What is CCTV Camera ?
CCTV, or closed-circuit television, is a system that allows you to keep an eye on what’s going on in and around your business. Cameras and monitors enable you to view events live, and recorders archive footage for later reference. Don’t mistake a CCTV monitor for an ordinary television. It doesn’t receive publicly broadcasted content—only footage from security cameras installed on the premises.
CCTV technology has been around for decades, but improvements in recent years make it even more effective at capturing criminals in the act and bringing them to justice. Consider the various parts of a CCTV system and how they all work together.
How Does it work ?
What Are the Benefits of CCTV Surveillance?
CCTV installation has been shown to effectively deter criminals from targeting your facility and the area around it. Many burglars know to look around for security cameras to see if they are being monitored — and seeing a high-quality surveillance system in place will convince many criminals to move on. Nobody wants to risk being caught committing a crime on video.
CCTV systems make it easy for property owners and managers to identify anyone who has committed a crime in their facility. Cameras also help to catch and prevent theft by employees, especially in retail and industrial settings. In large facilities such as warehouses, security cameras let staff view operations in multiple places at once, enforcing safety protocols and keeping track of progress.
Security cameras capture time-stamped evidence of everything that happens in and around a facility, including accidents, mistakes, and injuries. This is helpful in reducing liability for businesses and settling any disputes that might arise. With CCTV cameras, property managers gain insight and control over their facility and business operations.
IP vs. Analog CCTV Cameras
Two main categories of security cameras are IP cameras and analog CCTV cameras.
Analog CCTV System
Analog systems are the more traditional form of CCTV. These use coaxial cables to connect the camera and surveillance monitor or recording system. These systems tend to have a more difficult installation process, since they require more cabling than IP systems.
IP Systems
IP systems, otherwise known as network cameras, are technically not “CCTV” in the same way as hardwired analog systems — but for convenience they are often referred to as CCTV systems. IP-based systems run on digital IP and local area networks — they can run on a company’s existing network, or can be set up on their own if data and bandwidth speeds are a concern. Unlike analog systems, IP CCTV cameras generally use ethernet cables, such as a Cat5E.
Is an Analog or IP System Better?
Analog CCTV cameras offer high reliability thanks to their coax cables, but they generally shoot in much lower resolutions than their digital counterparts (though HD-over-Coax is a possibility). IP security cameras are capable of much higher resolution — up to 4k in many cases — and thus provide better image quality. They are also usually compatible with many more features than analog based systems, such as video verification, video analytics, and advanced processing for performance in low-light recording situations.
IP systems tend to feature easier CCTV camera installation and less cabling than analog systems. IP cameras can also be scaled almost infinitely, allowing for far more flexibility and more powerful systems than analog cameras have traditionally allowed. For instance, while the network may be closed, many even allow for remote monitoring with a smartphone app.
Though analog systems lack the diverse features and performance capabilities of digital systems, they offer simplicity and a lower price tag, making them a better choice for some businesses. However, as most businesses and manufacturers continue to transition to digital systems, IP-based systems are quickly becoming the more dominant form of surveillance.
CCTV Camera Types
There are various types of CCTV surveillance cameras, suitable for indoor and outdoor use in a range of building types and industries.
Bullet Cameras
Bullet cameras offer a sleek design and a flexible range of areas they can be placed, including on walls. The shape of a bullet camera allows it to accommodate a large lens, giving it a longer range than many other cameras. This makes it ideal for monitoring over long distances. Bullet cameras’ good recording quality, motorized zoom capabilities, and infrared make them ideal for outdoor use and use in industries such as manufacturing, property management and farming.
Dome Cameras
Dome cameras are generally used indoors and mounted on ceilings. This allows them to survey large areas at a wide angle. Dome CCTV cameras are great for retail establishments, restaurants, hotels, and casinos, as they can completely monitor a large room. They are also well-suited to environments that get dirty easily, such as kitchens and warehouses. Dome cameras offer smaller, more discreet hardware than other camera types.
PTZ Cameras
PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) cameras are shaped like dome cameras, but they allow users to remotely move the camera using an app, joystick, or computer program. This is ideal for panning certain areas and focusing in when the camera detects movement. With the ability to move and “look” around a room, PTZ cameras provide 360-degree coverage, and can do the job of several static cameras. PTZ cameras are great for protecting valuable objects, such as in retail settings.
Box Cameras
Box cameras are bulkier than many other camera types, which can be good for deterring crime by giving people an obvious sign they are being recorded. Box cameras are a modular option that let users configure the system for a range of different uses. This allows box cameras to be specifically equipped for outdoor use in rough weather.
Thermal Cameras
Thermal imaging cameras use heat mapping technology to detect people and objects. These are ideal for obtaining accurate security footage in environments with challenging lighting. Thermal CCTV cameras can also detect heat loss, gas leaks, and other repair issues in a facility. Thermal cameras are ideal for use in industrial buildings, defense, traffic monitoring, research and development facilities, and more.
License Plate Reader Cameras
License Plate Reader (LPR) cameras have high-resolution sensors that allow them to accurately capture license plate numbers day and night. Most security cameras cannot consistently capture license plates in every weather and lighting condition, let alone when vehicles are moving. LPRs are great for tolling, hotel overstay management, parking lots, and keeping track of who enters and exits any facility or community.
CCTV Video Storage
CCTV video storage can happen in a few different ways. Footage may be stored in a DVR or an NVR, or it can be stored in the cloud.
NVR vs DVR
In a CCTV security camera system, an onsite recording device is used to store footage captured by security cameras. In analog CCTV systems, this is a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) — IP systems use an NVR (Network Video Recorder). In analog systems, a DVR recorder converts all video footage to digital format, compresses the file, and stores it on a CCTV hard drive. The DVR can be hooked up to a monitor to show video footage, or it can connect to a router and internet modem to broadcast the footage using an internal network.
NVR CCTV systems connect to IP cameras, and use a software program to automatically record video in a digital format. This allows NVRs to instantly transmit data over a computer network. This makes it easy to use NVRs for remote viewing of security footage in real time on a smartphone or web browser. NVRs are typically newer and more advanced systems that offer higher video quality and more flexible features.
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