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IP Camera Versus Coax: Camera Security threats, both internal and external, continue to be a large concern for many companies. It’s the company’s responsibility to protect corporate assets as well as provide a safe environment for its employees. As a result, the use of IP Camera is as prevalent in business today as the use of wi-fi in the home. Video technology has changed significantly over the past few years with the introduction and industry wide adoption of IP based video cameras. The days of playing back grainy video to identify a problem or individual is just not acceptable.
If you’re looking to install a new surveillance system, or wish to upgrade an existing system, IP surveillance offers several advantages over traditional CCTV analog video technology. This paper will help you better understand the many ways in which network cameras have surpassed their analog predecessors.
High Resolution/ Image Quality
IP-based cameras do not have the same lower resolution restrictions of analog cameras. For example, a 5-megapixel IP camera can provide 10 times more detail than over its analog counterparts. The typical analog camera has a maximum resolution of 704 x 480 pixels. In comparison, an IP based camera can provide much higher resolution, including HDTV (720p/1080p) and even up to 5 megapixels (2560 x 1920). This means you can either cover a much larger area, or record a highly detailed image to meet more demanding identification requirements. The chart below provides an illustration on how this could impact the number of cameras required to cover an area of interest or the detail available.
On the left below is an example of an all too familiar issue we sometimes see in the news. Video feed from a retailer whose camera is positioned 10 feet from the register and yet the image is still distorted. The example on the right below reflects the type of resolution you should expect from an IP megapixel camera. As you can see that it easily delivers 10 times better resolution over the older coax solution.
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IP-based cameras also offer several different aspect ratios, making it easier to capture wide scenes and allowing you to focus your coverage where it is most needed such as at a door or over a register.
Various aspect ratios makes it easier to focus your coverage where it is most needed.
1: 4:3
2: 16:9
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IP Camera is easier to Install
IP cameras connect easily to your existing local area network using Ethernet standards like CAT5e. Most companies don’t need to invest in new infrastructure because they can use the existing network of switches to connect the cameras. Unlike the older coax cameras, IP cameras use Power over Ethernet (PoE) to provide a single camera with power, video and data. You don’t need a run a separate pair of 18 gauge wire or install a power outlet near the camera. The amount of cabling needed for an analog camera system (shown on the left) compared to the amount of cabling needed for a digital camera system (shown on the right) is less.
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Older coaxial systems require all the cabling to be directly connected between the DVR and the camera. The newer digital technology only requires the camera to be connected to the nearest network connection.
What does this mean? Well in a warehouse where you might want to position 5-6 cameras pointing at the dock doors, IP cameras only have to be cabled to the nearest IDF. Coax cameras would need to be cabled clear back to the MDF or where ever the DVR is located.
Another factor that makes installations easier is that some IP cameras include a motorized varifocal lenses. This feature allows you to make adjustments to the field of View (FOV) without having to physically adjust the camera lens.
True Digital Image
Because this technology is digital, the quality of an image produced by an IP camera will not degrade when transported over long distances, or when converted between different formats; Whereas, an analog signal will drop in quality when transmitted over a distance or converted to another format. A single IP camera can focus on different views of an image and make them available to different recipients at the same time. The image below is from a fish eye or panoramic camera. This type of camera can be set up to provide 7 different views with one camera.
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IP Camera Intelligence
IP camera technology today can do a great deal more than just capture video. The new cameras have built-in intelligence that enables them to perform a number of tasks designed to reduce the workload the IT staff while delivering vital business data needed for critical decision making by operations.
When using the camera’s motion detection capabilities, the system can trigger an event as soon as something happens in a scene. Some cameras even have built-in tampering alarms that will produce notifications when the system detects a disruption in operation.
Analytics are used widely with this technology to create virtual barriers and fences around critical areas. When an object or individual moves through or into the virtual barrier, the system can trigger an event such as an email, text, alarm, light, etc. More advanced functionality such as facial recognition is also available when needed.
IP cameras offer built-in security encryption of the video feed, as well as multilevel user access control. HTTPS encryption and VPN support including the use of IEEE 802.1x and IP address filtering is available in this technology. Digital watermarks can be added to all recorded material. This means you can control exactly who has access to the system. In some cases, you can limit what cameras they’re allowed to view and for what period of time. This is especially important when you allow access to outside 3rd party organizations for the purposes of security.
In contrast, analog video is not secured and it lacks the encryption or means of authentication. Video feed from an analog camera could possibly be tapped into or even altered or replaced, to disrupt the surveillance operation.
Crystal-clear motion
With an IP camera there are no problems associated with interlacing. IP camera use a process called progressive scan where the entire image is captured in each frame, resulting in superior image quality. IP cameras use progressive scan in which the entire image is scanned on every pass.
Most analog cameras use a form of interlaced scanning. This means that only lines with odd numbers are scanned on the first pass, and the even numbered lines are scanned on the next. The two subsets are then combined into one image. The problem with this is that any motion happening in between the passes will be blurred in the final image.
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To the left, an image from an analog camera using interlaced scan. To the right, an image from an IP network camera using progressive scan. Both cameras used the same type of lens and the speed of the car was the same at 20 km/h (15 mph). The driver is clearly visible only in the progressive scan image.
Lower total cost
The total cost of ownership for an IP-based system is lower than an analog system. Even though analog cameras are less expensive to buy, the accompanying labor costs and expensive DVR equipment tips the scales in favor of IP cameras. Less cabling means less maintenance and the open standard enables the use of inexpensive, off-the-shelf IT hardware for integrating functions.
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