HDcctv will have a big future in the UK

HDcctv . Why it will sell more cameras than IP CCTV in the UK.

How many miles of coaxial cable currently service CCTV camera systems here in the UK? No-one is sure and I would suggest that this has never been documented. But let’s consider some facts. CCTV has been actively sold into UK business’s on a large commercial scale since the early 1970′s and there is hundreds of thousands of miles of coax still servicing perfectly good CCTV systems right now.

Is HDcctv better than IP CCTV?

IP CCTV must not be discounted, in fact in most other countries across the world IP CCTV is selling well and we embrace this technology completely. But in the UK we have a slightly different scenario right now. We need HD solutions but not always delivered by IP. That’s why HDcctv could be the main technology installed in the UK over the next 10 years with the right investment and marketing.

HDcctv installers in the UK.

So what’s unique about the UK CCTV market place and why will HDcctv be so popular? Well, we have already mentioned the vast amount of legacy coax that is waiting to be used. In addition, as salesmen we hear the same story time and time again. Customers want quality images, customers want to be able to zoom in on an image, either in live mode or in recorded mode and see a face or see a number plate, they all hate poor images and no definition as it effectively renders current analogue CCTV systems useless. It is the biggest downfall of analogue CCTV. What’s more,  everyone in the UK knows it.

Cheap HDcctv?

So why don’t all these disgruntled customers go over to IP CCTV and megapixel cameras, surely that’s the way forward? Well again as we mentioned earlier there are a couple of factors here in the UK that are ideal for HDcctv that will enable this unique technology to find its footing.

There are very poor margins in analogue CCTV right now however….

HDcctv can give quality images but maintain current infrastructure, so costs can be kept right down in an upgrade situation. Secondly UK installers are struggling with IP installations. IP CCTV takes much more resource than many would care to admit. The plug and play concept of IP is not quite as its made out to be and most installers are finding it very difficult to get the co-operation of IT departments in order to get network points adjacent to cameras or use existing switches and networks. So much so, its now almost the norm with IP CCTV to run your own local network for the camera system and supply your own POE switch, this completely defeats the point of IP CCTV in many cases and makes the whole job far less profitable.

Servicing IP CCTV

Further problems still exist with servicing, If you have a national contract every engineer you have needs a laptop, IT training, remote access and current software and so the list goes on. Software conflicts are a complete nightmare and a CCTV installer without its own IT support will not be able to overcome many of the problems that are facing them. That’s why IP CCTV still has not taken off in the UK.

HDcctv sales

So how does HDcctv find its way into the mainstream security market place? Well here in the UK we have sales guys. Sales guys love to sell the sizzle! HD is a buzz word that consumers know and have seen at home on their own TV sets. All who have experienced this technology will agree that its quite brilliant in the quality of images that are provided. So straight away HDcctv is something the end user will feel comfortable with.

Price of HDcctv

Price of an HDcctv system is important. Again we all know we have to pay more for HD, this is already accepted by the end user, but if we are able to keep this cost reasonable by using an existing coax infrastructure then we have a sale. Add to this the fact that CCTV engineers don’t need re-training and will feel entirely at home with the installation then again we have a winner. No software, no laptops, no IT department to deal with. Just on and off site with maximum profit and no costly revisits to upgrade software or program an IP address. This means on going service will be easy and profitable… even more reason for the CCTV industry to embrace HDcctv.

HDCCTV alliance