IP CCTV

What is IP CCTV?

IP CCTV or Internet Protocol Closed Circuit Television, is a security surveillance system of IP Cameras and video servers which connects seamlessly with the Internet and Internet related digital services, including Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, 3G or GPRS Access connection.

The benefits of IP CCTV

• Existing network infrastructure can be used, no extra long distance cables required.
• IP security cameras can be moved with minimum time & effort, and cabling does not need to be replaced.
• IP security cameras can be installed at any location, no matter the distance.
• The same camera could be viewed or recorded simultaneously at multiple locations, controlled by multiple security levels.
• Recording could take place anywhere, and even an existing PC or Server could be used for a few cameras.
• Any amount of recordings per camera can take place at the same time, at multiple locations for redundancy or off-site storage.
• Bandwidth could be controlled differently for each camera.
• Hard drive space can be shared across many systems for recording of video or data.
• Audio or alarms can be connected to the same encoders which transmit the video.
• Existing alarm system could be monitored from remote locations.

How does IP CCTV work?

An IP security camera “views” broadcasts the video images as a digitized signal over a LAN line (Local Area Network) where it’s then transmitted to a computer or server. Each camera is connected to the network via a transmitter/receiver unit that converts the analogue signal into DVD quality MPEG-4 or H.264 digital video for transmission over the network infrastructure. Depending upon the software used to manage the digital images, it can record, display or retransmit the images to anywhere in the world.

The software package can allow for analyzing data and selecting specific “flagged” items to watch out for.

True IP-based digital surveillance uses CCD cameras that use signal processing that send packetized video streams over the LAN through a Cat 5/Cat 6 cable rather than a coax cable network, utilizing greater bandwidth and standard TCP/IP communication.

If security is an issue, full digital surveillance also offers the added advantage of data encryption opportunities to protect against image tampering.

IP CCTV Equipment

IP-based network video solutions include equipment such as network cameras (IP cameras), network video recorders (NVR’s), video encoders/decoders and relevant alarm and monitoring software. Manufacturers of quality IP CCTV security systems are among others, Sony, Vista, Samsung Techwin (ipolis), IndigoVision and Acti.