What is an IP Camera?

An IP camera is a closed-circuit television camera that sends image data over a internet Protocol through an Ethernet connection. Because of their connectivity to the Internet, they are often times referred to as network cameras. Their primary use is in surveillance and, when connected to a digital video recorder (DVR), they can act as a powerful video surveillance system.

Features of IP Camera

The first main feature of an IP camera is the two way audio built into it. This makes it possible for someone in the control room where all the cameras send their information to communicate with someone outside. This, for example, would be beneficial if someone needed help figuring out how to pre-pay for their gasoline or a scenario similar to that.

Another feature is that the camera has a LED light built onto it. This light adds to its ability to see in dark places. Specifically, this LED light is used for night vision. This adds to the already powerful camera because there is no need to worry about dark areas not being guarded.

They can be viewed at their streaming rate. While streaming over the Internet, someone can be watching in the control room while the vide is recording. This has made it easier for security guards to do their jobs. On top of that, once connected with a router, the cameras can then be disconnected and used wireless.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The first main advantage and disadvantage is cost. The advantages are that it is cheaper, all around, to set up a network because of all the general-purpose IP equipment. However, this presents a problem because an IP camera is significantly more money than an analog camera. However, once the cameras are purchased, it is cheaper to run an IP network.

Another advantage is that the wireless capability allows cameras to be placed virtually anywhere. This way, the security network has a more complete circuit. The only problem with this is the fact that there needs to be a fast Internet connection to stream the video properly, so when the wireless connection gets a weak signal, the video can come in choppy and incomplete.

Overall, the IP camera can be a fantastic addition to a surveillance team with its cameras. It can be expensive to buy the cameras, but overall, because of the cheaper cost of running it and the ability to go wireless, the IP camera demonstrates its superiority in the surveillance world.