Analogue vs IP CCTV Systems

July 24, 2020
3:34 pm

Analogue vs IP CCTV Systems

The transmitter is the part of the camera that sends video to the recorder or viewer’s device by either converting it to Ethernet in IP cameras or into a HD-CVI analogue format in analogue cameras. In IP cameras transmission happens internally – these cameras only require a local area network to send information. Whereas, in analogue video surveillance systems, cameras need to be connected to a DVR with coaxial cable in order to transmit information.

Image sourced from: Visual Verification Systems Inc.

Comparing Analogue and IP Cameras

IP Cameras	Analogue Cameras
latest/current technology	seen as ‘traditional technology’
includes advanced analytics such as facial and licence plate recognition	limited access to advanced analytics, as many of these features are processed at the level of the camera (not possible with analogue cameras)
sends signals over cable to be stored in a NVR, or can work wirelessly	sends video over cable to DVRs, or in some cases can work wirelessly (wireless analogue cameras often have compromised resolution)
use Cat5e cable Ethernet cables such as Cat5e are thinner and more flexible than coaxial cables, and can be easily run in tighter spaces PoE (Power over Ethernet) networking feature allows Cat5e cables to carry electrical power over an existing data connection	use coaxial cable this type of cable is wider and more rigid, therefore making it more difficult to run cables in tight spaces coaxial cables consist of two separate cables encased in one covering – the cables separate each end to provide separate functions: one to power the CCTV system, and one to carry the information from the camera to the DVR. As such, you’ll need to install your DVR recorder near a power outlet, splitters are also needed to provide power to each camera cables need to run between every camera and the recorder
provide overall higher video quality offer more site ranges have better zoom in capabilities better at facial recognition and detecting number plates	have overall lower video quality, but perform better in low light conditions have more limited site ranges (wide or narrow field of view) and don’t offer the same zoom in clarity as IP cameras (zoom in quality is poor because analogue cameras have traditionally been restricted to low resolutions such as 720MP or 1MP)
may pose cyber security concerns IP cameras encrypt and compress data before transmitting it over the internet and are therefore footage is less susceptible to physical tampering if footage is backed up on the cloud it may be vulnerable to hacking live camera feeds can also be hacked	pose physical security concerns Analogue cameras are more vulnerable to security breaches because footage stored on a NVR can be physically stolen analogue video feeds are also not encrypted
Suitable for recording audio	Limited in ability to record audio

The Difference Between NVR and DVR Recorders

NVR (Network Video Recorder)	DVR (Digital Video Recorder)
Compatible with IP cameras	Compatible with Analogue cameras
Encode and process video data at the camera, data is then streamed to the NVR recorder which is only used for storage and remote viewing	Process video data at the recorder, an analogue signal is streamed to the recorder and this is where the image is processed (footage typically cannot be viewed and stored remotely – must be stored and viewed onsite )
Wired or wireless system	Wired system
Requires more complex and therefore more expensive cameras (IP cameras)	Requires less complex and therefore cheaper cameras (Analogue cameras)
Each camera only needs to be connected to the same network	The user must connect every camera to the recorder

Should you upgrade your old analogue CCTV system or replace it with an IP system?

If it’s within your budget, we would almost always recommend switching to an IP based (digital CCTV) system.

However, there are some circumstances in which upgrading an existing analogue CCTV system may be more appropriate, for example if lots of footage is required to be stored for long periods of time.

If you were to upgrade your existing analogue system, we recommend that it be upgraded with HD-CVI technology. This is because:

coaxial cable can be reused, cutting down labour costs
HD-CVI (High Definition Composite Video Interface) increases the resolution of analogue CCTV video (which was previously restricted to low resolutions such as 720MP or 1MP), users can capture Ultra HD Resolution (8MP)
HD-CVI technology gives you access to latest CCTV features: 8MP resolution, smart analytics and remote view through your mobile phone

Here at Jim’s Security we have a wide range of CCTV packages starting at $1495 and offer professional installation of customer supplied CCTV systems from just $150 per camera. To find out more, visit our CCTV & Camera Systems page. Or to learn more about the different features and components of CCTV systems and security cameras take a look at our CCTV and Security Camera Buyers Guide.

We are also readily available to help answer any questions or queries you may have about finding a security system tailored to the specific requirements of your home or business and lifestyle. Contact us on 131 546 or book a free onsite quote online.