By Dennis Shelly
What is the difference and which one is better?
When it comes to surveillance or remote monitoring using CCTV cameras, there are industry-wide standards and preferences. So far, there are different types of cameras, but only two are worth mentioning: IP Cameras and HD-TVI Cameras. This is because, with storage capacity no longer a problem due to lower storage device prices in general, higher quality is desired, and companies are switching to HD surveillance. In this article, we’ll break down the differences between the two and describe the benefits and drawbacks of each, so you can make an informed decision. We will present a basic explanation of the fundamental distinctions between Analog HD TVI and IP cameras, which are presently the two most used CCTV systems.
IP camera vs TVI cameras – What is the Difference?
HD-TVI is an abbreviation for High Definition Transport Video Interface and IP is an abbreviation for Internet Protocol. To the majority of us, this might be meaningless. What we need to know is what distinguishes these two technologies and why you would prefer one over the other.
HD-TVI Cameras
HD-TVI was created to be retrofitted into an existing installation where the cameras are already connected through coax cables (up to 500m) or even CAT5. The cameras are fairly inexpensive, costing around the same as old analog cameras (700 TVL). The HD-TVI cameras, on the other hand, are “High Definition” and employ megapixel imagery. HD-TVI cameras may produce 2 or 3-megapixel images, depending on the model. The most significant advantage of TVI is that it allows you to replace your legacy analog technology cameras with very affordable cameras, thus saving money by not having to re-run expensive cables. TVI DVRs (Digital Video Recorders) handle old analog cameras and modern TVI cameras and most even accept a limited number of IP cameras. This means you may upgrade your DVR and a few cameras to High Definition while retaining the older legacy analog cameras and replacing them only when they fail or your budget permits.
IP cameras
IP cameras simply operate differently than TVI cameras yet get a similar output. IP cameras are often connected through CAT5 cable, so if a new building has structured cabling installed to most sites, adding additional data points at the spots where cameras are required might be a straightforward process without running hundreds of meters of new cable. However, it might not be possible that the IT department would share cables and server space with the CCTV system. Too much bandwidth is required, and it is increasingly more customary for each IP system to have its own dedicated structured cabling back to its own network rack and NVR. One significant advantage of IP is that cameras may be “PoE” — Power over Ethernet. This implies that the CAT5 cable sending the video image from the camera to the NVR (Network Video Recorder) may also carry the electricity (normal network distances of 90m generally apply). Cameras are frequently powered directly from the NVR (on systems with up to 16 cameras) or, if this is not possible, through PoE network switches.
The table below summarizes the key distinctions between cameras
| IP Cameras | HD-TVI Cameras | |
| Local setup | IP Cameras require that your NVR and camera be on the same network, allowing them to interact with one another. | HD-TVI cameras necessitate substantial electrical work as well as the direct connection of your cameras to the DVR. Making remote monitoring more difficult to set up. |
| Power requirements | IP cameras do not require any additional cabling; a single wire connecting the IP Camera to the NVR (Network Video Recorder) is capable of supplying power as well as transmitting the camera’s footage. | You’ll have to employ separate electrical connections to power HD-TVI cameras. |
| Image Quality | IP Cameras give the best quality surveillance while also allowing you to compress the acquired footage so that it may be easily saved or transmitted over a network connection. | HD-TVI cameras continue to provide significantly higher quality than analog cameras, making them an economical upgrade for enterprises that still use analog cameras. |
| Remote access | IP Cameras can be directly connected to the internet for remote access. | HD-TVI Cameras on the other hand can’t be directly connected to the internet and need to first communicate with the DVR and then the DVR itself is connected to the internet. |
| Analytic software and other benefits | Most analytic software, such as speed cameras that collect license plates, facial recognition software, and traffic cameras, rely on IP Cameras. | HD-TVI cameras lack in this domain. |
| Cost | IP cameras are relatively more expensive than TVI cameras. | TVI cameras are cost-effective and require little cost to update. |
If you have to focus on only one technology, it would undoubtedly be IP, because there are no limits to the scale of the system that can be created with it. However, it would be unjust to only provide what may turn out to be the most expensive choice when a cheaper alternative would give the same output, in order to be fair and honest to customers when considering their specific needs. When it comes to image quality, IP Cameras are the finest on the market, with HD-TVI a close second. However, IP Cameras are more expensive in the short term, but because they require very little maintenance, the only reason not to pick them is if you’re on a tight budget and would prefer to upgrade from Standard Analog in stages, taking advantage of HD- TVIs backward compatibility feature.
You may still be wondering what to do, and how to choose your next surveillance system cameras. This is where our Eggsperts can help! Our Eggsperts are eggcellent in helping with deciding on IP or HD-TVI cameras and what your current system can accept.
Have a suggestion for our next article? Please contact us by calling (760) 205-0105 or emailing us at tech@eggheadit.com and our Eggsperts are happy to help you with your questions or suggestions.
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