4thingsaboutipcameras

4 Things To Know About IP Cameras

4 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT IP CAMERAS

Having a security camera system is a smart decision. Not only will it help deter crime and keep your property safe, but many insurance companies offer a discount when security cameras record the insured area. At Newport Network Solutions Inc, we’ve helped many businesses get their IP camera systems up and running. This post will explain what you need to know about the technology.

What is an Internet Protocol (IP) Camera?

An IP camera streams its recordings over the network, so they can be viewed in real-time from anywhere in the world. They are commonly used for security monitoring in homes, businesses, and other settings. These cameras use digital image capturing to provide a much higher level of detail than is possible with analog cameras.

How Does an Internet Camera work?

Internet Protocol (IP) cameras capture video and transmit it over the internet or some other network as a digital data file. Five general steps are involved in capturing and transmitting a digital video signal over a network.

  • Image capture: Like all digital cameras, IP cameras use a light sensor to capture video. IP cameras differ from other digital cameras in that they include hardware for streaming the resulting video over a network.
  • Compression: Because it’s being sent over a network, the video is sensitive to size. Compression algorithms are applied to decrease the bandwidth requirements of streaming the video. There are many compression algorithms to compress video. The most commonly used algorithms in IP cameras are H.264, MPEG-4, and MJPEG.
  • Transmission: With the video compressed, it’s ready to be transmitted over the network. Typical internet protocols such as TCP, HTTP, or FTP are used to transmit the data. Cameras can connect to the internet to transmit the data in one of two ways: through an ethernet cable or through a Wi-Fi connection.
  • Storage: IP cameras often have the ability to store video locally on the camera itself or remotely on a network video recorder (NVR) or cloud storage service. Some cameras also offer the option to store footage on a removable SD card.
  • Viewing: Finally, video captured by the camera can be viewed remotely using nearly any computing device connected to the same network. This allows users to monitor their surveillance feeds from anywhere with an Internet connection.

Network connections

Although we’ve mainly discussed internet connectivity, an IP camera can transmit its data in other ways. They’ll work just as well on a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) connection. A LAN connection is an isolated network designed to cover a single building or campus. A WAN extends that concept further, covering entire cities or geographical regions.

The camera doesn’t care much about which network connection type is used. It’ll correctly route the data as long as it’s plugged into a network adapter with an ethernet cable or connected to it through Wi-Fi.

The Types of IP Cameras

There are many styles of IP cameras to choose from. Each has its own specialty, and a large enough area might find itself each of them to suit different needs.

  • Dome Cameras: A dome-shaped camera commonly used for indoor or outdoor surveillance and designed to be tamper-resistant.
  • Bullet Cameras: A cylindrical camera typically used for outdoor surveillance with a long, narrow shape.
  • PTZ Cameras: A pan-tilt-zoom camera that uses a swivel base to move and zoom in or out to focus on a particular area.
  • Cube Cameras: A tiny camera that can be easily placed to blend in with its surroundings and provide unobtrusive security coverage of an area.
  • Panoramic Cameras: A camera that captures a full 360-degree view to provide single-camera coverage of especially large and open areas, such as a parking lot or other public space.

The Benefits of IP Security Cameras

Besides simply being newer technology, IP security cameras bring a number of benefits over the older analog option.

  • Higher resolution and image quality – Because they use digital rather than analog technology, IP cameras offer higher resolution and increased clarity.
  • Remote access and monitoring – The ability to stream video over the internet means you’ll be able to monitor your cameras from anywhere in the world, as long as there’s an internet connection.
  • Advanced analytics and features – Being digital also brings with it a large number of algorithms that can be applied to the video. This may be something as simple as motion detection or as complex as facial or license plate recognition.
  • Lower total cost of ownership – IP cameras are more expensive upfront but cheaper in the long run. Not only do they last longer than their analog counterparts, but they can connect to other security systems, such as access controls or alarms, and reduce the additional equipment needed to get those running.

Invest in Safety With an IP Camera System From NNS Inc.

Newport Network Solutions Inc. has teams of experts in both IP cameras and general network infrastructure. We’ll be able to make sure your system is running at peak efficiency through every link in the chain. To learn more, contact us today.

Featured Image: Casezy idea / Shutterstock

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