A Look at CCTV vs. IP Video

In today"s world, it seems that people are more and more concerned with security, and this heightened security consciousness is likely to remain a big part of our lives for some time to come. From concerns about terrorism to the ever present problem of theft and vandalism, homeowners and business owners alike need to take the security of their property seriously, and security cameras can be a cost effective and very efficient part of the solution to this common problem. When it comes to security cameras and security apparatus, there are of course many choices. Some of these products have been around for many years, while others represent the cutting edge of what is possible in the field of security. It is important for every business owners and homeowner to research the various options available in order to be able to make an informed and intelligent decision. CCTV vs. the New IP Video Solution When many people think about security cameras, the first image that comes to mind is a room full of video screens and video cassette recorders, all connected via coaxial cables to a network of analog security cameras. This image is a perfect description of the so called Closed Circuit Television, or CCTV, installation, and these installations are still used by a large number of businesses and homeowners throughout the country and the world. While the CCTV solution is time tested and widely used, it does have a number of important drawbacks that security conscious homeowners and business owners should be aware of. One of the most significant downsides of the CCTV approach is the fact that the system is analog instead of digital. Analog systems are slower than digital ones, especially when it comes to searching large quantities of video. Analog systems also rely on expensive and difficult to install coaxial cable, and the availability of the resulting video relies on a difficult to maintain network of VCRs, cameras and cables. The Power of Digital Fortunately there is a new alternative that has been designed to overcome the limitations of older CCTV technology. This technology is known as IP video, or as network IP cameras. These IP network cameras are standalone devices which are designed to allow the user to view live, full motion video from any network connection, or even over the internet via a standard web browser.