Alternatives to multiple IP/Network cameras
IP Cameras have been around awhile now and like all technologies, prices have come down, quality and selection has gone up. But additionally, alternative solutions have also risen.
A client had requested a multiple camera installation for their business facility.
Requirements:
- Remote access for ALL cameras
- Programmable video capture
- Optional motion detection during selected intervals, schedules
- Keep solution within budget
The first solution proposed was to implement the individual IP networks as stand-alone devices, the only single-point of failure to the remote access would be the facility’s internet connection.
Few problems with this solution, although software exists to consolidate the video streams, the cameras them selves individually had a higher budget than the client had anticipated.
Alternative solution, implement CCTV cameras with a central DVR/Remote access management. The cose dramatically reduced and the quality of the image actually increased because the CCTV cameras were simply better specs than a camera that would have to maintain it’s own web server.
Comment: when the need arises for multiple camera support with remote access, I strongly suggest the alternative solution with DVR and single-sign-on remote access to the video streams. Other advantages include one point of configuration. Major disadvantage of course, we’ve added another single-point of failure now, the DVR/Remote Access unit itself.
