Video surveillance is an integral part of any security plan.
It can be intimidating to upgrade technology, but upgrading your CCTV system is easier than you may think. Network-based IP CCTV systems have become more affordable as the technology has become more common, so that now better quality video surveillance is cost-effective. If you haven’t upgraded your system to a Network-based IP CCTV system now may be the time.
Traditional CCTV Set-up
Traditional systems are arranged with cameras with a separate power source, and stored on a DVR. A DVR then converts the images to digital and broadcasts them on a monitor for instant viewing. The digital footage can also be sent out from the DVR, through a firewall/router and modem over the internet to remote devices for viewing.
Network-based IP CCTV Set-up
Unlike early digital cameras, IP cameras do not need a separate power source, they may derive their power from the same cable that transmits the video images. The signal is sent to a POE Switch (Power over Ethernet), and from their it can be delivered to multiple devices including a network video recorder (NVR) which does not have to be housed on-site and transmits the signal to monitors for immediate viewing, a local PC, and out, through a router/switch, and over the internet to remote devices for viewing.
The main differences here are: 1. the single cabling for power and video to the IP cameras, instead of separate cables required for power and video; and 2. No need to have an onsite storage device. This may not seem like much of a difference, but if your system is still based on older technology and you are worried about making the switch to newer and better technology, below are a few items to think about.
1. Ease of Installation
A common misconception is that Network Video Recording-based installations are much more complex than DVR-based. While that may have been true in the past, advances in technology have included features like plug-and-play camera recognition which make NVR installations as simple as possible. New IP cameras also have ease of installation as a primary feature.
2. Existing Infrastructure Use During Upgrade
If you have a CCTV system already in place, then you might want to transition your system slowly. There are solutions for this that will allow a slower migration so that you can replace components one at a time, either when they start to fail or have reached their end of life. This transition allows you to maximize your initial investments and provides the flexibility of funding your video surveillance upgrade over time.
3. Cost-Effectiveness
As technology advances, IP cameras and NVR deployments are becoming more cost effective. The price of IP cameras continues to drop, and they provide significantly improved capabilities. The DVR is no longer cheaper to purchase, and the NVR operates as more than just storage – it can manage the video surveillance requirements while also operating as the foundation for the overall storage and data management needs for a work group, remote location, or stand-alone business.
4. Scalability
If you are expanding your current CCTV system, utilizing IP cameras is the most logical choice to cover new areas. Network-IP cameras can be added to an installation that uses existing cameras. If you are expanding and ready to move away from the outdated technology of a DVR system, then this is a good place to start your system migration.
5. Reliability
IP video surveillance systems have proven to be faster, more reliable, and every bit as durable as the older systems which utilize DVRs and analog cameras. When you consider all the inherent advantages of NVRs, the move to NVRs combined with IP cameras makes even more sense.
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