These are undoubtedly, the most popular type of video surveillance devices. Network cameras which came into existence way back in the mid 1990′s have now turned into a high end security gadget. They are not essentially a different type of camera. Just about any camera can be converted into a network security camera. It is the technology that gives them the name ‘Network Security Cameras’. They are called by myriad names including network cameras, IP cameras and internet cameras. But there is no real difference between them. A network security camera is connected to a network via IP (Internet Protocol) and the footage being captured can be viewed from anywhere on earth with a computer and an internet connection. The IP network camera has rendered the analog camera obsolete and is now used in most security video surveillance systems.
Analyzing the network camera
An IP network camera has its own IP address like every computer connected to the internet in this world has. It also has built in computing functions that allow it to control network communication. In simpler terms, this means that everything required to transfer and view the images captured over the internet is built into the unit. A typical network camera will have pre-loaded software for FTP client, FTP server, Mail client etc. The camera also has built in security features that enable it to authenticate the computer before transferring footage. This prevents from unauthorized people from hacking into the footage. The network cameras capture images and then convert them into the digital format before relaying it over the network. One of the reasons why these cameras are chosen over analog models is because of their high quality imagery. The camera auto adjusts and manages the exposure, white balance and image sharpness and produces top quality images.
The transferred images can also be stored automatically on a hard disk of a computer for viewing later. However, the quality of the image depends on the kind of bandwidth available. Higher the image quality, more the data you have to store. So most people opt for low quality images and use standard image compression techniques when relaying footage over the internet.
Why network cameras
If your building is already part of a network then installing a network camera becomes a cinch. It can save you thousands of dollars that you would have other wise spent in coaxial cables required for analog cameras to function. The network camera can directly plug into the network using a simple Ethernet port setup. Also, no additional software is required to view the footage. All that you need is a web browser and if you require more complex options, then there is web network camera software available for the same.
Network vs. Analog
When the network cameras first came into being, they were touted as web cameras that can be used to relay streaming footage over the internet. However, they have been upgraded to catch up and even beat the best analog cameras at that. The first and most important difference is in the interlacing. Analog cameras have always had significant problems with interlacing and IP cameras are clearly at an advantage here.
Even high resolution analog cams are not able to capture fast moving objects clearly as the images are made up of lines and are created from two interlaced fields. The IP camera on the other hand creates a high quality image as the entire image is captured in one go. The IP network camera works using Power Over Ethernet technology. This means that the cameras get their power from a PoE enabled switch giving it a centralized backup. The cameras will function even when there is a power failure. In addition, network cameras also have features like Pan, Tilt and Zoom that enhance their power.
Buyers Tips
If you are unsure about what type of camera to buy for your home or office, then consider your budget and then think about the importance of surveillance for your organization. IP cameras are perfect for remote home surveillance (Nanny Cams, swimming pool cameras). On the other hand if yours is a large organization with stringent security standards then you might not be able to use an IP camera. The price range of a network camera also varies. Ordinary models can cost you about $50 while high end models can cost hundreds of dollars.
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