivalent to analogue CCTV systems.
Analogue CCTV systems are based on PAL analogue technology and have a maximum possible resolution of just 414,720 pixels. This limits the amount of evidential quality images a single analogue camera can supply, or put another way the size of area it can watch. Resulting in an increase in the number of cameras required to watch an area, which increases costs and causes building aesthetics issues.
IP CCTV systems run over existing IP networks, wired or wireless, this makes wiring IP CCTV systems simple, causing less disruption, reducing the time required to install them and minimizing unsightly cables. For anyone familiar with networking, setting up an IP based system is simple with intuitive operation and evaluation. Simple 1 camera systems only require an IP Camera connected to a network/internet connection, and they can then be viewed by a PC using Internet Explorer. If POE (Power over Ethernet) IP cameras and networks are used then the IP CCTV cameras do not even need separate power, they can be powered via the network cable.
Analogue CCTV systems have their own proprietary cabling. Each camera has to be wired back to the DVR or Monitor using RG59 cable or similar Video Signal Cable and each camera has to be connected to a power source. This makes new installations and additions to existing installations both expensive and slow to implement.
IP CCTV systems communicate using IP, allowing them to integrate and co-exist on the same network/cabling as other IP based systems, such as Access Control and IP Phone Systems etc... Integration also means that these different systems can work together, for example an IP camera picking up movement will be able to transmit images of that movement to an IP Video Phone automatically. IP systems also allow the direct use of IP-based services as standard such as e-mail or image sending via FTP.
Analogue CCTV systems are designed to be closed circuit systems, this means that they do not integrate easily with Access Control, Intruder Alarm or other systems that are found in buildings. Each system requires it own cabling infrastructure and each device on each system is unable to communicate with other devices.
Simple 1 camera systems only require an IP Camera connected to a network/internet connection, and they can then be viewed by a PC using Internet Explorer. Our range offers a very affordable range of cameras, with pricing equivalent to analogue CCTV systems. Plus with installation and setup requiring little time in single and multiple sites, IP Systems can work out to be far more economical than traditional Analogue solutions.
Analogue CCTV systems are excellent value for money, and though the general consensus is that IP CCTV is more expensive, this is not true for every scenario. IP CCTV represents an investment in to a future technology and infrastructure, whereas analogue CCTV systems are based on old technology.
