IPCCTV v HDCCTV who will take the UK market share?

Many years ago it was suggested that HD images could be transmitted over an IP network and reviewed and recorded using a PC. When this was first suggested and prototype cameras and NVRs produced so the marketeers could do their stuff, many CCTV professionals found this idea laughable. Most CCTV companies ignored the technology citing the fact that a company IT network would be overwhelmed with data and would simply crash as a result. They suggested no corporate company or any IT manager in fact would ever let these images on their network and suggested the technology was dead in the water before it even got off the ground.

HDCCTV V IPCCTV
IPCCTV was dead in the water according some before it even had a chance

Well, as we now know, although many of these networks have remained unchanged and the topology and infrastructure is as it always was, time has moved on and compression techniques employed by IP CCTV manufacturers have improved dramatically. Network switches have come on leaps and bounds and POE and codecs have made IP CCTV commercially viable. In addition huge PR campaigns by some of the large IP camera manufacturers have meant that an idea previously conceived as unworkable is now widely accepted as the way forward and the only feasible upgrade path for old defunked analogue CCTV systems.

Fast forward to 2009 HDCCTV is now available.

Fast forward to 2009 and a new technology is being talked about . This time it is suggested that HD CCTV images are to be transmitted using SDI interfaces over existing RG59 coax. Many CCTV professionals find this idea laughable. They suggest that this technology will never be able to become commercially viable and existing coax would never be able to cope with demands placed on it by HD image transmission. They have said HDCCTV is dead in the water and will not get off the ground.

However just two years later (2011), a blink off the eye in terms of development, HDCCTV manufacturers are now exhibiting their HD SDI DVR’s and cameras at such high profile shows as IFSEC in the UK and ASIS in the USA. It could be argued that the stand that received most attention at IFSEC this year was the Everfocus stand as crowds gathered round to watch a demonstration that many had predicted two years earlier as impossible. Many forums still mock the technology, some we have to say in a rude and quite unprofessional way and yet HDCCTV technology continues to push the boundaries. It has now been mooted that HDCCTV can be transmitted over UTP cable, now this really would set the cat among the pigeons if proven to be true. In addition every week claims of greater distances are being achieved over coax with better results and better HDCCTV images. Add to this more and more companies committing huge sums to research and development and the” third way” really is beginning to gain traction in the world of CCTV.

HD SDI DVR

Big guns are now piling in to HD CCTV production. Why would Everfocus, VISTA, CalSys and Dahua to name a few be manufacturing HDCCTV products? Also why would big distributors such as Norbain and 360 Vision Technology be making noises about introducing HD SDI DVR’s into the UK before Christmas if they were not happy that HDCCTV will take off? After all it takes huge commitment and large sums of money invested to ensure these products are able to perform and then bring them to market at a price that will sell.

HDCCTV SDI Camera

Once we see the TCO of HDCCTV become more competitive then many UK customers and CCTV manufacturers will start to consider their options. Do they dive into the HDCCTV market or go with IPCCTV? Perhaps they may wish for a hybrid solution? Many HDCCTV DVR manufactureres are expecting a mixture of analogue and HD SDI cameras will probably be the way forward here in the UK. We are sure HDCCTV, especially when supported by the HDCCTV alliance will make the technical strides necesary to ensure that any issues currently thrown back at them are overcome. Its going to be a very interesting year in the battle between HDCCTV and IPCCTV……………………that’s for sure.

VideoIQ – an interesting entry into the UK IP HD Market

VideoIQ

a name not commonly known here in the UK……..but they have some extremely innovative products…

Video IQ claim, to be the ONLY IP HD manufacturer that can offer intelligent Video Analytics on HD and Megapixel IP cameras…..most of the IP HD pixc units out at the moment cannot offer video analytics ‘at the edge’, instead relying on D1 modules for the clever on board Analytics

Here’s a snapshot of their range

Probably the main interesting point, is that EVERY device is also an onboard DVR…….Dome cameras and Encoders all have onboard storage for up to 6 months recording! 1GB flash and then SATA Ruggedised HDD means that network outages are irrelevant.

Video IQ have made Software available or alternatively 3rd Party integration with companies such as Genetec and Milestone mean these products are flexible as well as feature rich.

Offering Analytics on Thermal is another string to their bow

And, sshh, we’ve heard a rumour that a certain UK manufacturer of PTZ IR, Thermal, Overt and Dome cameras could well be linking up with VideoIQ to add analytical tracking and onboard recording to its range of high speed PTZ units…….more soon!

So, VideoIQ, keep an eye as we think these guys are going to be getting some good attention in 2011!

Megapixel IP camera, PIXC Focus – the clear picture!

Megapixel IP cameras – crystal clear pictures with excellent post zoom capabilities.

But, how much attention is paid to the quality of lens used?

And, back to basics, how many are focused correctly?

I saw a great camera recently, the picture was pin sharp, the colours vibrant, the focus absolutely spot on……………but was it? Night fell, the TDN (True Day Night) IR Cut filter kicked in and the picture was less than great! fuzzy around the edges, and the previous pin sharp objects were, well, not pin sharp anymore………….

Back in the day (around the times of horse, cart, gas lighting and CCD cameras) an experienced engineer would have a ‘night glass’ to help set up cameras……….now don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating that engineers should start working all hours through the night, but a simple piece of welding glass or similar near dark glass device would help the engineer align both focus and iris (if electronic) during daylight hours………….if the picture is good at night, it will be good during the day

But it doesn’t stop there…………what lenses are being used with these new high quality cameras?

We’ve seen really cheap, entry level lenses being used on these cameras…………now, that’s kind of like watching normal resolution television on a HD TV……it works, but you don’t get the same experience!!

SO, make sure you select the right lens for the camera………..treat it to a purpose built Megapixel lens…………or at the very least, a good quality well made aspherical lens…………

Don’t think saving a few quid on the lenses will deliver the same results!

Aspherical Lenses
Aspherical lenses

March Networks new HD Nanodome

Oooh, we like cute, small, neat new gadgets!

And yes, the new March Networks HD Nanodome looks like it will be a neat little gadget!

But, apart from being a gadget, will it deliver value for money in a tough and competitive IP industry?

 HD Nanodome

the main point here is ‘1080p’ – yep, full HD resolution out of this little baby!

and early indications are that the price is going to be VERY competitive………….cheaper than some standard SD (Standard Definition) PIXC IP cameras!

Could March be stealing a ‘March’ on the HD Industry!!!!??

Let us know!

IP camera Choices?

Here’s a conundrum….

Do you, as a valuable IP surveillance Installer, install a system because of the camera choice or because of the Software / Recording choice?

We posted a while back about how in the good old days, it simply didn’t matter whose camera you wanted to use, whose DVR (actually, multiplexer and VCR!) you wanted to use etc etc

Today, we have stunning HD and Mexgapixel ip cameras coming from the likes of March Networks, Arecont, Avigilon, Sanyo etc and on the other hand, great Software VMS solutions from the likes of Milestone, IndigoVision, March etc

Don’t get me wrong, each PIXC manufacturer is trying real hard to get their cameras compatible with everything and anything….and there is RTP/RTSP standard protocol that ‘sort of’ gets around things (streaming video but without the settings/config capabilities)

ONVIF promises to deliver a ‘uniform’ experience – we don’t think it can happen fast enough really…… the industry, particularly the IP camera industry, will get choked if it doesn’t open itself up more to co-existence and compatibility….