Monthly Archives: June 2011

Video IQ IP network camera

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VideoIQ have come up with a fantastic IP network camera and an excellent solution for recording IP video. The iCVR IP network camera is armed with an on-board recording facility that lets the camera itself record on the edge of the network this serves the purpose of eliminating the need for an NVR or video management software.

iCVR Video IQ camera
iCVR Video IQ camera

The IP network camera itself holds all the intelligence and by using on board analytics this IP network camera can both produce and record High definition images and can store these until called upon, meaning the network is left to simply retrieve images when the need arises, as a result bandwidth use is reduced to the absolute minimum. With the need for a central storage solution eliminated and advanced analytics that are able to learn events and increase accuracy over time, the video IQ IP network camera simple to both install and operate. It would seem that recording on the edge of the network is the way forward and Video IQ are well ahead of the game.

 

HD SDI DVR review

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HD SDI DVR review.

HDCCTV has arrived in the UK and is here to stay. That is the opinion of Benchmark magazine that recently reviewed the Everfocus EPHD08 HD SDI DVR. They were able to carry out a full test and review of the Everfocus offering and came up with some observations that were most interesting. The unit they say was well made and was simple and quick to set up. Installation was easy and the Picture quality was most impressive.

However their summary that HDCCTV will break the mould when it actually comes to sales really made us sit up and take notice. HD they believe will turn CCTV from what has always been a grudge purchase here in the UK into a desirable product. One that end users will actually seek out and look to buy.

Combine hd and analogue CCTV.

They ease of installation and the fact that a hybrid approach is possible ie a mix of analogue and HD cameras means that a targeted approach to where the HD cameras are used is quite possible, in fact this hybrid approach is a positive benefit. The cameras tested with the EPHD08 HD SDI DVR were the EQH5200 box camera this gave a 720p image and this was deemed quite sufficient in fact preferable to the 1080P offering.

EPHD08 how does it rate?

So how did the EPHD08 actually rate? Well Benchmark gave the unit the following scores and from the write up they seem fairly confident that this HD SDI DVR will be around and selling well for some time.

Product design 88%

Features and functions 85%

Ease of install 88%

Image quality 87%

performance 87%

Overall score 87%

so all in a great score and one that will put HD CCTV on the map here in the UK.

HDCCTV – so what are the cons ?

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HDCCTV

Plenty of Pro’s…..what about the Con’s??

1: cable distance of 100m or so………so what, IP is 90m and HDCCTV can be repeated with repeaters

2: maximum 2MP…….again, kind of so what – majority of IP sales are in and around 2MP and any higher might often be wasted or not utilised…..more bandwidth and bigger file sizes and just exactly how far do you need to post-zoom!!!

3: lack of suppliers – ok, we concede on this, there isn’t a massive choice, but its improving daily

4: only uses certain coax – again, a bit of a myth – sure, the better the quality the longer the run, but HDCCTV will work on pretty much any reasonable coax cable

The fact is, it is difficult to really count the Con’s….. HDCCTV is a credible upgrade solution to existing analogue systems and is far easier to implement than IP due to it’s ability to utilise existing cable infrastructures.

The recorders appear to be more expensive than both analogue and even IP competitors, but I wonder how much of that is ‘new technology’ price premium??? Wth greater acceptance and higher sales volumes, those prices surely must tumble?

And maybe the labour/cable savings outweigh the extra prices of the recorders??

The cameras seem reasonable, certainly on CMOS anyway, and again, prices are usually dictated by volumes…

So, it’s very simple, to drive price down then acceptance and use must rise….. And with so many Pro’s and very few Con’s then it surely is only a matter of time!

IP surveillance system

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An IP surveillance system has  long been the preferred upgrade path from analogue CCTV for both installers and end users alike. However an IP surveillance system is proving too expensive for end users and as a result this technology is finding it difficult to displace the analogue CCTV market at present. This is mainly due to the reluctance of end users to lose the investment they have already ploughed into their analogue CCTV solutions. Hybrid CCTV solutions however may be the answer? Still an IP surveillance system has far greater flexibility and given the budget most companies are looking at moving towards IP for all their security solutions.

 

IP camera
Videosphere MegaPX nanodome

IP surveillance systems  have been around since around 1996 but bandwidth and network capacity have always been factors that has slowed the move to the uptake of end users towards an IP surveillance system however recent advancements in broadband speeds and network performance means that IP is now on the agenda for many. Security equipment manufacturers are now pushing harder for their IP kit to be installed . Still one of the limitations on the growth of IP surveillance systems has been the global recession and an apathy towards IP surveillance systems from entrenched CCTV installers. This will of course change as the price of an IP surveillance system begins to fall and the benefits become ever clearer. In the meantime however as we mentioned earlier Hybrid solutions will help ease us all into the IP surveillance way of thinking.

ip cameras

 

 

IP network camera solutions.

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IP network camera solutions are beginning to take over the CCTV market place. The IP network camera has one major benefit over a traditional CCTV system, that’s flexibility. By using existing IT infrastructure an IP network camera can be placed anywhere in the world and viewed from anywhere you wish. With audio generally included in most models available the IP network camera is generally the first choice for IT professionals, but is it widely suitable for the CCTV industry?   Many would say yes and huge investment has taken place. The likes of Panasonic, Avigilon, Arecont, March Networks, Dallmeier, are just a few of the big names that have investeted millions of pounds into the IP network camera solution.

There is a school of thought however that has shed a little doubt on the future of the IP network camera. Can it compete against  HD SDI CCTV? Well the jury is out but the market place will migrate to HD security cameras and IP network camera solutions can deliver this technology.

Over the next few months we will see how the IP network camera evolves and when not if  we see IP CCTV overtake traditional analogue as the primary CCTV solution in the security market place.