Benefits of HD CCTV over coax

The benefits of HD CCTV over coax are many. The introduction of HD-SDI cameras and recorders has seen a change in the way many companies are now influencing their customers to buy HD CCTV. IP is no longer the only option and in many cases now no longer the prefered option . We list below some of the benefits of HD SDi CCTV and see why some installers think HD SDI could change the industry as a whole.

Higher resolution is the primary benefit that is gained from HD SDI CCTV. HD-SDI cameras output full HD resolution images (1080p) but unlike IP this is done in real time. This means that HD SDI cameras  can give the end user as much five times the resolution of standard analogue cameras. HD-SDI DVRs are also capable of recording full HD. This means up to (1080p) Full HD resolution images. The primary benefit of this is that the end user will get real-time recording. HD CCTV has now already filled one one of the fundamental requirements of a CCTV system. Quality images that the end user can rely on.

Of course one of the main drawbacks of analogue CCTV is the amount of data that is sub standard. HD-SDI is an HD CCTV solution that provides video signals that are not compressed before transmission. This means that unlike IP there are no distortions within the captured image or frame rate interruptions. Zero latency can be achieved  because HD-SDI transmits a digitized video signal meaning no reduction in quality of the images which often occurs with analogue.

Perhaps the best news for the CCTV industry with the introduction of HD-SDI DVR s and HD CCTV cameras is that they can use an analogue infrastructure. In other words HD CCTV over coax.This makes them suitable for users looking to increase the quality of their current security systems. Why re-cable when HD CCTV can be achieved with little effort and lower costs that installing a new IP CCTV system?
HD CCTV cameras and DVRs are similar to standard definition cameras and DVRs in the way they need to be installed and do not require any additional specialist knowledge or skill. Re-training that has added a heavy burden on the CCTV industry is no longer required. HD-SDI is not prone to issues associated with IP network based video surveillance systems. The installer is no longer dependent on third party IT companies to install or allow access to IT networks. One of the biggest benefits being seen is that no IT or IP network knowledge is required and bandwidth requirements are a problem of the past. We are back to a simple CCTV installation.

 

HD CCTV SDI camera SDI DVR

HD SDI technology allows you to connect 1080P and 720P CCTV cameras using existing or new coax. This gives the benefit of HD resolution without the need to run these images over an IP network. The obvious advantage is that true broadcast quality HD can be viewed and recorded without the need to compress the images in order transmit across a TCP/IP solution. In addition no training or IT knowledge is required. This makes this technology a favorite with many existing CCTV installers especially in the UK where we have so many existing analogue CCTV systems that need upgrading and enhancing. HD CCTV is the ultimate answer to all our issues with poor picture quality from analogue cameras.

 

Who are HD CCTV solutions

Here at HD CCTV solutions we are able to provide anyone who has an existing analogue CCTV system using coax with an upgrade to HD . That’s HD CCTV cameras using your existing infrastucture with no need to put in cat 5 or try to implement an IP solution in order to get high definition CCTV pictures.

How you may ask?  Well HD SDI cameras and HD SDI DVR’s are able to send high def images over coax so all you need to do is upgrade the ends and re-use all your original investment in your coax infrastructure.

We upgrade and enhance existing CCTV systems and re-use cable and existing analogue cameras where appropriate. A perfect solution for anyone who wants HD CCTV

 

HD CCTV hybrid HD SDI DVR

HD CCTV is taking the UK CCTV market by storm at the moment. The reasons are simple. Its because the technology is plug and play. Any existing analogue CCTV system can be upgraded and enhanced using HD SDI technology. The benefits of of an HD SDI DVR hybrid recorder is that it can take new HD SDI cameras as well as existing analogue CCTV cameras. This means that a company who has made a considerable investment in their existing CCTV system can upgrade parts of it to HD and still use analogue cameras in locations where high definition is not a requirement. The hybrid HD SDI DVR’s come in a variety of formats . The most popular though is the 16 way unit with 12 channels of analogue and 4 channels of HD. Most companies need HD on their entrance , reception, goods in, and car park while the other cameras around the site can remain in an analogue format. The option of the hybrid HD SDI DVR is proving to be the stimulus for many businesses in the UK to take the step up to HD CCTV with of course the option to go full HD across the whole site. HD CCTV also comes with the option to view images remotely through broadband access and the ability to zoom in on recorded images without losing noticeable definition means HD CCTV has come of age. The best part about all of this is that almost all existing CCTV systems currently out there in the UK can be upgraded and enhanced by using HD CCTV solutions

 

HD CCTV solves all the problems with CCTV

HD CCTV is being touted as the answer to every installers dream when it comes to upgrading and enhancing existing analog CCTV systems. But how does it work and what are the shortfalls if any? HD SDI CCTV cameras can produce images that can achieve 720p and 1080p video at a full 30 frames per second. Add to this the fact that upon delivery there is  no latency or use of compression of the image and you start to see the attraction of this technology.

To enable installers however to reach a balanced view there is a need to ask if  HD CCTV can replace or even supersede IP based HD CCTV cameras?

Many in the CCTV industry have asked if IP solutions will be blown away by this new technology. Well firstly we need to consider that 80% of the UK market place is still analog CCTV solutions and HD CCTV in the form of  HD SDI is definitely at an advantage to take the share of upgrades. but is it flexible enough when it comes to integration and will the advance to 10 16 or even 20 megapixel IP cameras mean that HD CCTV will be dropped in favour of IP?

HDcctv benefits


Firstly we need to understand exactly how HD CCTV works as opposed to IP HD cameras.  HD CCTV uses coax and has been developed on the back of HDTV and the technology behind the pictures we see on our TV sets today. It is not dissimilar from a standard analog CCTV system and uses coax to carry images of up to 2.1 megapixels from the camera to the DVR. It does not use cat 5 or existing IT networks this means there is no compression required and as a result no latency.

The primary benefit  to CCTV integrators is the ease of installation. Because HD CCTV can use existing coax or is wired as a point to point system, any engineer with basic knowledge of CCTV can install it. No IP addresses, IT managers interfering or network issues to contend with. Quite simply its plug and play. This makes installation simple, uncomplicated and best of all cheaper than many IP based systems. No new cabling makes a retro fit installation far more commercially attractive than an IP solution.

The ability of HD CCTV to re-use the same cabling infrastructure as most traditional analog systems is though the main selling point together with images that will impress even the biggest sceptics of HD SDI CCTV. One of the largest costs in any analog system conversion is the changes to the cabling infrastructure. This technology allows organizations an easy, economical way to upgrade a legacy analog system to achieve the benefits of megapixel cameras.


One of the main challenges to HD CCTV and its uptake in the UK has been the lack of companies who are able to offer a cost effective HD SDI DVR this however has most definitely been overcome. IFSEC 2011 was the tipping point with HD CCTV systems being the star of the show. It was almost like the consumers had forgotten about IP CCTV. Still more competition is required and hybrid HD SDI DVR’s seem the obvious path to upgrade.

One barrier to HD CCTV is that the resolution capabilities IP are far greater. HD SDI cameras can produce the max resolution being 2.1 megapixels. IP cameras have as much as 5 times that resolution and it is only bandwidth limitations that stop this being expanded further. However many years in the industry have taught us that anything much higher than 2 megapixels starts to become cost prohibitive and even though sometimes higher resolution might be preferable it is often not practical. When viewed 2 megapixels is generally accepted as quite sufficient especially when compared to the previous best offerings of analogue CCTV.

Of course IP will always have its needs and the larger the organization the more likely that IP will be the preferred solution. This however still leaves vast amounts of the market place open to HD CCTV and gives the wider population the access to HD that has previously proved too expensive.

So the question was is HD CCTV the answer to everything, well no its not but it is certainly going to provide a viable alternative to IP and one that will prove to inevitably be the preferred option to current CCTV installers and their huge user database.