IP surveillance is a digitized and networked version of closed-circuit television (CCTV). In an IP surveillance system, an IP camera records video footage and the resulting content is distributed over an IP (Internet protocol) network.
faq
What is IP surveillance?
Digitization offers a number of benefits over traditional analog CCTV , including:
- Improved search capability.
- Greater ease of use.
- Better quality images and no degradation of content over time.
- The ability to record and play simultaneously.
- The ability to compress content for improved storage.
Adding networking capability to digital CCTV provides additional benefits, including:
- Improved ability for remote viewing and control. Anyone on the network can potentially see video from any camera connected to the network.
- IP storage makes it possible to store data in any geographic location.
- Greater ease of distribution. An image of a crime suspect, for example, can be immediately distributed to officials.
- The ability to connect to email and other communications systems so that alerts can be sent automatically.
There is a growing industry trend towards replacing analog CCTV with IP surveillance systems.
MegaPixel
A MegaPixel is one million pixels, and is commonly used to indicate the resolution of an HD surveillance camera. A pixel is a tiny square in a digital image.
The higher the number of pixels, the clearer the resolution or image will be. Common MegaPixel sizes include 1.3MP, 2.1MP, 3.0MP, up to 5.0MP or higher. For example: A 1.3MP image commonly is made up of 1280 pixels wide x 1024 high, or 1,310,720 pixels. In other words, 1.3 million pixels
IP Rating for Weather and Particle Protection
In most cases, the Ingress Protection Rating consists of the letters IP followed by two digits. For example IP66.
I P [Solid Particle Protection] [Liquid Ingress Protection]
Solid Particle Protection
| IP Rating | Protected from | Notes |
| 0 | – | No protection against contact and ingress of objects |
| 1 | Objects >50 mm | Any large surface of the body, such as the back of a hand, but no protection against deliberate contact with a body part |
| 2 | Objects >12.5 mm | Fingers or similar objects |
| 3 | Objects >2.5 mm | Tools, thick wires, etc. |
| 4 | Objects >1 mm | Most wires, screws, etc. |
| 5 | Dust protected | Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment; complete protection against contact |
| 6 | Dust tight | No ingress of dust; complete protection against contact |
Liquid Ingress Protection
| IP Rating | Protected from | Notes |
| 0 | – | No protected |
| 1 | Dripping water | Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmful effect. |
| 2 | Dripping water when tilted up to 15° | Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted at an angle up to 15° from its normal position. |
| 3 | Spraying water | Water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical shall have no harmful effect. |
| 4 | Splashing water | Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect. |
| 5 | Water jets | Water projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects. |
| 6 | Powerful water jets | Water projected in powerful jets (12.5mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects. |
| 7 | Immersion up to 1 m | Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1 m of submersion). |
| 8 | Immersion beyond 1 m | The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions which shall be specified by the manufacturer. Normally, this will mean that the equipment is hermetically sealed. However, with certain types of equipment, it can mean that water can enter but only in such a manner that it produces no harmful effects. |
So, basically an IP66 camera means the camera is Dust Proof and can also endure exposure to power jet of water for example during heavy rainfall.
ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum).
It is not uncommon for an HD surveillance system to contain cameras from one company and a video management software (VMS) from another. But there is nothing worse than setting up your HD surveillance system, only to find out that the cameras and VMS won’t work properly with each other.
This is where ONVIF comes in. ONVIF is probably a term that you’ve read or heard about as it relates to camera and VMS compatibility but you may not have a complete understanding to what it is exactly.
What Does it Mean to be ONVIF Compliant?
It means that you will have the confidence that your product, be it client or device, will work with other products certified at the same level. As most of the products being sold currently are ONVIF, this is a really important feature and ensures the products interoperatibility.
Power over Ethernet
PoE provides both data and power connections in one cable, so equipment doesn’t require a separate cable for each need. For equipment that does not already have a power or data connection, PoE can be attractive when the power demand is modest. For example, PoE is useful for IP telephones, wireless access points, IP cameras. PoE can provide long cable runs e.g. 100 m (330 ft)
Power over Ethernet or PoE describes any of several standardized or ad-hoc systems which pass electrical power along with data on Ethernet cabling. This allows a single cable to provide both data connection and electrical power to devices such as wireless access points or IP cameras. Power may be carried on the same conductors as the data, or it may be carried on dedicated conductors in the same cable.