Everyone today enjoys the benefits of analogue CCTV products from any installer or wholesaler. The reason is simple. When we put all the various components of the CCTV system together, it just works! We are so used to this concept that we don’t even have to think about it. A DVR from Dahua will work with a camera from JVC. Equally an analogue CCTV system installed by Chubb can be serviced by engineers from ADT. We have been blessed with a technology that interacts at all levels with any other analogue product.
Its not always been this way though. Many will not remember but some years ago Panasonic developed an integrated Monitor/multiplexor/video all in one package. It looked smart and it fitted in well to peoples requirements, it was equally easy to install. It sold well to start with and slick marketing ensured many in the industry installed it. Its downfall however was quick and painful and the reason was simple. It only worked with Panasonic cameras !! What Panasonic failed to realize was that many installers liked the integrated MUX/monitor but did not want to spend out on the more expensive Panasonic camera range.
A second example of innovation that soon died a death due to lack of interoperability was the Phillips mini kit. A great idea of an integrated camera package but it had to be Phillips cameras or a Phillips monitor, nothing else would work with it. In the end no-one wanted to touch the stuff and again the frailties of trying to tie in the customer to a single manufacturer became apparent.
IP CCTV has encountered issues of interoperability and as a result all involved have got round the table to develop the ONVIF protocol. This is a way to ensure all IP cameras will work with other manufacturers IP products. This has so far showed results but the limitation is ONVIF only addresses video compatibility and there is still a long way to go on ensuring features within software packages can operate “others” cameras.
So onto HDcctv compliant products. Although “some HD-sdi products will work with “others” HD-SDI DVR’s this is by no means a guarantee. Installers need to realize that by buying HD SDI products with the HDcctv logo they assure themselves a long term future in the world of HDcctv over coax. The reasons are simple. If their supplier of HDcctv approved products lets them down or wants too much money or worse still goes to the wall, the installer themselves remains unaffected . He just goes elsewhere and purchases his HDcctv approved equipment.
It promotes competition and it ensures the future of HDcctv over coax as a technology that can be trusted and one that offers a real alternative to IP cctv with regard to HD installations. New innovation such as better faster chips and HD over CAT5 mean the HDcctv alliance is offering excellent HDcctv solutions specifically to established security companies rather than IT integrators.
So when you see a cheap HD-SDI DVR before you rush to buy it , think of how you will service this in the future. Think of how your customer can expand his system in the future and be assured it will work.
Finally interoperability has proven highly successful over the years for analogue CCTV. Those with vision and with the technology at heart will know that encouraging the installation of HDcctv approved products is very much the way forward for the future