Let’s talk about the benefits of an IP camera system

Every one of us loves a good crime stopping TV show or movie where the detective saves the day by catching a thief or serial killer.  We watch them view camera footage from a store front across the way or a nearby traffic camera.  We sit on the edge of our seats in anticipation while they gather around the monitor looking for any small detail that will put them ahead in the investigation.  As they are watching the footage, maybe for the second or third time, the hero/heroine will stop the footage, zoom in and say “Gotcha!”.

Did you notice however, the footage they were watching showed a human looking more like a blurry mass on the screen, but when they zoomed in the picture magically became a clear image of the “Villain”?  That my friends, is not how this works in real life.  In reality, the footage will become blocky, blurrier and much harder to see. That is why we have megapixel IP cameras.  IP stands for Internet Protocol which means the camera will send and receive data via a computer network, allowing much greater resolution.

The primary concern for many used to be cost, but now the cost difference between Analog and IP cameras is minimal.  So, what makes the investment worth making? The following items are just some of the main benefits that make the purchase worthwhile:

  • Video Quality:  An average analog camera usually manages around a half of a megapixel. Many of the cameras that we stock i.e. Axis, GeoVision, Interlogix, Flir, Pelco, Open Eye can be purchased in a 1.3MP, 2MP, 3MP, 4MP, 5MP or higher configurations.

  • Field of View: An IP camera can capture a wider field of view in high definition (HD). It can see views in 180 and 360 degrees.  What does this mean?  It means one IP camera can do the job of two or more analog cameras!

  • Video Analytics: This feature allows you to flag “events” that is within the cameras FoV (field of view), mask out unwanted areas, trigger recording on sensing motion, do “people counting” or alarm on physical tampering.

  • Flexibility: Analog cameras connect directly to a digital video recorder (DVR) via coaxial cabling that is specific to video transmission. An IP camera connects to a network video recorder (NVR) using common network cable which is prevalent in today’s commercial and residential data networks.  Utilizing a PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch allows your Cat 6 cable to deliver video signal AND provide power to your camera, eliminating the need for a separate power supply like analog cameras. What does all that mean?  It means you don’t need as much cable which means less labor/cost.

  • Scalability: An IP networked camera system allows you to connect more cameras because you’re no longer limited by the number of ports on your DVR or limited to a single manufacturer!

Now that you know the key facts about an IP camera system you will have an easier time making the hard decision on weather and IP camera system is right for you.

https://www.axis.com/us/en/                         http://www.geovision.com.tw/

https://www.pelco.com/                                  https://www.openeye.net/

http://www.interlogix.com/                       

ClearCom Inc. specializes in Business Security & Communication Solutions. For over 20 years we have been providing our customers 100% satisfaction in fulfilling their security and communication needs. Please feel free to contact us.