A CCTV (closed-circuit television) is a camera system that’s used for surveillance purposes like recording activity, observing traffic conditions and performing other activities to facilitate the safety of people in an area who may not be aware they’re being watched. The CCTV systems are usually installed at places where there could be security risks or potential threats such as airports, parking lots, banks & ATM machines, gas stations etc., but they are also commonly used in commercial and residential places to protect one’s property and people.

CCTV systems are a popular security measure for many businesses and homes. CCTV systems have been around for decades, but the way they work has changed drastically with the advent of technology. CCTV can be used to monitor employees, deter thieves and vandals, and provide security in the event of a natural disaster or emergency. CCTV systems can be analog or IP-based. Both these systems are perceptibly different from each other, and one might decide between the two based on their preferences and needs, but for that, one needs to know how these systems work and who are each of them best suited for.

In this post, we talk in detail about the IP cameras and the technology they use.

Analog Vs. IP Camera: How do they work?

CCTV camera systems can be analog or IP-based. CCTV cameras and the recording devices they use have evolved dramatically over time, but there are still significant differences between these two technologies that you should know about before deciding on a CCTV security system for your home or business.

Analog CCTV is an older technology than its successor, digital CCTV (also known as IP) and has had more time to evolve since then. The only problem with this type of CCTV security system is that it does not give high-definition images like what we get through digitization where information of many pixels is packed within a single pixel, thus giving us better resolution and quality pictures/video output compared to their lower-resolution counterparts from earlier. Analog systems also use DVR connected through coaxial cables to translate the video signals to a digital image. In contrast, an IP system does not need any wires, and the translation of signals is done on the network. Hence, digital images can be viewed from anywhere through the internet.

IP CCTV system setups

Basic IP CCTV System Setups include two of the following setups:

1) With PoE

Most CCTV systems today are powered by PoE or Power over Ethernet. This is the most commonly used CCTV connection type. The best way to describe what happens in an IP System with POE is to compare its function to that of a computer network switch. A switch allows multiple devices (computers) to connect through one single cable instead of keeping adding more cables but also reduces interference problems because all signals are transferred on the same wire, so each device only receives a necessary signal for them alone, thus eliminating crosstalk issues. CCTV cameras have their own power supply and can be plugged into any convenient location via AC plugs while still being connected together using just one data cable running back to your Network Video Recorder unit, which houses your CCTV monitoring equipment.

2) Without PoE

If you have a system that does not use PoE, then your CCTV cameras will require their own power supply and must be plugged into an electrical outlet via AC plugs.

AC plugs are the most common type of cables used in CCTV systems because they can transfer both data signals and electric current for CCTV camera power supplies. However, one downside to using AC plug connections is that if there is no nearby electrical socket available or it’s too inconvenient to run wiring across walls etc., then it would be necessary to install new sockets (which may involve hiring a professional).

Ethernet Cables

Ethernet cables are divided into different categories based on the speed that they provide. The cable can usually be chosen without much care, but knowing about it can be interesting and useful in various instances. The common categories of Ethernet cables include Cat 3, Cat 5, Cat 5e and Cat 6. The difference is in the maximum transmission speeds and the bandwidth offered.

Cat 3 – offers a bandwidth of 16 MHz and a speed of 10 Mbps at 100m

Cat 5 – provides a bandwidth of 100 MHz and a rate of 100 Mbps at 100m

Cat 5e – offers 100 MHz at 1 Gbps at 100m

Cat 6 – offers 250 MHz at 1 Gbps at 100 m

Cat 6 is the norm these days as they provide optimum speed and keep your network up and running without any issues.

Consult the CCTV Monitoring experts that have years of experience in this industry. They will help you to set up CCTV cameras and take care of your surveillance needs. Please consult with our team at CCTV Monitoring today about your CCTV surveillance system requirements!