Network IP Cameras have been in operation in the security and surveillance industry for at least a decade now. With the raising costs of traditionally running surveillance cameras on coaxial cable, professional installers have had to consider the benefits of IP cameras as an alternative solution to all surveillance applications around the world.

When converting to the new technology it is wise to look at some of the key differences between the technologies.

- Interlacing: Analog technology even at (4CIF) has a significant problem with interlacing, causing moving objects to blur. A network camera can progressively scan moving objects more clearly. There are no separate interlaced lines, so this method provides a much clearer image.

- Power: Powering an analog camera can be costly and difficult. Firstly coaxial cable must be installed to transport the video then power cabling fed to each camera. Network cameras can be run from the Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard, which means cameras can be run over the same cable that transmits data and power.

- Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) Integration: An additional advantage of using PoE enabled Cameras and LAN Switches that is often overlooked is the fact that protection against power loss can be implemented much more cost effectively and simply than for analog CCTV. Traditional analog CCTV cameras require power at each location, thus providing backup power for each camera can often be very expensive. However an IP camera system using PoE, power is injected centrally at the network switch thus one or two UPS’s supplying that switch automatically provide backup power to all the cameras. Often it may be the same UPS already in place for the PC and Servers.

- Resolution: Analog cameras cannot provide resolution above television standards, which corresponds to 0.4 mega-pixels at 4CIF. Many analog systems run at a much lower resolution due to technical and cost restrictions, operating at 0.01 mega pixels. Network Video technology can provide a resolution up to 15 times the quality of analog video. The latest cameras now can process video up to 3Mbitp/s.

- Intelligence: Network video technology allows the cameras to have a much higher range of ‘built in’ features. For example cameras can be programmed to only record on movement, vastly reducing network load. Other features include sun and backlight compensation, dual lenses technology, internal digital storage, audio and SIP telephony.

Network based CCTV solutions require quality, power, and cost effective camera solutions. By viewing our list of available network cameras, you are free to examine and inquire about the right camera for your application.

The network video professionals at NVR-PRO.com know the latest and the greatest IP cameras on the market.

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IP, Digital, or Network Video is the direction that the security and surveillance industry is heading. The document provided below gives a conceptual map of CCTV from it's early stages, to now, and the future.