Selecting a Security, Surveillance Camera : CCTV or IP Camera
When you want to protect your home or business, one of the best way is by using security cameras. You need to decide whether to go for the classic CCTV (Closed Circuit TV) based surveillance, web cameras attached to your PC, or IP cameras.
Video security can be both a defense and a deterrent. As they say: Better safe than sorry! If you are considering installing or upgrading video surveillance for your company or your home, understanding how different video surveillance systems work is critical to your making the correct decision.
CCTV
Originally, video surveillance was done using closed circuit television. This technology uses analog video cameras, coaxial cable and video tape recorders. The cameras transmit a signal to a specific, limited set of monitors. CCTV systems typically involve a fixed communications link between cameras and monitors, using wires and cables. This method records what is happening, but does not send you alerts. CCTV works like a VCR, you have to change cassettes, image quality is average, storage tapes wear out over time, and storage is bulky. Also, the cameras, monitors, and recorders must be physically close enough together to be connected by cables.
Web Cameras
A web camera is connected to the PC, most often via a USB port, and uses the PC to make video available to other viewers. Images from a web camera can be accessed over the Internet with the help of monitoring software. Web camera images can be uploaded to a web server, either continuously or at regular intervals.
Webcams are being used effectively for security purposes. Webcams can be used to monitor and record activity in small offices, shops and homes. Monitoring software, such as WebCam Monitor, is needed to complete a video security system. A web camera works only if it is directly attached to a PC. You will need a long cable if you want to monitor something that is not near the PC the web cam is attached to. Web cameras can only be directly read and controlled by one host computer and cannot be shared across a network.
IP Cameras
IP camera, is a digital video camera designed for surveillance, and which can be viewed via the Internet. IP cameras are stand-alone devices that connect to your Ethernet or wireless network. You can monitor multiple cameras in different locations from a PC over the Internet.
Let’s look at the benefits of an IP camera over CCTV.
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Live Remote Monitoring: Monitoring multiple locations becomes easy and economical with IP cameras. The camera doesn’t need to be connected to a PC. You can view the camera images from any place that has an Internet connection. All you need is a PC with access to the Internet to view all the activity live.
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Motion Detection and Alarms: When IP cameras are used with motion detection software such as Security Monitor Pro, you will be informed and alerted instantly when motion is detected. The software allows you to view and control multiple IP cameras from a single PC interface.
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Better View and Control: Some IP cameras have features like Pan, Tilt and Zoom (PTZ). You can control the camera remotely, adjusting the focus, angle, and field of view without being actually present at the camera site. You can track and zoom to reveal more about the exact person, place or thing you are concerned about.
IP camera-based systems are the future of video surveillance. In the short term they may be a bit more expensive, but it is obviously an investment in superior quality and flexibility. As the surveillance technology of the future, you won’t be outgrowing an IP camera-based video surveillance system any time soon. You will be able to upgrade and improve this system for years to come while older systems will become obsolete.
When setting up a video security system with Security Monitor Pro you can choose from the following list of supported IP cameras:
More cameras are added to this list regularly.
The program will work with most cameras that stream MJPEG over HTTP. IP camera is a proven technology that has many advantages over traditional analog CCTV systems. An IP camera can be best used for surveillance as it covers a wide range section area.
If you would like our developers to test your camera and add support for it to our software, please Contact Us. You can download the free trial version of Security Monitor Pro and test it with no risk.