Myth No.2 ~ 'IP CCTV uses up all my bandwidth'

A couple of years ago we wrote...
'The amount of bandwidth that a camera uses is determined by the image quality and frame rate set for the camera, and the compression algorithm used. The compression technology is predetermined by the manufacturer, but good quality cameras will allow the image quality and the number of images per second to be set for each camera. For corporate security applications, cameras with MPEG-4 compression set to high image quality and 12-15 ips give good quality images in almost real time, and will use about 1.5 Mbps of bandwidth.'

We have found the 1.5 Mbps bandwith scenario to work very well, but have things moved on? What about H.264 compression and mega-pixel cameras? Mega-pixel cameras required more bandwidth, but H.264 is a more efficient compression algorithm that requires less bandwidth than MPEG-4. Is this an indication of how things will develop...increasingly high definition images, and continually improving compression algorithms to allow high definition images to be transmitted?

The report went on to say:
'High quality transmission of data for several CCTV cameras can be comfortably handled by typical office networks. Where more cameras are needed, it’s easy to establish separate networks. Today there are easy and affordable data-carrying solutions for all IP surveillance applications.
 A typical single network camera will have a video feed ranging from 0.2 to 2.0 Mbps. So a typical
office network of 100 Mbit will cope easily with the transmission demands of several cameras. When you have more than a few cameras, put in a separate camera network. It’s easy to separate networks with readily available network switches and routers. Existing structured cable, where available, can be used, but all the cameras should feed into Layer 2 Managed Switches.

For enterprise solutions using large numbers of cameras, an Ethernet backbone is recommended. When setting up a network it’s important to ensure that it has enough capacity to cope with the worstcase-scenario. So, plan for the maximum demand occasions, when all cameras are recording.

There are some useful techniques that enable installers to integrate CCTV into an organisation’s network without overloading it. For example, with ‘schedule recording’ users can choose not to have all cameras recording all of the time. This means that less data will need to be transferred.'


What are your experiences? We'd love to hear from you.

Myth No.1 ~ 'IP CCTV systems only produce poor quality images'

In the IP Myths report I wrote...
"Today’s truth is that properly designed IP surveillance systems will produce images that are every bit as sharp and clear as older, analogue set-ups.

Good quality IP cameras (or network cameras) have exactly the same high quality image sensors and optics as analogue cameras. Of course, these high quality, professional products should not be confused with lower-spec models, or with PC webcams, which cannot deliver the same results. The more demanding the conditions, the bigger the performance gap will be between the professional IP cameras and the cheaper models – so it’s important to choose the right camera.

IP systems allow you to take full advantage of megapixel technology, whereas analogue systems do not. Analogue cameras are in fact limited to 0.4 mega-pixel resolution because of the PAL standard that they operate on. By contrast, mega-pixel network cameras can deliver 1.3 mega-pixel images or more.

Image quality degrades less with digital systems. With all analogue systems the CCTV images have to be converted between analogue and digital formats, typically three or four times (for transmission via coaxial cable; for compression and processing; for display on the monitor etc.). Each time this happens the image quality degrades. By contrast, when IP based digital signals are transmitted directly via the network to a network video recorder (NVR) and digital LCD monitor they do not have to be converted at all, so there is no loss of quality. Not surprisingly, this can result in vastly superior images."

What's your experience? Is it true that properly designed IP surveillance systems will produce images that are every bit as sharp and clear as older, analogue set-ups...or...is it all hogwash?... Please let me know what you think.

Next week we will look at Myth No.2 ~ 'IP CCTV Uses Up All My Bandwidth'
Click here to download the free report "IP CCTV - The Reality Behind the Top 20 IP CCTV Myths"

IP CCTV - The Reality Behind the Top 20 IP CCTV Myths

CCTV Center designs, supplies and supports CCTV and network surveillance systems in partnership with our integrator partners. To do this we lead with Panasonic camera, viewing and recording equipment enhanced by technology partner equipment including Pentax lenses, Raytec lighting, TOA audio, KBC fibre transmission, ZyXel network switching, Veracity ethernet over coax transmission and Teleprecision transmission for remote monitoring. Most recently we have also added FLIR thermal imaging equipment.


Future blogs will look to explore the offerings from all of our technology partners, and we are always looking for your feedback and experiences of not only using the above brands, but also your recommendations for brands and products that might enhance the systems we offer.


Before we do that however I would like to open a new topic for discussion. Over the last 5 years we have all seen a move from analogue to IP or networked CCTV. Now for new builds and projects where there is a powerful network infrastructure already in place we are starting to see the IP platform dominate. In light of this we thought it was time to re-visit a special report that we wrote a year or so ago called


“IP CCTV – The Reality Behind the Top 20 IP CCTV Myths”


Next time we will provide a link to download the report and discuss Myth No 1 that ‘IP CCTV systems only produce poor quality images’.

I hope you will be able to give some feedback of your experiences.

Finding out more about Thermal Imaging

We've had a lot of enquiries this week at CCTV Center about thermal imaging, so I thought I'd highlight a couple of resources to help you find out more.

FLIR are holding a series of seminars around the country where consultants, integrators and other interested parties can find out more about thermal imaging technology and products. Ther first seminar is in Reading on Friday 19th February. You can register on the CCTV Center website.

Click Here to Register for FLIR Thermal Imaging Seminars  

I've also spent a fair bit of time this week making lots of thermal imaging resources available on the web, including brochures, manuals, application and technical notes

Click Here to Visit the Thermal Imaging Data Library

Happy research!