In the past decade or so, we have seen the emergence of IP surveillance systems as an alternative to traditional CCTV cameras to reveal visitor behaviours in real-time.
The IP camera is a digital video recording device that records and transmits data using a network such as an internet. It also has built-in security features such as motion detection or alarm notifications. This makes it more cost-effective than traditional CCTV systems that require extensive wiring and power sources.
What is an IP Surveillance Camera?
The IP surveillance camera is a new and improved digital version of CCTV. It uses internet protocol (IP) technology to send video and audio signals over the internet, which makes it possible for the footage to be viewed from anywhere.
These devices are mainly used in buildings and residential homes to monitor parking lots, large hallways, corridors, and entrances. The IP camera operates independently of a centralised recording device or DVR, so there are no wires or other hardware required.
The term “IP Surveillance” can refer to any type of camera that implements this technology. However, IP refers to the transmission protocol used by modern-day surveillance cameras. The most common form of IP Surveillance involves the use of an embedded IP camera or DVR (Digital Video Recorder). This allows for remote viewing and recording of video footage virtually no matter the location.
How Does the IP Camera Work?
IP cameras function by connecting to a central location, known as a “server”, which then sends out signals to all the other computers connected to it. This gives multiple users access to one IP camera at any given time and to watch live footage from their own devices.
IP surveillance cameras send signals from in-built lenses to a central location using the Internet Protocol (IP). The video feed is sent in real-time, so there is no delay in viewing footage. IP surveillance cameras can provide high-quality images and footage because they use digital video compression technology that compresses large amounts of data into small files which can be easily transferred over networks at fast speeds.
What is the Traditional CCTV System?
A traditional CCTV system is a closed-circuit television system that uses a dedicated DVR (digital video recorder) to record real-time video images. The digital video recorder records images from multiple cameras and then stores them on a hard drive. The images are stored as files and can be accessed by viewing the video files.
Pros
Cost-effective
Traditional CCTV cameras are the most affordable security system, and the easiest to install and maintain. The only recurring expenses are power and storage media.
Integration with other systems.
Many traditional CCTV cameras have analog outputs that can be connected to digital recorders, which makes it relatively easy to integrate them with other security devices such as alarms and access control systems.
Cons
Limited viewing angle
These cameras have a narrow field of view that requires more cameras than IP surveillance cameras. This increases the cost of installation, maintenance, and storage of media.
Complex system
Traditional CCTV requires complex software systems to integrate them into existing corporate networks and security management systems (SMS).
All these applications are often expensive and difficult to integrate with other existing applications within an enterprise environment.
They also require significant maintenance costs since they must be updated often with new patches and features to remain secure against malware attacks.
Benefits of IP surveillance over traditional CCTV systems
More flexible mounting options
You can mount your IP camera almost anywhere you want. These can be ceiling mounts, wall mounts, or even pole mounts if needed. This is great for outdoor applications where you need to place the camera in a hard-to-reach spot that would otherwise require special installation equipment.
Motion detection capabilities
IP surveillance cameras can detect movement and record only when there is a change in an area. If there is no movement detected by the camera, it will not record anything at all. This helps save storage space on devices, which can be important if you wish to store a lot of footage or to reduce costs associated with cloud storage services or hard drives.
Better image resolution
IP cameras are capable of much higher resolutions than analog systems, which makes it easier to identify suspects from afar or read license plates from across the street. A side benefit of this increased resolution is allowing zooming in on objects and people at much greater distances than traditional analog systems allow for, giving you more flexibility when choosing where to place the cameras for maximum effectiveness.
Better viewing angles
Analog systems have a limited field of view (FOV) due to the nature of their design construction.
Cheaper to install
Cable costs are eliminated and installation is much simpler because there's no need for costly cable installation or signal boosters. Most IP cameras can be connected directly to a router via Ethernet cable (via PoE) or wireless connection (802.11n).
Easy to maintain
Traditional CCTV cameras usually require a professional technician to come out every time something goes wrong with the system. With IP cameras, maintenance is a lot more convenient because there’s no wiring involved.
All you need is a laptop or smartphone with an internet connection and software called “control panel,” which allows access to a camera’s live feed.
Switch to IP surveillance today with Keydence Systems
The CCTV surveillance system is essentially better in every aspect: the quality of the image is more granular and the system is more flexible. The technology is well advanced and the product is reliable, not to mention its ever-progressing versatility which gives it a higher leverage than its traditional counterpart.
Take a look at our website for the numerous options available and if you’re ready to make the switch for your existing infrastructures, do speak to us today.